"THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 886, 4 August 1910, Page 6

"THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S."

■ r •■'•• [To. The Editor.'] ';<■:','■.'r : -., Sir.-This play has no doubt -fen bowdlerised to the fullest extent, and as 11 consequence, thero is no ■ word, phrase, or gesture to which, exception can be taken, , but-evil'is. there nevertheless. The .embarrassing, positions wincn. arise- and which afford so much amuse- . uient to tho audience are embarrassing ; to the parties concerned, simply because of the previous vicious conduct of the parties themselves. - It is-vicious lor a nianied woman to leave : her-home and amuse herself by becoming tho atnmty; of. an admittedly fast young man." It 19 vicious for a man while' a bachelor to form attachments which may wreck his domestic happiness when ho marries. It is vicious for a husband while pretending that business calls'him , to uiiuther country to assume another nanio aud live a fast life iii a distant city. It ia vicious for a -judge, home on furlough, to go kissing and hugging a maidservant. Take away the vicious elements.- and;there could be no play; as it is. there, is a fine piece of puff paste made with rancid butter. The play is a farce without a moral-aud without morals, and by suggesting that vicious ' deeds are done without dire and immediate punishment' • following, its exhibition may plant in an impressionable • subject a.' canker, to grow when- fitting opportunity.: arises, absorbing in. its growth morality and domes- .. tic happiness and leaving behind ahu- ' man wreck steeped ■ in degradation'-and abandoned by all who • think that the '. true foundation of civilisation is clean living, clean thinking, and clean dealing. -I am, etc., . '

Sir,—Tour, report' of ..Dr.' Gibb's sermon will do more harm than good. _ .Such a sermon scandalises Christianity. It, bristles with repulsive words and thoughts.' I am not excusing any who practise immorality, yet I affirm far more mischief is done by stirring up mud,-under the, professed desire to purify impurity—an impossible thing, to do.—l am, etc., _~. . [Portions of this letter * have been , - - . ■;■" ■". . . '■- v . ... Sir,—All sensible people regret the use of heated language in any connection, A protest can be made very emphatic by the use of , words dignified yet emphatic in the pulpit or'out -of it. ■ ■. On the other hand, the statements! contained in the letter of Rev. Dr. Gibb / and Rev. J. J. North (Dominion, Augusts, page 6) - require, more than "the opinion" suggested by, "sWrugged . his shoulders" and the fowwords, "thoy are.' wrong' again," etc., even froni one whose good■' nature has been tried by' certain critics. If lie is "to play - the. game," should he not answer .the ques-v tioris: Has the play been modified and remodelled (the latter,-even since it was produced in' Auckland) ?• In what degree i is j ßector's.;associated with the lhaw type"? ' '-. ■ " ■ . Such questions seem to require more than "I decline to discuss their letter (Dominion, page ' ' fi, 3-S-10).- . : Further, the dilemma about certain posters and dodgers is not faced by this, method. -'Let us have good manners,patience, and purity ui all things.—l am, etc " : "FAIR PLAY." '"Wellington South. .... [Mr Ward has denied' that. the. play , , was altered after the Auckland- production.] — '. . ■■■:';■ Sir,—Might ; I suggest ■ through the medium of. your, columns, to Messrs. iilib and North, tbat they witness .i . performance of the "Girl from Rector's," smA then next Sunday give their reactive congregations an unbiased- opinion, founded on fact, of the play, and an opportunity to , withdraw, their scurrilousremarks'oE tho previous Suudoy?—l aui, etC " "ONE OF MONDAY NIGHT'S AUDIENCE." , : .. '