Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-09
Opening OF the National Theatre-More
Morals.

Morals.
The newspapers announce that this new theatre.
cal establishment will be onened on Monday next,
with corps of vocalists picked up from round about
the country, and new opera from Charles H. Horn.
Brilliant descriptions have been given Of the house
and its appurtenances-and profuse predictions put
forth of its future prospects. The new opera has
been praised in several papers-the company crack
ed up to the blue heaven-and above all, the pret-
~ supemumersries" have been paraded with no
small show of qualification.
We have no doubt the materials, hysical, vocal,
instrumental and Intellectual, with which the new
theatre will open, will be the best that be pro-
cured for love or money but in this decent and
improving age, there are elements entering into the
composition of theatre hat the public begin to
look at very narrowly.
A mos. novel and signal example of failure has
been recently exhibited in the decline and fall OF the
Bowery Theatre, while the Olympic and Niblo's
have been unc ommonly successful. One OF the eie-
men,s Of these events, have every reason to be-
lieye is of moral character. In theatrical amuse-
ments we are not fanaics-ner strait-laced-bnt de-
cency and propriety, as to give the odor OF mo-
rality to a place Of amusement are indispensable IN
the present age. In Paris, the theatres are well
supported because the managers have the taste and
tact to give character of decency and perfume Of
moral sentiment 10 their places OF amusement. On
the contrary, in London the theatre has declines,
and this decline is generally ascribed to the open
indecency AMI gross RIGHTEOUSNESS permitted in
such places.
Similar management has produced similar effects
in this city The Bowery has been ruined by the
licentious ness its management permitted for years
in the third ter-in the green room-betore the
curtain-behind the curtain-every where-ail over
Its total dcpravty has caused its total extinction
On the contrary, Niblos beautiful house, as well as
Mitchell's have been free from these objections
hence their popularity, profit, and prosperity as
places Of public amusement
With these facts before him, we would respect
fully ask the mana of the National theatre whether
he inten IS open his third tier to the inmates ofl
centiousnessl or whether he intends to reform that
branch of his estabsh meEt altogether? His special
friends have announced that his female supernu-
merayies are to be "pretty-very pretty" Is this
selection of female beauty to be made for the same
purpose as that of the Bowery theatre? Certain IL
centious vagabonds, calling themselves or ties at
tached to portion of the newspaper press, were In
the habit of assoca.ing with those unfortunates IN
private boxes, and behind the scenes-and thus
brought disgrace and odium on that establishment
SO much So that it caused its decline and fall
The opening Of the National Theatre happens at
critical moment. The public mind has been ava
kened to a moral sentiment, both in the management
of theatrical anus nlens, and in the walks OF pr-
va.e life Those who preach morals must practice
them, or be branded as hypocrites and imposters.
We ask therefore, for the information of the public
whether or not the manager of the National Thea
tire means TO insult this moral community, by estao
fishing third tier for the victims of icentioasness
to congregate I'M 1t is question Of importance,
aud must be answered.