The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-06-26
MISCELLANY.

FROM THE BOSTON REPERToRY.
Reflections occasioned By the tradiSCreet con-
duct 0fHe Inhabitants of Boston t0tCardS .Ur.
Kean, the actor, and he still more lndiscreet
behaviour of that actor tolcardS the Inhabitants
Of Boston.
do not know any thing more huniliating than
the deep interest manifested BY our Citizens upon
the subject ofthe stage s. its performers. Scarcely
tolerate2 thirty years since, & permitted by very
questionable policy to exercise Its influence on
public morals and manners, II has by degrees as
sumed an Importance which cannot fail TO make
every man of sober reelection blush for his coun-
try: Ishall not be thought extrayagant i'll should
say that al actor has become with the idle and the
younger part of our society amore important per-
sOnage than al ambassador, or Judge, or gov
ernor or President. 1t is certain that there is as
much zeal as much tenn pcr, asrlIch passicndsplay-
cd III our newspapers on the subject fthe stage as
on that OF our diplomatic relations, which involve
the peace and prosperity of the natlon.--ihis
surely IS degradation ofow country, and though
the venal and tickle citizens Of Athens or the
light and trifiing subjects Of France may have set
US the example, vet / must contend, that ii is de-
grading TO us To follow it.
We ought never to admit, that the stage and
its very various representations of questionable
merit, often disgusting and seldom moral, are sub
jects which ought deeply to affect our feelings, or
interest our passions.
In the question between Mr.. Kean and the in
habitants of Boston whom he has wantOnly and
imprudently and irrcy0cably offended, we are
constrained to say THAT the fault and the disgrace
is wholly on our side. We ruined him BY an ex-
travagance offattery and patronage, which would
have ruined much wiser man, and one of mind
better balanced than that of Mr.. Kean.
fjIprn = rbiIdiclnocc-o hoyich foliv n III
praise and patronage Of this child Of Thespis,
which would have turned the brain Of Garrich-
or if may put much inferior man by the side of
him, Talma.
MIR. kean had right to presume that we pre-
ferred his performances to the most eloquent dis
courses from the pulpit-the most learned and in
genlOus forensic debates-or the Wisest, most in
teresting harrangues in the halls of Legislation.
10 calls upon our Charity-nO claims on our pub
lie spirit-No appeals in favor Of the cause Of
learning OF religion ever met in the metropolis Of
Massachusetts such an extravagant and boundless
support as did this actor ofveTy questionable mer-
IT, OF great defects mingled with occasional beau
ties.
Ought we then to censure the man whom we
contributed to spoil Ought we not rather to
feel deep humiliation at our own folly IN giving
such ideal Importance TO species OF merit,
WHICH III us DSSt anu SldlC very
Importance:
am too much man ofthe world torecOmmend
at this day the repeal Of the law which made the
atrical Representations lawful. l resisted
as long and as far as | was able the repeal of
the wise acts of our excellent ancestors against
theatrical representations. But they fell as all
laws must fall, which are contrary TO the spirit
and manners of the age-and il would be absurd
to attempt to restore the simplicity and purity
which were the only supports fthese prohlbitofy
acts.
But something we may dove may check by
public sentiment, the senseless, inordInate, and
eXtravagant praise ofmen who are actors BY pro-
fesslOn. We know there Is but q very inferior
degree of merit IN the mere power ofable and cor
rect theatrical exhibition. We know that in ey-
cry country it i 50 esteemed. W by then .houid
we continue to spoil our actors BY treating them
a. personages Of great consequence to tie public
b. taking part in their quiTrels: BY talking a I
bout them as if the Commonwealth was interest /
ed in the better, O. the w9ise recitation OF pas
sage OF Shakespeare! p
We say nothing oi courss fthe annual exPen-
diure Of $4,000 dollars a'year at least in or sin
gle town for these exhibitions, because we nave !
no hope OF seem. ahct expense reduced. Butwe
may, and we do hope that we shall nc longer see