Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-19
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1929.
flor the Phenix Gazette. ]

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flor the Phenix Gazette.]
DEAR SiR: send you an essay on the nature
aud ELECTS of Theatre al exhibitions. The sub
dec, is one of great interest. The greaterpor>
,;o, of ,hr inhabitants Of alexandra, as well as
Washington. entertain scruples IN regard 10
the proprir,v Of these auusemenis, IN conse-
ouence of which, our Theatres are SO ihinly at.
tended that il will be the means, eventually, OF
DESTROYING them altogether In Alexandria the
Theatre is already going to ruins. So lar from
being source Of profit, il is absolutely tax
upon those by whom it was constructed This
win be the case, also,in Washington. ii there is
no, some speedy change in public opialon.-
The enclosed essay wa, wri''en for the convic-
ton Of a few, who had been led to entertain
doubts on the subject; aud the writer was hap
nv TO find tina, il had succeeded SIEVE raj CO.
pies have since been taken, and the object oi tue
writer in requesting for i, place III your va,
Iuable paper, is to correct many errors and
denominations which have been suffered to
creep into it by the different copyists
A SUBSCRIBER.
THE THEATRE.
"Damnaius inani judicio. "-Juy. SAT. !.
II Is with reluctance tina: the writer OF the
following essay, on the nature and effects OF
Theatrical exhibitions, has been induced to en-
ter into this particular and general exposition
Of his views and opinions. He is well aware
that remark once made by Doctor Frankli",'
in regard TO the publication Of The "Religion oil
the SUM-" might. in some measure, apply to the
present unde r,aking: yet, there is this conso-
laiion,- ,ha, those who would feel them
selves bound to reject his reasoning, as false
and insufficient, would grant him that POI ton
OF their indulgence, to which he should con"
csive himself, and they, doubtless, would con"
seive him entitled, in having attempted The vim
dsesliQa 81 az an.uss men. SO generally so''''n'
may be the views of other men, In regard TO the
general tendency Of this innocent aud instruc Z.
tive amusement, and may err in supposins that
his opinion il not in accordance with that Of a
majority Of those who may have formed any at
all on the subject; yet, if he is permitted to
Judge from the admonitioas OF such as arrogate
to themselves, a6oue all others, the censorship
OF human conduct, and the government and di-
rec,ion Of the moral world, he is forced direct
" into a belief, however contrary TO his own
wishes, that there do exis, objections, and very
serious objections, to the encouragement oil
Theatrical institutions. In the peaceful oPe-
ration of many opinions existing in society
the result, no doubt, Of natural principles--and
that kind interpretation Of Providence, which
seems to direct US, from our infancy, TO The
pursuit Of happiness, the writer has ben more
than once surprised 10 behold, from some m
sidious and unknown Cause, their viliAi and en-
tire subversion. Unconscious Of deception,
the public mind is easily sedooed in,o Jews
different from those ,ha, have been previously
received; and the generous credulity Of SYM
pathising disposition is, anfo, tupa,elv, too apt
to yield, without murmur, to the influence OF
opinions, for the support OF which its unsus-
pec,ing nature relies, with confidence, Upon the
pretensions Of those from whom they originate.
In what shape these secret agents contrive to
ACT on the public mind, will be left for the in-
genuity Of those whose curiosity Can ensure
the N Ambulance into the Grcana Of wickedness,
and whose disregard Of all WORLDLY opinion can
bear up against the awful consequences OF re-
lieious prescription. In the course, however,
ofthe writer's own experience, which, though
limited, has been Instructive, there have pre-
sen,ed themselves within the atmosphere Of his
own vision, a species Of moral hdrpies, whose
highest delight seems TO consist in darling,
With ayidi,y, upon every amusement calculated
20 cheat time Of its monotouy, and thereby ren>
der them ioopera:isr, a. 10 effect. by their des.
,ruc,i,e and COMMUNICATING grasp. The writer
is far from being epicurean in has notions:
he declares himself. by no means, an advocate
for temporal in exclusion Of eternal happiness;