The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-09-04
fCoMMUNICATEoN.l

DETERMINATIONS.
The Annual Exhibition of the Students of
| Leicester Academy was held on Wednesday
| the 2lst inst. The weather was fine and the
audience numerous and respectable. The
,-T--.,>s-e,-, Thought, as good, if not bet
ter than usual, and the selection of pieces in
general, such as to do honour to the taste and
Judgment OF the gentleman, to whom the in
structon at that Institution is confded For
our part, we are glad that the exercises of this
exhibition are gradually becoming more senti-
| mental and didactic and that less of baffoon-
| cry and clownish mimickry is introduced than
what has, sometimes, before been done. To
say nothing of the indecent illusions which
pieces OF the last mentioned description fire.
| quently contain, we can conceive of no utility
whatever to be derived from learning those
youths who, on account of their superior adj
VantaSes, are in a manner to form the charac-
tiers OF the less privileged part of society, sed-
ulously to initiate the manners and speak the
language, not only Of the mob, but, as it has
often been done, even of intemperance and
debauchery. If it should be said that objects
OF TINS nature, being presented to the observa-
ton OF the young, are calculated to inspire in
their minds a just disgust and odium of such
Characters, let the many which already infest
and pollute society, be pointed out to them in
their ioathsome retreats, or as they are contin-
uaiiy presenting themselves in our streets, and
at our doors-objects, which, if seen in their
real wretchedness and degradation, cannot
fail to excite, in every unvitiated mind. feel
ings both of pity and disgust One reality Of
this kind, if haply it might be accompanied
with judicious reflection from parent
or friend, would make deeper impression.
and have more salutary effect on the juve-
nile mind, Cor indeed on any other person. y
than thousand theatrical and often awk-
ward representations of similar character.
especially when blended, as is often the case,
with the Vaccinations Of wit, and always soften
Ell by the decorations of the scenery. From
the natural aptitude to imitation and evil. in
cident to OR species, we are full ready enough
to catch the habits of licentiousness and vice.
without their being presented to us in the person
OF pretty, innocent boy, or perhaps a grace
ful youth. Such receive the concentrations
of the spectators for what they term their lust
actings-but is it not to be feared that not on
ly the actors, but also those who hear. do not
always attribute this general praise to the
proper cause, but too often associate the senti-
ment with the action, as equally commenda-
bic Thus these principles find an easy adj
mittance into the mind, and, at least, by the
youthful nearer, are not unfrequently cher
ished in secret there. The representation of
them, says he to himself, by such an one, has
gained him the applause alike of the gay and
the serious, even of the venerable clergyman
and will they not afford me an equal har-
vest of praise, though not acted on the same
stage and in the same fictitious way9
But we have said, perhaps, too much on this
subject, and more than we at first intended. -
We would by no means be understood as even
lnsinuating, that pieces of gross RIGHTEOUSNESS
have ever Intentionally been brought forward
at these xhibitions-though some, the moral
ny OF which is almost dubious, have some
times unfortunately been introduced. We al
Jude principally to those of low farcical ma
tnre, from which, in our opinion, nothing,
either IN Literary or a moral point Of view