The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1927-02-18
The Cherry
Tree s'::;. MI 4, H. + s..:s:, ,:::; +:
about many things, sometimes pro-
foundly, sometimes fiippantl-.
sometimes recklessly.

The entertainment business of the
country centers in New York city on
the Atlantic and Hollywood on the
Pacific. From these two marts of
amusement commercialism there pour
forth great streams of what is called
art About much of it there is as
little art as there could possibly be,
but it is called art because art sounds
better than some more accurate term.
Primarily, these great amusement
enterprises are run for what there is
in it. Plays from New York and pic
lures from Hollywood are passed on
to the country in the hope that divi-
dends will flow back from the coun-
try.
From New York also come most of
the books and the songs with which
the populace is regaled. What ap-
plies to plays and pictures applies
more or less to books and songs.
AS to books, however, it must be
said that there is one important de-
parture. Critics and authors are alike
members of the writing craft. And
New York, while it leads in book pro-
duction, also sets out the beacon in
the realm of criticism. Within GER
tain limits there is a clan, part of
which writes the books, while the re-
mainder, playing critic, praises them,
precisely like the claque in theatres of
old.
But as to amusement, as it is called
New York is just now in the throes
of a righteousness outburst. The
mayor of the town has said that the
theatres must cleanse themselves, or
be cleansed. So the theatres are talk
ing about a czar who shall find that
delicate line between decency and cul-
garity There is job waiting for a
Lands or Will Hyde.
Those who wonder just what Will
Hays has done for either the pictures
or the morale of those who make them
will also wonder what a czar will dc
for the speaking stage and its people
Well, let them wonder. What else is
there for them to do?
1t has been demonstrated-and here
is the point to the whole thing-that
vulgarity draws customers. Custmo
ers bring their dollars. Then, in the
race to get every possible dollar, vul.
garity is piled on so thick that reac.
tion sets in among those who prefer
something else. They will allow the
vulgarity hunters just so much oil
their favorite dish, but no more.
The job of a czar is to let just
enough get by, but not too much
There isn't much difference between
this situation and the quandry of the
old days when one was safe in saying
that lady had broken her limb. Dut
, never safe in saying that she hac
broken her leg.
The trouble with czars is that they
are prone to increase their powers
And there is no appeal from the rul
II ing of these modern czars. The evi
they may do is almost equal to the
good they may do.
1t is all on level with the business
of censorship. 1t amounts only tt
that. One need not befriend vulgar.
ity to hate censorship. 1t is an evi
that has never yet, in the long run
proven a cure for any other evil.
Wrongs are not cured by applying
cures based upon wrong principles.
If a bit of humor is sought it may
be found in the fact that the censors
always very superior persons, see al
the bad and naughtiness there is, anc
seem to thrive upon it and to remair
more moral than the rest of us. How
this is, no one has yet properly ex
planned.
Perhaps it's just because they, Of
all the populace, are left free to make
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