Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-21
THE THEATRE.

ton, conducive Of much good, and is school
where the youthful mind will attain as much
useful instruction, as it will at any other place
where the blessings and allurements Of litera-
ture are developed. Besides familiarixing the
mind 10 the correctness and purity Of the lam
guage, theatrical representations unfold the
manners customs and habits of nations, rela-
tive to whom we should remain altogether ig-
norant, were il not for the Mirror that is held
up to Nature, in Theatre. II is not to De
denied, that some Of those who frequent thea
trical institutions, indulge in dissipation and
folly; but the fault is not in the Theatre or the
institution, but in the man; and the individual
who will gel drunk at the theatre, will also
get drunk at church, if an opportunity is pre-
sentcd
Very recently, we have noticed that some Of
those purely pious and philanthiopic gentle
men, who, out of pity, take care Of our souls,
and, with equal avidity, finger our cash, have
made formidable attack upon the Theatre:
recommending its prostration, and advising all
good men, who spend few pence in attending
it, TO give it TO them, that they may make use
of il, for OUR and THEIR spiritual comfort
and behalf. Such disinterested benefa ctors are
worthy Of all commcndatio. till We discover
their aims and designs, and make correct
calculation, as TO the amount Of sincerity and
benevolence that is mingled with their hypo-
crsy. But before We proceed further, we will
copy few Of the remarks offered by one Of
them, relative to the Theatre, and which have
been published in .he Christian Register.
"Thus far our happy country has been com
parltWely free of the most cosrupting amusc-
ments, at least in their grossest form. Ih,
public taste here, has not permitted such out
RACES Oh the natural sense of propriety, as have
been long practsed and sought for, in the cor
rupt cities Of The old world. But how lob-
may We hope that the purity Of the public Sci
tInent, wall exercise this saluary restraint o.,
the charaeter of our public amusm mens and es-
hibitions? That the progress in relation 10 NOR
ais or, IN other words, to the purity and cLasic-
ness oi sentiment and action in most Of our thea
tres, is, on the whole, dOun,rGrd, we think
thar no rejecting person, who has visited the
theatres Of the principal cities Of this country,
at different periods, wall be prepared to deny.
But whether our impressions relative to the
comparitWe downward progress Of morals in
ou theatres be true or nut--this We assert con-
hdently, ana without fear Of Contradiction
that there is no lady of respectable standing in
society--not even among our fashionable thea
tre-going people-who, if any gentleman were
10 speak, or gead Ia her own drawing room,
passages which she uniformity hears and toier-
atos ut the theatre, would not feel herselfmost
insueraby and grossly insulted."
The foregoing remarks, we find in the
Christian Register, from which it would seem,
that some pious and devout parsonage, who is
all that Is virtuous and good. has discovered,
that the morals of the age are growing more
and more corrupt, as theatrical establishments
are erected in this country and to use his own
words, he has discovered, that the progress
III relation to morals, or, in other words, to the
purity and chaseness Of sentiment and action.
, in most of our Theatres, is doun,card,"
Prodigious Now we undertake to sas, that
such is not the fact, and that the gentleman
whoever he may be, either wilfully states that
which he knows TO be false, or he knows Moth
ing about the moral atmosphere of Theatre.
those vino take the liberty to visit Theatre,
were more exceptionable, than are those of the
individuals who look upon Theatrical perform
ances with affected adherence, and who are
eternally exclaiming, " am holier than thou
And as for the management of Theatres, great
improvement has been made in that depart
ment, and we shall say, that our Theatre,
when opened, does not contain mass of
iniqity; and that majority Of those who vis-
it, are people ofthe first respectability, whose
morals are not growing dotcn,oards," and
who in all the relations of Life, are esteemed
for their virtues.
The moral tendency Of theatres on the con-
dition of the people, in our opinion is good;
and where is the man that can look upon the
misorcs of Beverly, the wretchcdness Of an
Avondale, and the untimcly end of Barnwell,
without being urged to avoid the commission
of the crimes, which lead them to an untimcy
end!
Theatricas will always be encouraged by an
intelligent people; and il is in vain that men,
who possess no moro piety than their neigh
bours from sinister motives declaim against
them, and strive 10 bring them into disrepute.
II would be well for rihose gentlemen, who are
so exceedingly Interested about the morals Of
the people, and who beg us TO discontinue our
visits TO the Theatre, and give them tho mon