The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-17
SEES DRAMA AND
SAYS DYSPEPSIA"
SHOULD Be TITLE
New York Magistrate Objects
to ASperSiOnS Cast Upon
Fair Name of "ChaSte and
Homogeneous Tiger"

NEW YORK, Dec, l7.-Chief Magis-
trate William McAdoo, who read the
manuscript of Tiger, Tiger IN his
study and then witnessed d perform
ance at the BelasCO theateF later, ISSUED
his findings as to the morality of the
play.
The decision was fifty-tifty. The chief
magistrate denied the application of
Police Sergt. Mark Horrigan and Patrol
mar Pooler, of the chief inspectors
staff, for a court process against Fran
ces Starr and Lionel Atwill, the lead
ing actors in the play, but
He was also requested that David
Belasco, who produced the play, at
tend to the elimination or certain pass
ages which the magistrate considered
Objectionable, and suggested that the
title be changed.
What the magistrate said about the
title follows:
THE title is misleading and decep-
tive, and has pxoVen so to persons who
write me that they were attracted to
attend the play by the well known ar
tistic ability of Mr.. Belasco in staging
productions, and a title which might be
suggestive of anything IN nature of art.
1T is also inappropriate, because the
tiger is a homogeneous animal, avoiding
promiscuity, and, generally speaking,
chaste and reserved in Its domestic re-
lationships."
A little later, in his opinion, the
magistrate returned to the question OF
the title and suggested how it could
be changed:
l have urged on Mr.. Belasco to change
the title Of the play, one of the char
acters says he is suffering from the
tiger In his bosom, which all men have.
Therefore, the title, the metaphorical
tiger in the bosom, is not half so for
midable as indigestion in the stomach,
IL tho late ThOTnae CarlVln iS IN he he
lieved. 1t might, therefore, just a. well
be called Dyspepsia or just plain
Sally"
Now, Sally is the name of the char
acter played by Frances Starr, but the
explanation of the magistrates other
however, that Sally is a cook, and you
will see that the dignified magistrate
is having his little joke.
The play is about a young member
Of parliament who forgets his wealth
and position, and picks up a humble
Knoblock, who wrote the play, wanted
to expound the idea Snat physical at
traction is not bound by social or in
tellectual letters. But-says the magis-
trate in ~effect-perhaps the member OF
parliament a dyspepsia, and couldn't
get a good cook any other way.
The magistrate says the conspicu-
ously Objectionable points in the play,
which, in his Judgment, came under the
law, are a scene in the first act and
part of the colloquy between two male
characters. The play purports as a
motive. he continues, the solution Of
certain social questions.
The secondary seduction Of a stray
cook by a gentleman OF position and
wealth, who prefers her charms to the
alleged intellectual attractions Of an
artistocratic British maiden" the de-
cision reads, ARE exploited in the sec
ond scene of the first act as betraying
a ferocity characteristic of the tiger.
THE obtrusion of the extensively sug-
gestive details is unnecessary, and in
amy event, aggressively Indecent, with
in the meaning Of the statute, This
part of the performance a only cater
to a class Of persons unnecessary to
describe. And in these times, we must
| especially consider our prave and clean
| living boys who wear the national uni
| form-and at all times that class, young
and old, who so dread the charge of
\ being considered prudish that they de-
| light to advertise themselves as being
blase and sophisticated"
The discussion closes as follows:.
"Mr. Belasco has readily conceded,
whatever his professional opinion may
be, to the omission of certain parts Of
| Objectionable language used by the two
male characters. And this being done,
it is my judgment that no further pro-
| ceedings should be had"
Mr.. McAdoo announced his decision
after an hours conference at the chief
magistrates office with Mr. Belasco and
the managers attorney, Irving NJ. Dit
tenhoefer. On leaving, Mr.. Belasco said
he had no comment to make.