therearemanyelsewherewhosesagesayingsandforciblelogicareappreciatedbyallwhohearorreadthem；but，onthewhole，Americansexcelothersinthereadinessoftheirwit，andtheirpowertomakeagoodextemporespeechonanysubject，withoutopportunityforpreparation。
NeitheristhefairsexinAmericabehindthemeninthismatter。
Ihaveheardsomemostexcellentspeechesbywomen，speecheswhichwoulddocredittoanorator；buttheylaborunderadisadvantage。
Thefemalevoiceissoftandlow，itisnoteasilyheardinalargeroom，andconsequentlytheaudiencesometimesdoesnotappreciateladyspeakerstotheextentthattheydeserve。However，Iknowaladywhopossessesapowerful，masculinevoice，andwhoisaverypopularspeaker，butsheisanexception。AnyhowIbelievetheworstspeaker，maleorfemale，couldimprovebypractisingprivatedeclamation，andawakeningtotheimportanceofarticulation，modulation，and——thepause。
Anotherclassofsocialfunctionsare"AtHomes"，teaparties，andreceptions。
Thenumberofguestsinvitedtotheseisalmostunlimited，itmaybeoneortwodozen，oroneortwodozenhundreds。
Thepurposeoftheseisusuallytomeetsomedistinguishedstranger，someguestinthehouse，orthenewlymarrieddaughterofthehostess。
Itisimpossibleforthehostorhostesstorememberallthosewhoattend，orevenallwhohavebeeninvitedtoattend；generallyvisitorsleavetheircards，althoughmanydonotevenobservethisrule，butwalkrightinasiftheyownedthehouse。Whenanewcomerisintroducedhisnameisscarcelyaudible，andbeforethehostess，orthedistinguishedguest，hasexchangedmorethanoneortwowordswithhim，anotherstrangercomesalong，sothatitisquiteexcusableifthenexttimethehostsmeetthesepeopletheydonotrecognizethem。
InChinaanewfashionisnowinvogue；newacquaintancesexchangecards。
IfthiscustomshouldbeadoptedinAmericatherewouldbelesscomplaintsaboutnewfriendsreceivingthecoldshoulderfromthosewhotheythoughtshouldhaveknownthem。
Inlargereceptions，suchasthosementionedabove，howeverspaciousthereceptionhall，inagreatmanyinstancesthereisnotevenstandingroomforallwhoattend。Itrequiresbutlittleimaginationtounderstandtheconditionoftheatmospherewhenthereisnoproperventilation。
Now，whatalwaysastonishedmewas，thatalthoughtheparlormightbecrowdedwithladiesandgentlemen，allthewindowswere，asarule，keptclosed，withtheresultthattheplacewasfullofvitiatedair。
FrequentlyafterashorttimeIhavehadtoslipawaywhenIwouldwillinglyhaveremainedlongertoenjoythecharmingcompany。
IfIhaddoneso，however，Ishouldhavetakenintomylungsalargeamountoftheobnoxiousatmosphereexhaledfromhundredsofotherpersonsintheroom，totheinjuryofmyhealth，andnoonecangivehisfellowshisbestunlesshishealthishearty。
Nowonderweoftenhearofahostorhostessbeingunwellafterabigfunction。Theirfeelingsonthemorningafterareoftenthereverseof"good-willtomen"，andthecauseisnotaloweredmoralheartinessbutaweakenedphysicalbodythroughbreathingtoomuchairexhaledfromotherpeople'slungs。
Whenmanunderstands，hewillmake"goodhealth"areligiousduty。
InconnectionwiththisIquoteDr。J。H。Kellogg，theeminentphysicianandSuperintendentoftheBattleCreekSanitarium。
Inhisbook，"TheLivingTemple"*，thedoctorspeaksasfollowsontheimportanceofbreathingpureair:"Thepurposeofbreathingistoobtainfromtheairasupplyofoxygen，whichthebloodtakesupandcarriestothetissues。Oxygenisoneofthemostessentialofallthematerialsrequiredforthesupportoflife……
Theamountofoxygennecessarilyrequiredforthispurposeisaboutoneandone-fourthcubicinchesforeachbreath……
Inplaceoftheoneandone-fourthcubicinchesofoxygentakenintotheblood，acubicinchofcarbonicacidgasisgivenoff，andalongwithitarethrownoffvariousotherstillmorepoisonoussubstanceswhichfindanaturalexitthroughthelungs。Theamountofthesecombinedpoisonsthrownoffwithasinglebreathissufficienttocontaminate，andrenderunfittobreathe，threecubicfeet，orthree-fourthsofabarrel，ofair。Countinganaverageoftwentybreathsaminuteforchildrenandadults，theamountofaircontaminatedperminutewouldbethreetimestwentyorsixtycubicfeet，oronecubicfootasecond……
Everyoneshouldbecomeintelligentinrelationtothematterofventilation，andshouldappreciateitsimportance。Vastandirreparableinjuryfrequentlyresultsfromtheconfinementofseveralscoresorhundredsofpeopleinaschoolroom，church，orlectureroom，withoutadequatemeansofremovingtheimpuritiesthrownofffromtheirlungsandbodies。Thesameairbeingbreathedoverandoverbecomesdenselychargedwithpoisons，whichrenderthebloodimpure，lessenthebodilyresistance，andinducesusceptibilitytotakingcold，andtoinfectionwiththegermsofpneumonia，consumption，andotherinfectiousdiseases，whicharealwayspresentinaverycrowdedaudienceroom。Suppose，forexample，athousandpersonsareseatedinaroomfortyfeetinwidth，sixtyinlength，andfifteeninheight:howlongatimewouldelapsebeforetheairofsucharoomwouldbecomeunfitforfurtherrespiration？
Rememberingthateachpersonspoilsonefootofaireverysecond，itisclearthatonethousandcubicfeetofairwillbecontaminatedforeverysecondthattheroomisoccupied。Toascertainthenumberofsecondswhichwouldelapsebeforetheentireaircontainedintheroomwillbecontaminated，sothatitisunfitforfurtherbreathing，wehaveonlytodividethecubiccontentsoftheroombyonethousand。
Multiplying，wehave60*40*15equals36，000，thenumberofcubicfeet。
This，dividedbyonethousand，givesthirty-sixasthenumberofseconds。
Thusitappearsthatwithcloseddoorsandwindows，breathpoisoningoftheaudiencewouldbeginattheendofthirty-sixseconds，orlessthanoneminute。Theconditionoftheairinsucharoomattheendofanhourcannotbeadequatelypicturedinwords，andyethundredsofaudiencesaredailysubjectedtojustsuchinhumanetreatmentthroughignorance。"——
*"TheLivingTemple"，byJ。H。Kellogg，pp。282etal。
PublishedbyGoodHealthPublishingCo。，BattleCreek，Mich。，U。S。A——
Theaboveremarksapplynotonlytochurches，lecturerooms，andotherpublicplaces，butalsowithequalforcetoofficesandfamilyhouses。
Ishouldliketoknowhowmanypersonspayevenalittleattentiontothisimportantsubjectofpureairbreathing？Yougotoanoffice，whetherlargeorsmall，andyoufindallthewindowsclosed，althoughtherearehalf-a-dozenormorepersonsworkingintheroom。
Nowonderthatmanagers，clerks，andotherofficeworkersoftenbreakdownandrequireaholidaytorecuperatetheirimpairedhealthattheseaside，orelsewhere。
Whenyoucallataprivateresidenceyouwillfindthesamething，allthewindowsclosed。Itistruethattherearenotsomanypersonsintheroomasinanoffice，butifyoursenseofsmelliskeenyouwillnoticethattheairhasclose，stuffyexhalations，whichsurelycannotbesanitary。Ifyouventuretosuggestthatoneofthewindowsbeopenedtheladyofthehousewillatoncetellyouthatyouwillbeinadraughtandcatchcold。
Itisamatterofdailyoccurrencetofindanumberofpersonsdininginaroomwherethereisnoopeningforthecontaminatedairtoleakout，orforthefreshairtocomein。Afterdinnerthegentlemenadjourntothelibrarytoenjoythesweetperfumesofsmokingforanhourorsowithclosedwindows。Whatapicturewouldbepresentedifthebacteriaintheaircouldbesketched，enlarged，andthrownonascreen，orbetterstillshowninacinematograph，butapparentlygentlemendonotmindanythingsolongastheycaninhalethepernicioustobaccofumes。
Itisacommonpractice，Ifear，tokeepthewindowsofthebedroomclosed，exceptinhotweather。Ihaveoftensuggestedtofriendsthat，forthesakeoftheirhealth，theyshouldatleastkeeponeofthewindows，ifnotmore，openduringthenight，buttheyhavepooh-poohedtheideaonaccountofthatbugaboo——adraught。Itisoneofthemysteriesoftheagethatpeopleshouldbewillingtobreathesecond-handairwhenthereissomuchpure，freshairoutofdoorstobehadfornothing；
afterinhalingandexhalingthesameairoverandoveragainallthroughthenightitisnotstrangethattheyriseinthemorninglanguidanddullinsteadofbeingrefreshedandinhighspirits。
Noonewhoisdeprivedofasufficiencyoffreshaircanlongremainefficient。Healthisthecornerstoneofsuccess。
IhearmanynowadaystalkingofEugenics。EugenicswasfoundedtenyearsagobySirFrancisGalton，whodefineditthus:"Thestudyofagenciesundercontrolthatmayimproveorimpairtheracialqualitiesoffuturegenerations，eitherphysicallyormentally。"TheUniversityofLondonhasadoptedthisdefinition，whereachairofEugenicshasbeenfounded。
Thisscienceisundoubtedlyofthefirstimportance，butwhatadvantageisgoodbirthifafterwardlifeispoisonedwithfoulair？
Adust-ladenatmosphereisagerm-ladenatmosphere，thereforephysiciansprescribefortubercularconvalescentsconditionsinwhichtheairis90%freefromdust。However，theairofthecityhasbeenscientificallyproventobeaspureastheairofthecountry。Allthatisnecessarytosecureproperlungfoodisplentyofit，——housessoconstructedthattheairinsideshallbefreetogooutandtheairoutsidetocomein。
Airinaclosedcagemustbemischievous，andwhatareill-ventilatedroomsbutviciousaircages，inwhichmischiefsofallsortsbreed？
Americaprofessestobelieveinpublicity，andwhatis"publicity"
buttheopenwindowandtheopendoor？Practisethisphilosophyanditwillbeeasytokeeponthesunnysideofthestreetandtodiscouragetheglooms。Thejoysflyinatopenwindows。
Chapter14。TheatersTheidealofChinaissinceritybutanactorisapretender。
Heappearstobewhatheisnot。Nowourancientwisemenfeltthatpretenseofanysortmusthaveadangerousreactionaryinfluenceonthecharacter。Ifamanlearnshowtobeacleveractoronthestagehemaybeaskilleddeceiverinotherwalksoflife。Moreover，noonetowhomsincerityisasthegumsaretotheteeth，wouldwishtoacquiretheartofactingasthoughheweresomeoneelse。
HenceactorsinChinahavefromancienttimesbeenlookeddownupon。
Actresses，untilthelastdecadeorso，wereunknowninChina，andaboywhobecameanactorcouldneverafterwardoccupyanypositionofhonor。He，hischildrenandhisgrandchildrenmightbefarmers，merchantsorsoldiers，buttheycouldneverbeteachers，literarymenorofficials。TheChinesefeelingforsincerity，amountingalmosttoworship，hascausedtheprofessionofanactorinChinatobeconsideredaverylowone，andsountilthenewregimetheactorwasalwaysdebarredfromattendinganyliteraryexamination，andwasalsodeprivedoftheprivilegeofobtainingofficialappointment；
infacthewasconsideredanoutcastofsociety。NorespectableChinesefamilywouldthinkofallowingtheirsontogoonthestage。
AsanaturalconsequentthemembersoftheChinesestagehave，asarule，beenmenwhowereasmuchbelowthelevelofmoralrespectabilityasconventionalismhadalreadyadjudgedthemtobebelowthelevelofsocialrespectability。Regardanyoneasamirrorwithacrackedfaceandhewillsoonjustifyyouropinionofhim。IfthemoralsofChineseactorswillnotbearinvestigationitisprobablyduetothesocialostracismtowhichtheyhavealwaysbeensubjected。ThesamephenomenonmaybeseeninconnectionwithBuddhism。AssoonasBuddhisminChinaceasedtobeapowerthepriestsbecameadespisedclassandbeingdespisedtheyhaveoftengivenoccasiontootherstodespisethem。
IamawarethatquiteadifferentviewisheldofthestageinAmericaandEurope，andthatactorsandactressesareplacedonanequalfootingwithothermembersofsociety。
Thisdoesnot，ofcourse，meanthateitherAmericaorEuropelayslessstressonsinceritythanChina，butsimplythatwehavedevelopedindifferentways。Ihaveheardoftheold"moralityplays"，IknowthatEnglishdrama，liketheEgyptian，Greek，andIndian，haditsorigininreligion，butthisalonewillnotexplainthedifferentattitudeassumedtowardactorsintheWestfromthattakenupinChina。*IaminclinedtothinkthatthereasonwhyactorsarenotdespisedintheWestastheyareinChinaisbecausetheWestconsidersfirsttheutilityofpleasure，andtheEastthesupremacyofsincerity。Here，asissofrequentlythecase，apparentdifferencesarelargelydifferencesofemphasis。
TheWestwouldseemtoemphasizethebeautyofthedesiretopleasewhereChineseconsidertheeffectoncharacterorbusiness。
TheexpensivedinnerswhichnooneeatsandwhichIdiscussedinapreviouschapterareanillustration。NooneinChinawouldspendmoneyinthisfashionexceptingforsomedefinitepurpose——
*Inhisdiscussionofactors，WuTingfangdoesnotseemtobeawarethattheidealizationofactorsintheWestiscomparativelyrecent，andthathistorically，andevennowinsomepartsofsociety，actorsandtheactingprofessionhavebeenlookeddownuponintheWestformanyofthesamereasonshegivesforthesamephenomenoninChina——
A。R。L。，1996——
WeChineseliketoflatter，andtoopenlypraisetotheirfacesthosewhomweadmire。MostWesterners，would，Ithink，pleaseratherthanadmire；mostmenandwomeninAmericaandEuropeenjoyapplausemorethaninstruction。ThisrecognitionofthedelicatepleasureofbeingabletopleasesomeoneelsenaturallyattractsquiteadifferenttypetotheWesternstagefromthematerialusuallyfoundinChinesedramaticcompanies，andinasocietywhereeveryoneacknowledgesthebeautyofpleasinganother，thepositionoftheactornaturallybecomesbothenviedanddesirable。
WhenthereforeamanorwomansucceedsontheEuropeanorAmericanstageheorsheislookeduptoandwelcomedinfashionablesociety，e。g。，HenryIrvinghadtheentreetothehighestsociety，andhisportraitwasalwaysfoundamongthenotables。Newspaperspublishedlongnoticesofhisstageperformances，andwhenhediedhereceivedasgreathonorsasEnglandcouldgive。DuringhislifetimeheenjoyedtheroyalfavorofQueenVictoria，whoconferredaknighthooduponhim。
Afterhisdeathhisbiographywaspublishedandreadbythousands。
AllthisisquitecontrarytothespiritoftheChinesewho，nomatterhowcleveramanmaybeasanactor，canneverforgetthatheisapretenderandthattheclevererheisthegreatercareexistsforguardingone'sselfagainsthistricks。
ActressesarenolessrespectedandhonoredintheWest，whereasinChinatherearepositivelynorespectablewomenonthestage。
YetintheWestitisacommonoccurrencetohearofmarriagesofactressestobankers，merchants，andmillionaires。Evenballet-girlshavebecomeduchessesbymarriage。Thestageisconsideredanobleprofession。Often，whenagirlhasagoodvoice，nothingwillsatisfyherbutastagecareer。
AsituationsuchasthisisverydifficultforaChinesetoanalyze。
TheaverageChinesewomanlackstheimagination，theself-abandon，thecouragewhichmustbenecessarybeforeagirlcanthinkofherselfasstandingaloneinabrightlightbeforealargeaudiencewaitingtoseeherdanceorhearhersing。Chineseactresseswerequiteunknownuntilveryrecently，andthefewthatmaybenowfoundontheChinesestagewerenearlyallofquestionablecharacterbeforetheyenteredthetheater。
InthenorthernpartofChinasomegoodChinesewomenmaybefoundincircuses，butthesebelongtotheworkingclassandtakeupthecircuslifewiththeirhusbandsandbrothersforalivelihood。
TheactressesoftheWestaredifferent。Theyaredrawntothestageforthesakeofart；anditmustbetheirsplendiddaringasmuchastheirbeautywhichinduceswealthymen，andevensomeofthenobility，tomarrythesewomen。Manlovescourageandrespectsallwhoarebraveenoughtofightfortheirown。Inaworldwhereself-lovenotselfishness
ishighlyesteemed，manhood，orthepowerofself-assertion，whetherinmanorwoman，naturallybecomesafascinatingvirtue。
Noonelikestobecolleaguetoacoward。Themillionairesandotherswhohavemarriedactresses——andasactressesmakeplentyofmoneytheyarenotlikelytobewillingtomarrypoormen——
meetmanywomeninsocietyasbeautifulasthewomentheyseeonthestage，butsocietywomenlackthesupremecourageanddaringofthestagegirl。
Thus，veryoftenthepretty，thoughlesseducated，ballet-girl，winsthemanwhomhermorerefinedandlessself-assertivesister——
theordinarysocietygirl——issorrytolose。
Thesuffragettesaretoointentjustnowongetting"VotesforWomen"
tolistentoproposalsofmarriage，butwhentheysucceedinobtaininguniversalsuffrageIshouldthinktheywouldhavelittledifficultyinobtainingbravehusbands，forthesuffragetteshavecourage。
Thesewomen，however，areserious，andIdonotthinkthatmenintheWest，judgingfromwhatIhaveseen，likeveryseriouswives。
Soperhapsafteralltheballet-girlandactresseswillhavemorechancesinthemarriageIhadalmostwrittenmoneymarketthanthesuffragettes。
Imaybemistakeninmytheories。Ihaveneverhadtheopportunityofdiscussingthematterwithamillionaireoranactress，norhaveItalkedaboutthestagewithanyoftheladieswhomakeittheirhome，butunlessitistheirsuperbindependenceandtheirabilitytothrowoffcareandtoacttheirpartwhichattractmenwhoarelookingforwives，Icannotaccountforsomanyactressesmarryingsowell。
What，however，wemayask，istheobjectofthetheater？Isitnotamusement？
Butwhenaseriousplayendingtragicallyisputontheboardsisthatamusement？Thefeelingsoftheaudienceafterwitnessingsuchaplaymustbefarfrompleasant，andsometimesevenmoody；
yettragediesarepopular，andmanywillpayahighpricetoseeawell-knownactorcommitmostobjectionableimitation-crimesonthestage。AfewweeksbeforethischapterwaswrittenanumberofmenofdifferentnationalitieswerepunishedforbeingpresentatacockfightinShanghai。MexicanandSpanishbullfightswouldnotbepermittedintheUnitedStates，andyetitisaquestionwhetherthebirdsortheanimalswhotakepartinthesefightsreallysufferverymuch。Theyareinastateofferociousexaltation，andaremoreconcernedaboutkillingtheiropponentsthanabouttheirownhurts。Soldiershavebeenseriouslywoundedwithoutknowinganythingaboutituntiltheexcitementofthebattlehaddiedaway。Whythenforbidcockfightingorbull-baiting？
Theywouldbepopularamusementsifallowed。Itiscertainthatanimalsthataredrivenlongdistancesalongdirtyroads，cattle，sheep，andfowlthatarecoopedupformanywearyhoursinrailwaytrucks，simplythattheymayreachadistantmarketandbeslaughteredtogratifypervertedhumanappetites，reallysuffermorethanthecockorbullwhomaybekilledorwoundedinafightwithothersofhisownkind。
Whataboutthesufferingsofpugilistswhotakepartintheprize-fights，inwhichsomanythousandsintheUnitedStatesdelight？Itcannotbepity，therefore，forthebirdsorbeasts，whichmakestheauthoritiesforbidcockfightingandbull-baiting。Itmustbethatalthoughtheseareexhibitionsofcourageandskill，theexhibitionisdegradingtothespectatorsandtothosewhourgethecreaturestofight。
Butwhatisthedifference，sofarasthespectatorisconcerned，betweenwatchingacombatbetweenanimalsorbirdsandfollowingavividdramatizationofcrueltyonthestage？Inthelattercasethementalsufferingswhichareportrayedarefrequentlymoreharrowingthanthedetailsofanybull-orcockfight。Suchrepresentation，therefore，unlessaveryclearmorallessonorwarningisemblazonedthroughouttheplay，musthavetheeffectofmakingactors，actressesandspectatorslesssympatheticwithsuffering。Familiaritybreedsinsensibility。
WhatIhavesaidofmelodramaappliesalso，thoughinalesserdegree，tobooks，andshouldbeawarningtoparentstoexercisepropersupervisionoftheirchildren'sreading。
Farbeitfrommetodisparagetheworkoftheplaywright；
theplotisoftenwelllaidandtheactors，especiallytheprima-donna，executetheirpartsadmirably。Iamconsideringthematter，atthemoment，fromtheview-pointofaplay-goer。Whatbenefitdoeshereceivefromwitnessingatragedy？Inhishomeandhisofficehashenotenoughtoengagehisseriousattention，andtofrequentlyworryhismind？
Isitworthhiswhiletodressandspendaneveningwatchingaperformancewhich，howeverskilfullyplayed，willmakehimnohappierthanbefore？
Itisacharacteristicofthosewhoarefondofsensationalplaysthattheydonotmindwatchingthetragicalendingofaherooraheroine，andallforthesakeofamusement。Youngpeopleandchildrenarenotlikelytogetgoodimpressionsfromthissortofthing。
Ithasevenbeensaidthatmurdershavebeencommittedbyyoungsterswhohadbeentakenbytheirparentstoseearealisticmelodrama。
Itisdangeroustoallowyoungpeopleoftenderagetoseesuchplays。
Thejuvenilemindisnotripeenoughtoformcorrectjudgments。
SometimeagoIreadinoneoftheAmericanpapersthataboyhadkilledhisfatherwithaknife，onseeinghimill-treathismotherwheninastateofintoxication。Itappearedthattheladhadwitnessedadramatictragedyinatheater，andinkillinghisfatherconsideredhewasdoingaheroicact。Hecould，bythesamerule，havebeeninspiredtoanobleactofself-sacrifice。
Afterall，themainquestionis，doesasensationalplayexerciseabeneficialoraperniciousinfluenceovertheaudience？Ifthereaderwillconsiderthematterimpartiallyheshouldnothaveanydifficultyincomingtoarightconclusion。
Theatricalperformancesshouldaffordamusementandexcitemirth，aswellasgiveinstruction。Peoplewhovisittheatersdesiretobeentertainedandtopassthetimepleasantly。
Anythingwhichexcitesmirthandlaughterisalwayswelcomedbyanaudience。
Butaseriouspiecefromwhichhumorhasbeenexcluded，iscalculated，evenwhenplayedwithsympatheticfeelingandskill，tocreateasenseofgravityamongthespectators，which，tosaytheleast，canhardlyberestfultojadednerves。Yetwhencomposinghisplaystheplaywrightshouldneverlosesightofthemoral。
Ofcoursehehastopayattentiontothearrangementofthedifferentpartsoftheplotandthecharactersrepresented，butwhileitisimportantthateachactandeverysceneshouldbeharmoniouslyandproperlyset，andthatthecharactersshouldbeadaptedtothepieceasawhole，itisnonethelessimportantthatamoralshouldbeenforcedbyit。Thepracticallessontobelearnedfromtheplayshouldneverbelostsightof。
InChineseplaysthemoralisalwaysprominent。Thevillainispunished，virtueisrewarded，whilethemajorityoftheplaysarehistorical。
Allhealthy-mindedpeoplewilldesiretoseeaplayendwithvirtuerewarded，andvicevanquished。Thosewhowantitotherwiseareunnaturalandpossessshortviewsoflife。Eitherinthislifeorinsomeother，eachreceivesaccordingtohisdeserts，andthislessonshouldalwaysbetaughtbytheplay。YetfromallthecleverdramaswhichhavebeenwrittenandactedontheWesternstagefromtimetotimewhataverysmallpercentageofmorallessonscanbedrawn，whiletoomanyofthemhaveunfortunatelybeenofanobjectionablenature。
Nearlyeveryonereadsnovels，especiallytheyoungerfolk；
tomanyoftheseavisittoatheaterislikereadinganovel，exceptingthattheperformancemakeseverythingmorerealistic。
Apiecewithagoodmoralcannotthereforefailtomakeanexcellentimpressionontheaudiencewhileatthesametimeaffordingthemamusement。
Iamsomewhatsurprisedthatthechurches，ethicalsocietiesandreformassociationsinAmericadonotmoreclearlyappreciatethevaluableaidtheymightreceivefromthestage。Ihavebeentoldthatsomechurchespaytheirsingersmorethantheirpreachers，whichshowsthattheyhavesomeideaofthevalueofgoodart。
Whynotgoastepfurtherandpreachthroughaplay？Thisdoesnotmeanthatthereshouldbenofunbutthatthemoralshouldbewellthrusthome。
Ihaveheardofpreacherswhomakejokeswhilepreaching，sothatitshouldnotbesoverydifficulttoactinterestingsermonswhichwouldelevate，eveniftheydidnotamuse。Peoplewhowenttochurchtoseeatheaterwouldnotexpectthesameentertainmentasthosewhogotothetheatersimplyforalaugh。
InChinawedonotexpendasmuchenergyasAmericansandEuropeansintryingtomakeotherpeoplegood。Wetrytobegoodourselvesandbelievethatourgoodexample，likeapurefragrance，willinfluenceotherstobelikewise。Wethinkpracticeisasgoodasprecept，and，ifImaysaysowithoutbeingsupposedtobecriticalofaracedifferentfrommyown，thethoughthassometimessuggesteditselftomethatAmericansaresointentondoinggoodtoothers，andonmakingothersgood，thattheyaccomplishlessthantheywouldiftheiractionsandintentionswerelessdirectandobvious。
IcannothereexplainallImean，butifmyreaderswillstudywhatLiYuandChuangTszhavetosayabout"Spontaneity"and"NotInterfering"，Ithinktheywillunderstandmythought。Thetheater，asIhavealreadysaid，wasinseveralcountriesreligiousinitsorigin；whynotuseittoelevatepeopleindirectly？Theultimateeffect，becausemorenatural，mightbebetterandtruerthanmoredirectpersuasion。Pulpitappeals，Iamgiventounderstand，aresometimesverypersonal。
SincewritingtheaboveIhaveseenanewspapernoticeofadramaticperformanceintheEthicalChurch，Queen'sRoad，Bayswater，London。
TheEthicalChurchbelieves"ineverythingthatmakeslifesweetandhuman"
andthemanagementstatethattheybelieve——"thebesttrendofdramaticopinionto-daypointsnotonlytothetransformationoftheatersintocentersofsocialenlightenmentandmoralelevation，butalsotothetransformationofthechurchesintocentersfortheimaginativepresentation，bymeansofalltheartscombined，ofthedeepertruthsandmeaningsoflife。"Personally，Idonotknowanythingaboutthissociety，butsurelythereisnothingoutofharmonywithChristianityintheseprofessions，andIamgladtofindhereanalliancebetweenthetwogreatestfactorsinthedevelopmentofWesternthoughtandculture——thechurchandthetheater。
ThenewspaperarticletowhichIhavereferredwasdescribingthe"oldmoralityplay，Everyman"whichhadbeenperformedinthechurch。
Thevisitorwhowassomewhatcritical，andapparentlyunusedtoseeingthetheaterinachurch，wroteoftheperformancethus:
"Boththemusicandthedressingoftheplaywereperfect，andfromthemomentthatDeathenteredcladinbluestuffwithimmensebluewingsuponhisshoulders，andthetrumpinhishand，andstoppedEveryman，agorgeousfigureincrimsonrobesandjewelledturban，withthequestion，`Whogoessogailyby？'theplaywasperformedwithanimpressivenessthatneverfaltered。
"Theheaviestburden，ofcourse，fallsonEveryman，andtheartistwhoplayedthispartseemedtome，thoughIamnodramaticcritic，tohavecaughttheatmosphereandthespiritoftheplay。
Hisperformance，indeed，wasverywonderfulfromthemomentwhenheoffersDeathathousandboonsifonlythedreadsummonsmaybedelayed，tothatfinaltensescene，when，strippedofhisouterrobe，hesayshisclosingprayers，hesitatesforamomenttoturnback，thoughthedreadangelistherebyhisside，andthenfollowsthebeckoninghandofGoodDeeds，afiguresplendidlyrobedinflowingdraperiesofcrimsonandwithawonderfullyexpressivemobileface。
"AttheconclusionoftheplayDr。StantonColtaddressedafewwordstotheenthusiasticaudience，`Forsakethypride，foritwillprofittheenothing，'hequoted，`IfwecouldbutrememberthismorecarefullyandalsothefactthatnothingsaveourgooddeedsshallevergowithusintothatotherWorld，surelyitwouldhelpustoaholierandbetterlife。
Earthlythingshavetheirplaceandshouldhaveadueregardpaidtothem，butwemustnotforgetthejewelofoursouls。'"
Ihave，ofcourse，heardofthe"PassionPlay"atOberammergauinGermanywherethelifeofJesusChristisperiodicallyrepresentedonthestage，butIsaynothingaboutthis，for，sofarasIknow，itisnotperformedinAmerica，andIhavenotseenit；butImaynoteinpassingthatinChinatheatersaregenerallyassociatedwiththegodsinthetemples，andthatthemoraltheplayismeanttoteachisalwayswelldrivenhomeintothemindsoftheaudience。Wehavenot，however，venturedtointroduceanyofoursagestotheateraudiences。
ThetheaterinChinaisamuchsimpleraffairthaninAmerica。
Theresidentsinalocalityuniteanderectalargestageofbambooandmatting，thebamboopolesaretiedwithstripsofrattan，andallthematerialofthestage，exceptingtherattan，canbeusedoveragainwhenitistakendown。Mostoftheaudiencestandinfrontofthestageandintheopenair，thetheatergenerallybeinginfrontofthetemple；andtheplay，whichoftenoccupiesthreeorfourdays，isoftenperformedinhonorofthegod'sbirthday。Thereisnocurtain，andtherearenostageaccessories。Theaudienceisthusenabledtoconcentrateitswholeattentionontheacting。Femalepartsareplayedbymen，andeverythingisbeautifullysimple。ThereisnoattempttoproducesuchelaborateeffectsasIhaveseenintheWest，andofcoursenothingatallresemblingthepantomime，whichfrequentlyrequiresmechanicalarts。Anewspaperparagraphcaughtmyeyewhilethinkingofthissubject。Ireproduceit。
"TheCenturyTheaterinNewYorkCityhasspecialapparatusforproducingwindeffects，thunderandlightningsimultaneously。
Thewindmachineconsistsofadrumwithslatswhicharerotatedoveranapronofcordedsilk，whichproducesthewhistlingsoundofwind；
thelightningisproducedbypowderedmagnesiumelectricallyignited；
thunderissimulatedbyrollingathousandpoundsofstone，junkandchaindownachuteendinginanironplate，followedbyhalf-a-dozencannonballsandsupplementedbythedeafeningnotesofathunderdrum。"
Although，however，Chineseplay-goersdonotdemandtheexpensiveoutfitsandstagesceneriesoftheWest，ImustnoteherethatnotevenontheAmericanstagehaveIseensuchgorgeouscostumes，orrobesofsorichahueanddisplayingsuchglitteringgoldornamentsandgracefulfeathers，asIhaveseenonthesimpleChinesestageIhavejustdescribed。WesternfashionsarehavingatendencyinourportsandlargercitiestomodifysomethingsthatIhavestatedaboutChinesetheatricalperformances，butthepointIwishespeciallytoimpressonmyreadersisthattheatricalperformancesinChina，whileamusingandinteresting，areseldommelodramatic，andasIlookbackonmyexperiencesintheUnitedStates，Icannotbutthinkthatthegoodpeopletherearemakingamistakeinnotutilizingthehumannaturalloveforexcitementandthedramaasasubsidiarymoralinvestment。And，ofcourse，allIhavesaidoftheatersapplieswithequalforcetomoving-pictureshows。
Chapter15。OperaandMusicalEntertainmentsOperaisaformofentertainmentwhich，thoughverypopularinAmericaandEngland，doesnotappealtome。Iknowthatthosewhoarefondofmusiclovetoattendit，andthattheboxesinanoperahousearegenerallyengagedbythefashionablesetforthewholeseasonbeforehand。
Ihaveseenmembersofthe"fourhundred"intheirboxesinaNewYorkoperahouse；theyhavebeendistinguishedbytheirmagnificenttoilettesandbrilliantjewelry；butIhavebeenthinkingoftheChinesedrama，which，liketheoldGreekplay，isalsobasedonmusic，andChinesemusicwithitssoftandplaintiveairsisaverydifferentthingfromthemusicofgrandopera。ChinesemusiccouldnotberepresentedonWesterninstruments，theintervalsbetweenthenotesbeingdifferent。
Chinesesingingisgenerally"recitative"accompaniedbylongnotes，broken，orsuddenchordsfromtheorchestra。ItdifferswidelyfromWesternmusic，butitseffectsarewonderful。Oneofourwritershasthusdescribedmusicheonceheard:"Softly，asthemurmurofwhisperedwords；
nowloudandsofttogether，likethepatterofpearlsandpearletsdroppinguponamarbledish。Orliquid，likethewarblingofthemango-birdinthebush；tricklinglikethestreamletonitsdownwardcourse。
Andthenlikethetorrent，stilledbythegripoffrost，soforamomentwasthemusiclulled，inapassiontoodeepforwords。"
ThatthisfamousdescriptionoftheeffectsofmusicwhichIhaveborrowedfromMr。DyerBall's"ThingsChinese"isnotexaggerated，anyonewhoknowsChinamayconfirmbypersonalobservationofthekeenenjoymentanunlearned，commondaylaborerwillfindinplayingasingleluteallbyhimselfforhoursbeneaththemoononawarmsummerevening，withnoonelisteningbutthetreesandtheflittinginsects；butitrequiresapractisedeartoappreciatesingingandagoodvoice。OnoneoccasionIwenttoanoperahouseinLondontoheartheworld-renownedMadamePatti。
Theplacewassocrowded，andtheatmospheresoclose，thatIfeltveryuncomfortableandIamashamedtoacknowledgethatIhadtoleavebeforeshehadfinished。IfIhadbeeneducatedtoappreciatethatsortofmusicnodoubtIwouldhavecomprehendedhersingingbetter，and，howeveruncomfortable，Ishouldnodoubthaveremainedtotheendoftheentertainment。
WhilewritingthischapterithappenedthatthefollowingnewsfromNewYorkwaspublishedinthelocalpapersinShanghai。Itshouldbeinterestingtomyreaders，especiallytothosewhoareloversofmusic。
"`Yellowmusic'willbethenextnoveltytostartleandlurethisblasetown；amusementforecastersalreadyseeintheoffingaFallinvasionofthemysteriousChineseairswhicharenowhavingsuchavogueinLondonunderthegeneraltermof`yellowmusic'。
"ThetimewaswhenAmericansandoccidentalsingenerallaughedatChinesemusic，butthiswasduetotheirownignoranceofitsfullimportandtothefactthattheyheardonlythedirgesofaChinesefuneralprocessionorthebrassynoisesthatfeatureacelestialfestival。Theydidnothaveopportunitytobeenthralledbythethroaty，vibrantmelodies