Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-10-06
29OgGgae>
FREMONT THEATRE. BOSTON.

This splendid new Theatre opened the FIRST ,in
on Hionday evening to crowded house. The pea form
ances joyfully received by audience aud the PLAY
aud farce went off with much spirit, The following At
dress, for which the premium OF 500 awarded. wa
delivered by Mr.. Blake 1t written by MIR. jaime
Jameson, OF Hartford, Conn., Boston Pat
PRIZE ARDDESs.
Friends OF the Stage whose brilliant ranks Tonight
Burst view III loneliness and light,
The Drama comes before you with her cause,
Aud asks your cari--she dares not ask applause,
bnt she does crave your smile, upon her train,
Herself her priests, and this her virgin fame.
Friends Of the Stage,-the friends of " rtue too
The suppiant Drama brings her suit Ia YOU.
Long has She borue reproach;-for though acr brow
VI OLD was luminous, auC burns e
WIN heavens own frc,the intense aud hallowed flame
That Genius kindles round deafness
VIZ hear her still denounced as virtues !oei
St'ii, round her shrimes is mut,cred many VIC;
Sull, at her name the superstitious sigh;
The grave, look graver as she passes by;
The hgots ban on all her priesthood falls,
Aud pulpit thunderS shake her temple walls.
Has, then, the Stage become a ba tile plain,
Where Honor bleeds, and Innocence is slain?
Where Lust lies gorged, and whose reeking pale
Birds Of omen sit, and snuff the tainted gale!
Grant, for moment,-what is yet denied -
Grant that, III this, the stage is not becd;
Grant that its are these of sin and shamP-
Whose is the fauIt?-anNwhere shall fall the blame'
Rests it with those old Bards whose "hIuse of fire"
Hath strung aud walked the everlasting Tyre;
Who gave to Tragedy her poisoned bowl
And with it empire o'er the human soul?.-
The plume, the bonnet the busku wears,
Whose only hope, Bashaw, or Don,
Is 'brcad to eat, and raiment put on:'
Or it fall, least in part, those
who on the Stage pour out their valid wees,
Then trumpet it, with all its purest scenes,
As the it haunt of vagabonhs and queens:
O, were the Stage as pure as Dians fame,
When peaed with dew, and washed with vernal rain.
Let honest Zeaots call it Belial's throne,
Let pulptS fulmnatc let presses groan
Their and warnings-and what need they more
10 cause the curse they pioLsly drplnre'--
Then, the Dramas pomp her stole, her vail,
Let net the serious frOwn, the righteous rail;
But let them come, at evenings sober hour,
And prove her pathGs, and confess her power
Let them-the good, the graceful, aud the grave,
The wise, the pure Inc beautiful, the brave,
The reverend even-to this proud temple turn,
hnd Judge the Drama from her swords that burr.'
Let them, hen Ccnsos, in the Boxes sit,
Rush to the Rows, aud pour into the PIT.
Each boding bird, unted, will sail away,
In outer da kheSs pursue her prey,
While all the SUNS and daughters of the light,
Rap' by the Dramas spell, shall cheer her, tonight!
ia such, This Night her doors open flung;
On such. he's priests their pfoudes hopes have hung:-
liopes-tat they, here, the soul may wake and warm,
The good encourage, and The bad reforn:-
H"pes-that" i'in these wide and towering walls,
Con which Heavens boon-ie rain and sunshine Ills,
A. the Churchs roof it falls the whilr.)
It may be theirs $50 share the good mans sme:"-
Aud hopes--t!at Beauty may with grace rcgalI
The mortal Actor, the immortal Bard,
And The same laIgcss On the living she'd,
That She has soweTed for ages n the dead
That witchng smile, that has forever playcG,
Around the lips Of matron and OF maid;
And that more treasured tribute, that repays
All labor aud all love;-that singly sways
Mans passions in the strength Of their career,
And bows him to the earth II ono1l'S tear.
We fair ones, and ye wise, virtue true,
y smile, tear,-ihe need to Genius DUE
IS all the Drama hopcs--s all she asks of you.