Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-11
THEATRE.

the times IS soon 10 be chlrened ny the OPEN !
ing of our Theatre. During thc'inilux OF stran-
gers in our summer months, and while we are
sinking under fatigue and the heat Of the sum- |
mer solstace, il is a source Of dclighiinl refresh
ment and relaxation, to attend the pcriorman-
ccs of Theatre, where, although the perform
ances may not always be of the hrst ORDER
there will be found soothing influence to our
care, and quckening one to our joys.
1t has been justly remarked, by one OF the
greatest dramatic critics Of England, that
since the first attempts Of the drama, civ
iIiza,on has advanced with incre easing rapidty.
This is true, and II is true also, that the dark
ness of ignorance has been succeeded by the
light Of knowledge, the coarseness OF vulgarty
and superstition, has yielded to the polish oi
refinement, and Of juster views OF nature and
of natures God. Its effects on the morals OF
a play going people, has been considered al
most beyond dispute, favorable, by some Of the
bost writer's Of Europe. There are undoub,ed-
ly impcrfectons III their morality. as there must
be in all things merely human, and some oiien-
ces against dclicacy, but these defects, "herc-
| soever they occur, must yield in the Judgement
of unbia ssed minds, to the general good which
is received from them The general object in
the best dramas, from ancient TO modern times,
is to expose and lash the follies and vices Of
men, and TO place in the relief, the virtues
which adorn our nature. "To hold the mirror
up to nature, and show the body of the time,
its form and pressure and to impress upon
our senses, by the vivIdness of personication
the great truth, that however vice may triumph
and revel in its deformty, it meets its reward
in detestation - that virtue rewards itself in the
consciousness Of well doing; and the plaudits
of the Just, has been the aim Of the host ofhigh
| dramatic names, which live in our remem-
| brance Why is it that we sicken at the one
and feel glow of delight at the delineation of
the other, but that they are what we know cx-
lists in our nature. to avoid or pnrsne' No al
oquence, however powerful or pathetic, no po-
| etry, let it sing never so sweely, can come to
our minds or consciences with much force
and impression from perusal, rs from person.
al delneation. We seem to have before us
man himself the tyrant-the murderer-thc
! obber--contrastcd with the father Of this peo-
ple-the philanihropist and him that giveth
without reward The lovers sghs reach our
very hearts the blush Of his mistress reflected
on our cheeks. The daughter that nourshes
with 'rapture's pure enamel her dying father,
the father who saves his daughter by happy
death, from brutal violence - the friend noby
Offering his life for bis companion, with more
than a brothers. love-all shine upon us as
through the cloud Of ages, as our daughter
our pattern-om friend. When in our inter
course with men, we frequently come unavoid-
ably in contact with vice and while we arc re-
pining at it's fe lu,ncy, it is truly refreshing a.
well as beneficial, to behold on the stage, ever
mimic as it is, the form Of virtue. If it admit
Of doubt that our hearts and morals are unlm
proved by the drama, it will still be conceded
that the existe nee of a well regulated Theatre
must correct our manners. From our nfanc
we are led by example, and to initiate manne
at least, when the former is constantly bcior
: us, and the latter is evidently superior to ou
own: then the polish of the true gentleman
and the softness, dclicacy and refinement O
, the lady, as in the modern drama, will nlmos
insensibly creep upon US, until we become a'ik
polished and refined. Let the Theatre be bel
ter attended and supported, and we shall les
frequently weep at the perpetration of Grim
among us, and of.ener, much oftener, rejoic
l. at the influence Of virtue.