Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-26

hem by their parents or guardians, and
who. rather than yield a qualification sci
fascinating, or seem to be backward al
mong their companions, are induced final
ly to resort to some fraudulent methods
ofTeplenishing their cash. This | have
known to be the case, especially with
young men removing from the country, to
reside in shops in the city, where the no
velty Of the scenes, and the facilities Of
getting money without detection, react
isg on each other and or the unhappy
youth, corrupt and break down the strong
est principles.
1t viii not evade the force of these OBJ
seryations to say, that this is merely an
abuse of a thing innocent in itself, and
that even in the most laudable things
men may be guilty of this imprudence.-
The question is, is it not our duty to les
sen the number of temptations, to shut
up as many of the avenues to vice as we
can, to put down entirely practice
which will not admit Of radical reform,
and which is the more dangerous, because
lit adorns itself with all the semblance oi
virtus, and all the destinations, which can
allure men to its unhalloWed abodca
Ard upon what objects of charity, do
we bestow the money we spend at thea
trical entertainments
8. Those who attend the theatre sup
port and encourage seto performers III
Ilicentiousness aud proHigacy.
II would be unjust to involve all per.
formers ,cithoUt erception, in this charge !;
but it is fact which none can deny, that
the professions of player has something
in its circumstances which tends to pro-
duce, and which actually does produce
generally, abandoned principles and vi
cious habits. Rousseau who is not con.
sidered as holding too high standard Of
morals, speaks of theatrical performers
in the following manner: 6. | observe in
general, that the situation of an actor is
state Of RIGHTEOUSNESS and bad morals !:
that the men are abandoned to disorder !:
that the women lead scandaious life !;
that the one and the other, at once, ava
ricieus and prolane, ever overwhelmed
with debt, and ever prodigaI, are as I'm.
restrained in their dissipation, as they are.
void of scrupe IN respect to- the nreans
Of providing forit. Tn all countries their
profession is dishonorabe: those who ex-
erciSe it are every where contemned. =
Even at Paris, where they are treated
with more consideration, and where their
conduct is better than III any other place,
a sober citizen would fear to be upon
terms of intimacy with the same actors
who are every day seen at the tables of
the great. This contempt is strongest
where the manners are most pure and
there are countries where the trade of an
actor is held almost in horror. These are
incontestibe facts. You will say, t...ey
result only from premdices. | agree to
it: but these pre;ldices being UNIVERSAL
we must seek for an universal cause: and
/ do not see where we can find it, ex-
cept in the profession itself / might i'm
pute these prejudices TO the defamation
OF priests, II did not ind them establish
ed among the Romans, before the birth
OF Christianity and net only vaguely
scattered in the minds of the people, buS
authorized by express laws, which decIar-
ed actors infamous, and took from them
the title and rights of Roman citizens"
This is the profession which all Who'll
frequent the theatre, contribute their
share to support and encourage. They
are ehargcable with giving their influence
aad their pecuniary aid, for the mainte-
nance of class of persons, whose bust
ness it is, indirectly: to recommend er-,
ror and crime to corrupt our children,
and to counteraet whatever the friends
of religion and good morals are striving
to accomplish.
But | have somewhat more to sly |
if YOU will allow me place in another
paper.
AMOR PATRIE1.