South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-16
IRISH STAGE CURE
FOR PAGANI ISM
1r. John Talbot Smith in Lee.
ture at Notre Dame LaudS
Yeats Movement

The Irish The8ter Movement is
me example OF how the stage can
De saved from corruption. Pagan
SIN has a hold on the drama and
unless some 10 -ce comes TO its aid
Immediately IL will be captured, f"
said Or. John Talbot Smith in the
fourth lecture in Washington hall
II NOtre Dame yesterday afternoon.
The lecturer traced the development
Of the Irish stage from its humble
beginning to its present flOurishing
condition. The lecture today at
o'clock will close the series, both at
St. Mary's and at the university.
In speaking OF the Irish stage DR..
Smith said in part:
lowing 10 the indifference Of
Christians 10 the stage, paganism has
made serious encroachments upon
the conventional drama, and there
is no doubt but that the drama will
surrender TO paganism within "A few
decades owing % the vigOr OF its on
slaught. The question is: can any
thing be done 10 rescue the stage,
20 wake mp Christians. and keep the
channels?
Experiment of Yeats.
AS a matter Of fact the expert
ment under William Butler Yeats in
the famous Abbey theater Of Dublin
is convincing proof that paganism
could be checked if not absolutely
driven off the dramatic premises. 1t
- a remarkable phenomena that Ire
land, OF all countries, should have
given the stage. according to the
critics. the finest dramatic cOntribu-
ton T. literature since Shakespeare.
THE Irish theater began in 1899
without money without plays. with
out actors without dramatists. It
was practically founded by Protest
ants in the very heart Of a Catholic
country, and yet i'm the space of Il
years it has about 90 plays TO its
credit: it has given 100 perform
ances in Dublin, il has stirred up
interest to the extent that other
dramatic organizations were formed;
its plays and actors have been wei
coined in London and New York
with enthusiasm.
Trained own Actors.
Mr. Yeats trained his own actors.
paid for his own theater. wrote his
own plays, acted in them. secured
10 or 10 others 20 write dramas for
him. and IN The space Of a decade
gained Worldwide fame The Irish
theater IS now recognized as a big
force in English letters and drama.
It's most noted figure is Lady Greg
DRY. whose "Gragine," "kinCona"
and The White --" have given
her high place as dramatist The
most original is j. NJ. Synge. whose
short dramas. while stirring the
wrath Of one section of the Irish
has. at the same time. contributed
one achievement. namely. he has
made the ordinary peasant language
vehicle of exquisite poetry. While
his plays are somewhat pagan in
spirit. they can be fOTgiVen for their
exquisite use of the chosen tongue
The noblest figure in the Irish the
alter is William Butler Yeats. whose
contributions to the drama such as
The Countess Kathleen" and THE
Kings Threshold" have given him
very high place i'm the poetic
drama
This phenomenal establishment
OF an original theater i'm the face of
opposition. against prejudices. with
out money, without actors. without
any Of the ordinary elements of sue
cess, shows clearly how ready the
world is 10 arm against this ad-
VanCing paganism.
support Free Theatcr.
THE question arises what can be
done in America in the same line ?
one thing is quite certain. Unless
the Christians are aroused TO the
Importance of the Goth century
drama IL viii pass absolutely under
the control of paganism. While at
present commercialism sustains the
conventional drama il will be Just
as ready 10 back the PAGAN drama
If it should prove profitable. Since
the pagan drama has already gotten
a fOcthOld 10 becomes the duty OF
Christians of America TO decide
clearly whether they shall retain
their present fortunate hold upon
the stage or surrender TO their most
dangerous enemy What can be
done is this: organize the Christian
managers. actor and dramatists. or
ganize TIE Christian audiences. give
liberal support TO the free theater."
These three things have already been
attempted with success in the es-
adjustment OF the Actors Church
alliance i'm EuEland under Episcopal
and Anglican patronage; the estab-
ishment OF the British Catholic