The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-06 00:00:00

hide their diminished heads; and it is a well-known
maxim in any general commotion or disorderly
assemblage, if a good laugh can be raised the danger
of a riot is over. The moralists who declaim against
the drama are too forgetful of this important fact.
Very probably they may be by nature men of
studious habit and serious thought, but the wide
and varied range of human nature includes the
clown and harlequin, as well as the tragedian and
melo-dramatist. Such preachers and philosophers
are usually deficient in one great and necessary in-
gredient in the dramatist's success—a versatile sym-
pathy. The power of throwing oneself vividly into
the thoughts and feelings of another, of realising
his position, his sentiments, and his requirements,
does not belong alike to all ; but there are, unfortu-
nately, good and wise men who, instead of opening
their eyes to this want in themselves, would transfer
the deficiency to others, and censure them for not re-
cognising the infallible virtues of their particular
system. Such men in declaiming on the extrava-
gance, the improvidence, the irregularities of an
actor's life are too often forgetful of the substantial
merits under that shifting surface. We eaniot do
better than quote the words of Mr. CHARLES
DICKENS on this point, when, after speaking of the
toils and labours incidental to the profession, he
added—" In defiance of all these heavy blows and
great discouragements in the actor's life, I fearlessly
add these words—if there be any creature here,
knowing a theatre well,who knows any kind of place,
no matter what, cathedral, church, chapel, tabernacle,
high cross, market, change, where there is a more
sacred bond of charitable brotherhood, where there
is a more certain reliance to be placed on sym-
pathy with affliction, where there is a greater
generosity in ready giving, where there is a higher
and more sacred respect for family ties, where there
is habitually a more cheerful voluntary bearing of
burdens on already heavily-burdened backs, then
let him take his money to that place, to me un-
known, and not produce it here."
The object of this fund, which is in a measure
seltsupporting, is the granting of annuities to such
members as may be disqualified by age, sickness, or
infirmity from pursuing their profession, for extend-
ing aid to the sick, and, in some instances, to the
bereaved survivors of the dead. The members con-
tribute, according to a carefully computed scale,
out of their fluctuating earnings, with a "patience,
a steadiness, and a perseverance" which the Chair-
man, as one of the trustees, declared to be worthy
of all admiration. This fact should be weighed in
opposition to the commonly received notion of the
improvidence of actors, and it affords a powerful
claim on the public sympathy, since we
should surely help those who are so
anxious to help themselves. The great
chiefs of dramatic literature, and of the theatrical
profession, proffer their willing aid, showing that
ready kindness often displayed by true genius to
those in need of assistance or counsel, A very inte-
resting instance of this was given by Mr.BUCKSTONE,
who told his audience that at the age of seventeen
he had written a tragedy, which he sent to EDMUND
KEAN. The great tragedian, while objecting to
the specimen, probably recognised in it some indi-
cations of that dramatic talent which has since
been shown through a long and brilliant career
as author, actor, and manager. He bore the
young aspirant in kindly remembrance, and soon
after, while staying at Hastings, he found that his
benefit was to be held in a neighbouring barn. The
great tragedian accordingly called at the " theatre,"
and, taking two box tickets from the youthful
player, gave him two guineas for them—a high
price for barn accommodation, though no more than
any of us would be willing to give now to see Mr.
BUCKSTONE in " Asa Treachard."
We must hope the arguments and example of the
gifted men, who assisted by their words and presence
at the festival of Saturday evening will have due
influence with the public, who should remember
the many times that the drama has lightened gloom
or distracted care, and aid in their turn to solace
the sorrows of those whose lives are spent in toiling
for the pleasure of their fellows.

The great Volunteer Review of to-day has now
become an established custom, and it presents ob-

jects of interest quite apart from any ordinary
affairs of the kind. The immense body of men who
are collected on the Brighton Downs form a sight

that is at once the pride of our own country, ani

the source of terror to all invaders. The foreigners
who used to delight in calling us a " nation of shop-
keepers" may now change their opinion. They have
seen that Englishmen can come forward from every
rank, and voluntary assume the most irksome duties,
and expcse themselves to trouble, loss of time,
and various other annoyances. The charge of being
too domestic to attend to such martial exercises as
the foreigners delight in, has proved unfounded ;
with the presence of danger has arisen the spirit to
meet it, and of each member of the bands enrolled
in the volunteer service of their country may be
said—

" No joys for him pacific sceptres yield,
War sounds the trump, he rushes to the field,"
It is probable that now that the first excitement is
over, some over-wise folks may say that it is un-
necessary to make such a fuss about the volunteers.
This is a great mistake. Had they been in existence
a few years ago we should never have heard any-
thing of that panic of invasion which" frighted our
isle from its propriety." Such a state of things
must not occur again. It is incompatible with the
dignity of our country that any change in the
fancies of despots, or any new line of policy adopted
by foreign Governments should have the power to
disturb the equanimity of our people. Forewarned
is forearmed, and we should always be ready in
times of peace to meet any of those exigencies that

continually occur.
The numbers expected to assemble at Brighton
to-day are not so considerable as on the last occasion
of this kind, but this must be owing to some minor
points in the arrarigemenotsn, aonlld
sniodtestontohwe dtnecerevaose.
of ardour in the cause.
innteers are recognised
the public service. It is
a s t oa nb
be chkonpoewd l thate dg e
dthe bodysears
f
yesterday entertained
of the weather will not
at
Br
provieghttronne, theoannd us
os
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te cat
gloom over the whole affair. The most active
preparations have been made, and the most eager
anxiety appears to prevail, visitors are pouring
in by every train, and it is evident that the en
thusiasm and excitement :could not be greater,
although this is not the first time that the occur-
ence has taken.' place. It is very desirable that
the practice be continued. A great public de-
monstration of this kind becomes an event that
it is of national importance, and it should be
constantly.borne in mind by those in authority that
too much honour cannot be paid to this native army,
or too much stress laid upon the advantage of their
appearing prominently before their countrymen—
if it were only to stay the absurd remarks, and
check the exaggerated statements we were always
hearing or reading of, that steam had bridged the
Channel, that the French could land when they
pleased, and that the spirit of other days was dead
in our hearts, so that the country would eventually
be conquered. One-sided as were these opinions it
is a great gratification to answer them at once and
for ever by pointing to the tens of thou-
sands who are now trained to warfare,