Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-09

pubIies, whether Grammatical performances
should be prohibited or allowed: and perhaps
there is no point which admits Of more argu-
nents on both sides.
It is indeed urged with justice by men of
uidoubted piety, that Theatres are the Cause
OF much dissipation and detriment to society
Tc this We shall not offer the contemplate re.
ply made In allusion to churches; but we In
treat candid men to consider, whether those,
who act improperly in Theatre, would not
act improperly any sUhere else 2 Dissipated
people do not go to Theatre to see the per-
Torrance, but-for other purposes and were
trereno resort Of that kind, other places would
be visited.
1t is also said, and with truth, that there are
bad passages in plays, not fit for modest ear.
But we Will venture to assert that no truly
modest person is ever injuriously affected by
them: The only emotions they excite, are
disgust ard contempt. AnG these passages
are not SO dangerous as some suppose; for as
IL would be obviously improper to repeat
them in any genteel company, they are soon
forgotten. On the other hand, the numerous
moral maxims, which are found in all plays,
are treasured up in the memory, and recited
with appreciation and delight. These are not
only elegantly expressed, in general, but have
been frequently of great benefit. Independent
of this, the liveIv exposure of almost every ac-
ton of human life, the constant opprobium
attached to vice and folly in every possible
but many, very many indeed, have been deter
red from committing imprudent actions BY the
representations in Theatre. This is denied,
nay, would be laughed at, by hundreds. But
their triumph would cease, were they to re-
collect that the effects produced on the mind
by theatrical representations, however power
fnl, are secret: 4 young woman or man a.
mong the audience may be in the precise ST.
tuation fctitiously represented on the stage.
nd may be dissuaded from dangerous in
tertlon,b by 'hc reasoning of performer, or
by the uFhappy result Still, this effect, thus
produced, is gen. rally kept profound secret !;
arr liiIle, ifany, hrocf Can be offered of the
position we have advanced Every man.,
,owcver, who has visited Theatres, and at
ri.aed 10 the fe1formonce, can YoGch for its
ruth.
Arother objection which we have heard
urged against Theatres, and which we acknow-
ledge to be correct, is, that many spend their
money in attending them, who ought to apply
it to family uses. The same objection, we
think, would apply to all our conduct: We
ought not to eat, because some have died OF a
surfeit; and we ought to suppress taverns en-
tirey, because men get drunk in them. AEd
besides, it is not certain that those who go to
Theatre would not squander their money in
some other way.
We are aware also of very plausible OBJ
lection, that those who often speak most warm
y in favor of Theatrical performances, on &C
count of their moral beneft, are those who
seldom go to churcb, where they might be
sure of edi6cation. But this, so far from be
ing conclusive, is, in our oplnien, rather an
argument in favor of Theatres; because per-
sons who will not go to a church for improve
ment, ought to receive every encouragement
by other methods.
In almost all civilized countries, Theatrica
performances have been tolerated and, with
q few exra,7.ions they have been encouraged