Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
TOW that the pulpits of the
land are beginning to fix
VI the blame for meretriciouS


4 plays and pictures upon
the public which patroniZes them
instead of upon those who make
them, it is time to take an account
of stock and to shape our ends
accordingly. For if the charge be
true, it will mean that the profess
Sional reformer and uplifter will
have to change his point of attack
and turn to the homes of America
for reform, instead of beSieging
the Legislatures and Congress,
and the censor, who has proved an
old man of the sea 20 the movie
and who is struggling desperately
to get aStride Of the shoulders OF
the playwright as we'll, should look
for another Job. Also it directs
attention very directly to the prop
oSition, often f1outed, that laws
alone cannot make the unruly
pious, no matter how severe they
may be. Of course, this new phase
of the question in noWiSe excuses
the picture and the play makers
from blame. It simply focuses the
attention where it belongs and
where long ago it was suggested
in this column the real cause Of
bad plays and pictures would be
found.
On the whole, the world at large
seems to face a very trying pre-
dicament. It wants peace, if it
has to fight for it; and, by the
same token, it demands plays and
pictures that are free from blen-
ish, even if it has to put their
makers out Of business. But
eminent divines-not one, but
many-are contending that it is
the people who patronize picture
and play atrocities who them
selves should be reckoned with If
any progress is to be made to-
ward a really decent stage and
screen. And those people con-
stitute a very large factor indeed
in the body polite.
Those who are without fault in
the matter must admit that
humanity at its best, despite its
many virtues, is mighty weak after
all, and this may furnish clue
as to why people want to see
wicked plays and photoplays, and
why, when the willy press agent OF
either tempts with suggestive hint,
or bare faced bid, the people in
great crowds rush to the theaterS
where they are offered and pour
their money into the ravenouS box
Offices without stint. And yet they
do, unqueStionably, and one need
not confine his evidence to the
testimony of the theater manager
to establish the fact. The young
folks might be excused on the
score of the natural curiosity OF
youth, but this will not serve their
elders as an excuse, and the elders
are quite as much at fault as the
youngsters. Yet people are no
worse today than they were 20,
80, 40 or even so years ago. Young
folks are perhaps more frank and
outspoken than they were in
grandma's time, but intrinSically
they are just as honest, just as
chaste, just as good as young peo-
pie ever were. Times have
changed, and they have helped
very largely in changing them.
Some viii suggest that they want
to see naughty things simply to
avoid them; others, more severe,
are inclined to accuse them OF just
being perverted, and declare they
are hurting to the demnition bow
vows. But why hop on the young
people? The older folks are just
as curious, and certainly 1t is they
who provide the young folks with
the money to indulge their morbid
taste. The more one thinks of it
the more bewildering the Situa-
ton becomes. The vital question
whether you have sprung from a
man or a monkey fades into in
significance before it. Doesn't the
remedy lie in trying to assume a
virtue even if we have it not?
The sage advisers who want
youth to follow the paths of right
eouSneSS as they see them must
first set the example; especially
must they exercise their influence
upon the youth within their own
homes. There is no divine right
which justifies adults" in indulg-
ing in dissipation OF any kind
simply because they are adults
and denying to youth the same
privilege because they have not
yet reached the age deemed ade-
quate for such sophiStication. One
cannot play fast and loose with
the virtues. 1t has to be one thing
or another and if those who desire