Evening star., 1920-06-27

IHc Suggestion
farces and medical clinics are
not wholesome dramatic en-
tertainment for the young. who, as
rule, largely make up the audiences
at stock and motion picture perform
ances. 1t is suggested that patrons
prefer the breezy farce that makes
them laugh and that the motion pic
ture with the odor of derelicts hos
pital is intended to enlighten and up
lift humanity; that the former should
be apprafs>d not by it's "authorial at
tainment,- but by the skill shown in
it's preses,sation, and that the latter
is a blesSing to the world too long
withheld
1t is not the purpose at this time
to renew the wordfest as to whether
innocence or worldly knowledge is to
be preferred in the young girl bud
ding into womanhood. or the young
man to whom. in the hour of her peril,
America looks for her champion.
Minds will differ. perhaps. in their
judgment in such matters. 1t is,
however, permissible to recall many
delightful hours of genuine entertain
ment afforded in the past to the hosts
of young people who have thronged
the theaters and found happiness in
stock performances. Except for the
practice and experience they give the
honest and respectable audiences who
are in search of nothing else. there
is no crying demand for the stock
performance, unless the producing
manager, like the scientist, desires
an animal to try his drug upon be-
fore injecting it into his own system.
The claim that the SalaciouS play
or the picture which reflects vice in
its most hideous form is designed for
any other purpose than as catch
penny is difficult of establishment
as it is to prove that actual expert
ence in all forms of vice is not the
best teacher for the innocent. 1t is
pure hypocrisy that prompts any the
atrical purveyor to advance the claim
that he is actuated by the public good
and not by the replenishment of his
Golfers. People have a right, perhaps.
to see these miserable productions if
they want to, but the claim has been
unsuccessfully advanced also that
people have right to make and to
drink what they choose. They may
have the right. but those who can
prevent it have a duty to check its
exercise, if young men and young
women are to be polluted thereby.
X X X
DR.. John Grier Hibben. the presi-
dent Of famous old Princeton, in his
baccalaureate sermon, very recently,
sounded a strong warning to his audi
Gnce 10 TcDtl against the CIdOtiC COH-
dition in which the world finds itself.
He pleaded for the once cherished
standards of manhood and womanhood
and for an uprising against the gen.
eral laxity that seems to have follow
ed in the wake of the world war.
Another distinguished clergyman of
New York declared one of the great
est evils of the present day within his
own observation was what he chose
to call "SeXitiS-" If these prominent
authorities scent the danger that one
of them declared inevitably preface
the downfall of a country and a peo-
pie, surely picture of the vicious in
its own environment, ostensibly for pre-
ventive enlightenment, or the clever act
ing in a suggestive drama will not help
avert that danger. Rather it is
rank abuse of the stage, which fought
its way from outlawry and the depths
to place of high honor in the worlds
esteem.
F. Ray Comstock of the enterpris-
ing firm of Comstock & Gest, in a
breezy conversation concerning the
plans of his firm during the past
week, said that it had established a
department in its offices in New York
where the efforts of those aspiring to
write plays will be critically and con-
siderately gone over, and any manu-
script. idea or suggestion warranting
it will be bought outright by the
producers and arranged by them for
production. Producers" he said,
''have been hard hit for new ideas the
past year. Professional writers seem
to have fallen into slump. and ap-
preciating that there are many brill
liant amateurs, who, either through
timidity or lack of knowledge OF
what to do, have kept their work to
themselves. We decided to open an
office and let all have a chance"
Richard G. Herndon is said to be
considering the revival of Maeter-
linck's MARY Magdalene," with Nance
o'Neill in view for an important role.
Langdon Mccormick. who has been
called ''the master thrill inventor of
the stage" is to establish playhouse
in New York for one-act thrill
plays" 1t is to be patterned after
the Grand Guignol of Paris.
x x 4
Arturo Toscanini, conductor of the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York.
the orchestra of La Scala, enriched
and improved with the best musical
elements of Italy, for ten-week
tour.
1.-THE Night Watch" by the author
of "The Storm which has stirred
New York. is said to possess qualities
for sensationalism never before
eQualed.
X x X
The San Carlo Grand Opera Com
pany is to beard the lion in his der
in New York. in September. promising
the most elaborate and ambitious
series of grand opera productions
given at moderat prices in the me-
tropolis for years. Henceforth, it is
said. the Manhattan Opera House will
be its September home for four weeks
each year.