A FAIR HEARING

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 19

A FAIR HEARING

RESPECT FOR OPPONENTS AN AMERICAN CHARACTERISTIC. "The recent visit of the President to this city," remarked the San Francisco Chronicle, "and a review of 'the accounts of his progress through the country, direct attention to an American characteristic that has been variously commented upon by critics, some of whom incline to the belief that it indicates a lack of that robust form of democracy which manifests itself in the disposition to call a man down when he makes an assertion th_j the hearer thinks does not harmonise with the facts." In Great Britain the practice of "heckling" a speaker is frequently indulged in, and does not appear to be deprecated by the people, who enjoy the performance, if the heckled individual does not. If he is embarrassed fmd is not ready with an answer the assumption seems to be that he has no business to encounter the risk of having his deficiencies exposed. British audiences also have the habit of showing the dissatisfaction' when an actor fails to meet their expectations. It finds expression in what is called "booing," and its justification is found in the fact that it discourages indiscriminate applause. "NO BOOING!" In this country (United States) neither the "bop' nor the claque has been encouraged. In the early part of the nineteenth century a disposition was displayed by the occupants of the galleries set aside for the gods" in theatres to exhibit disapproval by cat-calls and sometimes by the projection of offensive if not dangerous missiles, in the direction of the stage; but the practice never "caught on" in real earnest. An actor courting public favour .would have to be very bad indeed to be subjected to a demonstration that would compel him, to retire before finishing his stunt; as for an actress, it. is inconceivable ; that an audience of - Americans would subject her to such a humiliation. Perhaps we are too polite (remarks the Chronicle), and too easy going as a people, but the evidence does not point to our being apathetic. American audiences can become as enthusiastic: in their demonstrations of approval when an artist pleases them as any on the globe, and when one succeeds in securing the sort of approbation which manifests itself •in applause no one will charge that it is worked up; its spontaneity is too self evident to wan'ant such a suspicion. REASON AND REPARTEE. It is an open question which disposition is the most admirable. Certainly the American propensity to shrink from incurring the trouble, which impels faultiinding with the shortcomings of municipal and other servants is not conducive to good government. Travelling along the road of least resistance may be more comfortable than conscientiously attacking abuses, and making an effort to abate ; them, but it admittedly results in lax management of affairs, which in the end produces more discomfort for the shirkers than if every citizen regarded it as a special, duty imposed upon him by his citizenship to report and condemn every • dereliction coming under his observation. But, while activity of this kind deserves to be extolled, as much'cannot be said for "heckling." The reading habit has been acquired in this country and in Great Britain, and it is far better that what a speaker says should be studied afteivit appears, in cold sprint b_efpre forming a judgment. Snap questions'are very fetching at times, but the fact that tlwy may disconcert a- speaker doss not prove that he is wrong. A smarty in an audience, like a child) may ask questions that ■cannot be answered with a- "yes" or a "no," Disputed propositions need to be buttressed with arguments. The brilliancy of a clever dialectician cannot compare with the reasoning of a man of solid qualities, and reason is not an outstanding feature of repartee. Qn the whole, therefore, Americans may well b9 proud of the fact, that they can listen with natience to a speaker .and. leisurely-digest >vh_t he has said. .