STAGE CENSORSHIP
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—My admiration of Mr. Ian Hay's courage in publicly stating that he is "all for retaining the present system of censorship" is only less than my admiration of his frankness in admitting his reason, viz., the " simple " one "that the Censor, once he has passed your play, assumes all responsibility for it and you can go ahead with your production with an easy mind." So.
But those exceptions to "most theatrical people," whom Mr. Hay a little naively fancies share his opinion—the "few ultra-advanced dramatists "—having perhaps a further object in view than merely to entertain or to make money, may also possess a higher regard for their work than to rest content with a system against the possibly arbitrary decision of which they have no redress whatever.
To suggest an imaginary analogy, what an outlook for the future of British art if the Selection Committee of the Royal Academy were to be accepted as the final authority of what is good and bad, right and wrong, by the "few ultra-advanced" artists who have done most to enhance its reputation in
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