Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-25
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serious discussion. If the stage oe allowed
the picture of life, there is nothing unnatural
In an actors initiating 1t. In the time OF
Charles III. of England, the stage was hceh-'
tious--but now when it is refined, and authors
have SO eminently displayed their genius m
unfolding the defornity of vice, and the
charms of virtue, we can discover no valid Cd
iestion against theatrical pfesentatisns.--
Although the pulpit and the stage nave Dceh
e.nblazoned as the supports OF virtue and the
terror ofsyice, vet when the divine Will stlg-
pas,xe and deery this noble institution, which
in this age Of refinement adorns with suPcril-
or briIliancy the fascinating powers OF virtue
and morality, we might lend feeble ala IN
its support. The stage would hardly need an
humble advocate to defend Its cause ne
sock and the buskin, the humorous and Dug.
nifea scenes of life. which awaken the emo
tons of the soal ana the tender senslbllity OF
the heart, form strong and irresistible proof
! of the fallacy of their arguments. Here ylr-
tue is emboldened by its own native blaze, to
infamc the passions and sympathies OF those
whose breasts glow with the delightiM sentl-
ments Of phllanthrophy to steal the tear OF
pity, and "elraw forth the voice OF sorrow
from their bursting hearts WHAT'S the OBJ
iect of the theatre? To represent life itself.
8. All the worlds stage, and all the men and
women merely players Conhnea Wltnln
the narrow circle OF the theatre, we behold
the true repfes cntation of the conduct and m
terests Of man--graye, satlncai and gay he
is at one moment aroused by the chliltng prln-
ciple OF zvarice-at ansther his soul expands
itself in the vast ocean Of comprehension. g
instruct, delight and refine to "wake the
soul by tender strokes of art to lnfuse pity
into the breasts Of the obdurate to soften the
Nafeeling heart; and shew man to man in his
Isatlye undisguised robss--are the hrst prlncl-
pies of the stage. The. !ustre Of the stage is
its ornament. 1t contains within Itself its
own grand and ennobling principles. II the
theatre is productive of immortality and vice,
we must cast the censure upon the author and
not the stage. Here genius, in the cause OF
virtue, exerts all Its qualities, and the shalt
of censure availeth but little against the good
effects of theatrical Representations
To polish the manners, to obseryesfhe pro-
per degrees of decoraln, and rehnc the social
virtues, in every age of civilization have been
the intentions of theatrical institutions, and
these are surely of utility to mankind. What
has added such isnity and splendor to the hu-
man race but the improve ment OF manners,
the refinement ofsociety, and that GENIAL glow
Of enthusiastic ardor which 50 nobly propa-
gates and consolioates the maxims OF moralt
ty.and virtue. Ethics could not nave received
kinder aid than the theatre to establish It's
principles. Could Painting itself convey a.
sublimer idea than the expression OF Othello,
hurried on by jealousy to murder his innocent
wife Cam Music possess loftier strains and
stronger influence than the passions madden
; ed by rage, or attuhed on the sweet harp Of
rapturous melody.
On the stage high and low life arc actcd..
Tragedy, which embraces the crimes, high
passions and virtues of man, represents to us
a trueinlage Of life, wherein terror, pity, re-
yenge, iea.ousy, envy, despair, and all the
Send-lke qualities which eylnce to the mind
the horrors of vice, impress It with stern
regard for justice and virtue, and paint to the
imagination and judgment, in glowing and
feryid colors, what miseries man must avoid,
what virtues tits his duty to acquire.
The ball of science, which has passed from
the east, In its constant and rapid revolutions
< progress, must at last visit our land Of tree
dom, and IF science is to be nourished ana
Tfosteres', why shall not our infant theatre be
one Of It's receptacles2 Itancient Greece and
Rome, excei!ing US in all those lofty and ele-
vated ideas which enable the mind to scar be-
yond the mere idea Of reflection, aud visit the
difficult and hitherto nntried scenes of mem
tai perspicuity and real greatness, cultivated
this rational and innocent amusement, why
are We prohibited? Virtue is the so,l.-yisi-
flying principle of tragedy. Who does not
ell degree of indignation, when he sees the
villain ascending the ladder Of fame, then
looking down 6 scorning the base degrees By