Evening star., 1933-11-18
A VANGUARDIA, Barcelona
The theater. no longer able to
compete with the screen in secu-

compete with the screen in secu-
~ lar art and drama, now shows
an inclination to become an in
| stitution purely religious. The cinema
has pre-empted q large part of this
territory. too. but only In q SpeciouSness
Of purity and inspiration, for, generally
speaking, the theme religious upon the
screen Is only gross distortion Of the
supernatural and symbolical into the
shapes and shadows Of terrestrial vii
lainies.
Such theology and doctrinal exalta-
ton as are offered, or presumed to be
offered, in the new genius of the screen,
are uniformly found wanting in the
first essentials Of worthy purpose and
entirely void of spiritual benefits.
Rather such picture dramas employ a
religious setting only to exhibit the
sordid motifs OF crime, banditry and
dissipation against a background less
familiar. Such productions do nothing
to advance the reforms so inconsistency
promised in the enthusiastic assurances
OF the profession. There is far more
degeneration than redemption in all
truly, why class Of genuinely religious
plays could not be represented upon the
screen, but the time is not yet. The
silver sheet must first be purged of all
its base fanaticisms
In France. Henri Gheon has already
been successful in such an effort. He
has established what is called the
Catholic Theater," where classical
productions rich In divine splendor and
breathing forth, we say it reverently,
the very power and fragrance of the
sacraments. In Spain, the emulators
OF such revivals in grace and vision
would first restore these influences to
the living stage. There is a whole
library of ennobling works from which
to make selections desired not only for
their viStaS Of religion and morality.
but also for their merits artistic and
Leprosy Increases
Aarmingly In China.
North China Herald, Shanghai
The dispatch from Canton reporting the
increase in leprosy to serious proper
tions makes tragic reading. In cam
paign to rid the city Of lepers no less
than 81 were discovered In the first day.
rounded up and transferred to the leper
village of Sheklung, where there are
now over 1900 sufferers.
Much good work is being done by
different institutions in dealing with
the dread disease in many parts of
China, but 1t is becoming more ap-
parent every day that the means Of
dealing with it effectively are not yet
sufficient. To a very large extent segre-
grafton is about all that can be done
owing to the cost of treatment and the
80, o,.1t ixral nF
which is at the disposal of those doing
such fine work among the stricken. But
the extent to which the disease has
spread. and the large number of vic
Tins In South China demand that the
authorities In Canton should take the
strongest possible methods to prevent
any further increase, and at the same
time secure for those already afflicted
the latest treatment.
DR.. Lam Jim. head of the lepro-
sarium at Tai KUN Island, makes out
very good case for active measures
to be taken to combat the disease. and
| insists upon larger number of in
stitutions for dealing with the sufferers.
ALI this requires money, but even though
the authorities in Canton are preoccu-
pied In other directions, there Is still
room to hope that they may flnd an
opportunity of comNg to the aid OF
those very earnest workers who, despite
their great endeavors. are only able to
deal with the fringe of the evil.
X 4 4
Ban on Women's
! Smoking Praised.
The Egyptian Gazette, Alexandria
| The city Of Erfurt has set an example
to the whole world by prohibiting
women smoking publicly. The police
prefect Of Erfurt has issued q decree
that all cafes, restaurants and public