Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-19

sions; and 10 fai back a. history ehiieh'e"s Nc
on this subject, we fnG that the object OF all
Tb..,r;csI represpn,atiohs was TO impress up
-, IN. mind sen,imrnts Of an elevated cbarac-
ter, favorable to virtue and good dispositions
In fact, when we trace the progIess OF this
highly popular aud entertaining amusement, II
is discovered thar, during all The different ages
in which il flourished, morality was always the
chief objee, in view; and the writers, whether
tragic or comic, directed their efforts 10 the at.
tainment Of this end. Exhibiting different i'm
PROJECTIONS in the characters aud actions Of GER
tain individuals, they held up TO the derision
of others those vices, whose practice and repe.
ti,ion was calculated 10 prove injurious 10 the
general welfare, and thereby acted as the most
powerful agent that the human invention could
have devised, in effecting their radical and en-
tire suppression. The elevation Of the public
tasie contributed, in no small degree, 20 The
impr oyement of public morals; and what could
have been conceived better conducive to this
END, even in the infancy Of the drama, than the
displays OF such writers as HeschyDus, Euripi-
des, Sophocles and others? Whether the same
rffrc, be produced in modern, as in ancient
times, by these public recitations, itwere need.
afforded by the ancients have not been useless
in suggesting Improvements as to the charac,
ter of these displays; and Shakespeare, and Dry
den, and .Coagreve, and Otway, have all e.
clpsed, in the adaptation Of their productions
TO the peculiarly Of the iines, those OF their
predecessors upon whose models they have 50
advantageously improved. Whatever may be
the imprudencies, into which some writers OF
modern days have unhappily fallen. as to the
character and tendency Of their compositions,
i. by no means argues against the effect of plays
generally. For the mos; superficial observer
must have disc overed, without the trouble Of
reasoning tina, public opinion sanctions those
only which are of character 10 be approved,
and rejects such as are calculated to vitate the
public taste, produce, in any manner, de-
moralizng effect. There are many, however,
who, from reasons as Unauthorized by examp'e
as they are inadequate in themselves. admit thu
benefits produced by the representations OF the
ancien,s, while, in the same breath, they de-
nounce those Of the moderns as totally different
in their character, and, in 10 manner, produc.
tive of the same useful and beneficial results
Such an opinion would BIZ a.oribed, by many, to
insanity rather than discrimination. As regards
moral every resder mus' admit, however limited
s &srs Far 81 the %Rt, Of modern days
The subjects Of the Greek play, for example,
were often founded on mere des,iuy, and inevi-
table misfortunes; and though, in The course OF
the display, many moral sentiments OCCURRED,
the instruction Conveyed by the fable OF the
play was seldom much more than that rever-
ence was owing TO the gods, and submission
due TO the dec'ees Of destiny. The moGerns,
saw. Dr. Blair, d. via'ed from their predeces.
sors in this resre,t: they had higher object
in view. Al O,hcllo, hurried by jealousy to
murder his innocent wife; Jaffirr, ensnared by
resentment and want TO enga9r in a conspira
ey, and then stung with remOrse, and involved
in ruiz; S ffrrdi. through the deceit which he
employs for public spirited ends, bringing de-
s,ruc,ion all whom he loved; Calista Sc
du:ed INFO criminal intrigue, which over
whems hers IT, her father, and all her friends,
in Tnisery;-'hese are some OF the numerous
II amples, by means Of which modern tragedy
inculcates IN men the proper government OF
their PASSIONS. With regard TO Comedy, the
same remark, NAV be applicable, as to its IF.
feet on public morals. Sheridan's "Sehool for
ScandaI'-,he "Pro,oked Husband" OF Van
burg and Cibber-and the justly admired CO.
medy of Goldsmith, "She Stpops 10 Conquer"
Can never be read without leaving impressions
Of the most elevated and useful character. If
i, is true, that theatrical representations pro-
duce no good effect in modern days, it is equal.
iy SO, thai, from their general na,ure-those at
least as have withstood the ordeal Of public o.
pinion-they are incapable Of exering con.
,rary tendency. Imperative. therefore, as to