11 



Italy, Spain and Germany, 1 he contends that in as much as the 

 theatre has originated independently and exists under many types 

 of civilization Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Greek, Roman and mod- 

 ern European and the influence of the Christian Church exerted 

 against it through so many centuries has failed to extirpate it, the 

 institution is likely to continuously thrive. Therefore, instead of 

 persistently denouncing the stage, it would be more politic to 

 kindly endeavor to point out and eliminate from it all acting that 

 is, in any degree, detrimental to morality. 



His manner of treating the subject may be seen in the following 

 quotations : 



" The first charge is, ' that dramas are frequently immoral stories, 

 abounding in covert or open indecencies of language or action 

 .sometimes actually blasphemous.' We appeal to any regular theatre 

 goer whether his experience does not partially confirm this. Even 

 those who frequent dramatic representations with the intention of 

 encouraging only meritorious and unobjectionable plays, occasionally 

 through ignorance of the matter of some new drama, or misled by 

 uncandid notices of the press, find themselves ' assisting ' at repre- 

 sentations, quite bad enough to destroy their faith in the theatre. 

 Our own experience, however, and we believe that it will be borne 

 out by the experience of every play -goer who has not depraved in- 

 .stincts, is that plays are usually entirely innocent, and those of a 

 serious character are intended to and do inculcate good morals and 

 right living, that they teach man's whole duty with, (no words are 

 more expressive), dramatic force ; that is to say, they make an im- 

 pression such as can never be made by either reading or lecture ; 

 for, to the power of trained declamation is added the verisimilitude 

 of scenery and action. The eye as well as the ear receives and 

 transmits the lesson to the brain and heart. No sermon can be 

 .so effectual for good, simply preached from the pulpit as when it is 

 embodied in appropriate action: that brings it home to us in all 

 its reality ; it is no longer a mere abstraction. 

 The play's the thing 

 Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. 



" Such is a good play, better than the best sermon, not only more 

 powerful but more far-reaching in its beneficent mission. 



" Then if we take up the clerical charge once more, and agree 

 that the amount of evil done by conveying this indecency or blas- 



i See Harper's Magazine, Dec. 1888, p. 62. 



