Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-21

who from the agreeable diversity OF scenes ad
other embellishments ola Theatrical exhibt-
ton would b. induced 10 listen, ana prott ny
the moral Of play, while they would probably
never once think OF consulting book on reI-
cion. The s. agr, therefore, may have the ell
fec, Of eIevating the moral sense OF such per-
sons, and Gnslly Of bringing them 10 tme'y
examination Of the Holy scriptures. AS VICE
is found to exist 10 all the examples nIrnl'oned
b. fore. Just in proportion 10 the magnitude OF
the association, so il is found 10 exist In ne
are, and we do no; see that there Is any dill
ference Whatever, in regard 10 The extent 10
which il is Carried. IL is true that there are
some IN whom here is this natural propensity;
but the writer anno FIR a moment believe that
taasr who are already vuious, would prefer
. Theatrjc al entertainment 10 those other more
al arop, iait aud congenal haun's, which may
b. fond in oil places capable OF sustaining
! Thea re- |, is nnt t',at there Is actually more
vice prevailing in 'htse associations ihan o.
rhtrs Of d fer ut character, that so general an
immersion exi5's a, to their inmorai tendency;
but Simply bee ause, the smallest CIRCUMSTANCE,
| BY the impressions previously existing, Is con-
strurd into the mos weighiy argument ana
used rs conclusive evidence against the gene
raj nature Of the stage The writer has always
those individuals VINO are SO lost to every sense
Of . oprir,y and self respect. as to expose their
,cs unbiushingy 20 airy public assembly,
! won d, under ny cl,cLmslances whatever, pur.
sue he same course OF conduct and should
So c n pc sons b. found, occasionally, az The.
a,r-, il by no means argue. against the prnprie-
~ of such entrr,alnm,n, hts, but rather favors
| hem. For as moral lesson is recited from
the stage, il is more than probable that they
NAV derive some lt,le benefit; while under no
other circum stances could they be forced to re-
crive similar destruction.
As an argument il favor OF the stage, it may
be observed in con; lusion, that some OF the
mos, dslir guished men OF almost every age,
hsye conlribu e largely TO its support. Wheth-
er they we've imprt ssed with an idea Of us u,il'
| i,v. or entered iulo the amusement Tor pleasure
| only, is not satisfac torily determined. There
are few how vet, bui will ascrtbe il TO the for
mer molI,e. ID cor Johnson would have writ
| ten much, had his Irene succeeded; and we
find that many Of his contemporaries, as equal-
" pious as himself, made attempts al similar
comuosiiion. Were it necessary, we might
lenumera,e manv distinguished Individuals, who
moi only con ributed TO, but were constant vo'a-
] rirs Of the stage. But We should regret muLh
to cas-, any reflection even The most distant, up
on Wilherspoon's views on this subject; and
more particularly clause, wherein h. is piras>
ed to asserr, that theatrical exhibitions have
been objected to, by the most distinguished OF
every age
Those who have gotten fairly and faithfully
to this concluding 'ragraph, will recollect that
they what have read is the result Of though a.
lone, and not investigation; PLAIN, simple,
common-sense view, Of ,hi, subject. AS the
writer made no attempt al composition, he ex
poets no praise, and, therefore, asks no indul-