The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-01-21

IMMORTALITY AND DEeRADArIoN OF TIE DRAMA.
The notice which we felt called upon to take
few days since, of piece Of gross obscenity per-
forming at a certain theatre, has called out the
following reply from the Manager
The THRILLING AND SUCCESSFUL Dana or :" The
MONKS MosK HALL !"-To the Public The under
signed in returning thanks to the public for the unpara
lsei success with which his efforts have been crowned
the unbcunded support which has been rendered to the
Chatham, emphatically the Peoples Theatre"
begs leave to call attention to the following, which ap-
psared in Q print of yesterday mornings date:-
1.-THE MONKS MoNK HALL There has been play
ing for some time, at the Chatham Theatre, puerie
piece Of obscenity. under the title Of The Monks of
unprncipled rake the "cully Of bawdhouse female
decoy duck OF the same establishment the mother OF
.hs and & re4 nsrs to her
visited the place willingly enough, until he found that
his sister was one OF the victims The main scenes and
incidents Of the piece in the various chambers Of
the establishment and the language msnners and con-
duct Of this parties are should imagine. pretty air
in the more revolving particulars The whole affair has
not decent sentiment respectfully constructed
tence to redeem its grossness and we know not which,
In Its way deserves the severest condemnationthe mo
Of filth.
This we believe s the rst time in New York that the
scenes and incidents Of the brohel have been presented
upon the stage and have been waiting some time to
If rious and bible loving authorities would not
become conscious Of the existence Of this nuisance and
take means to remove it. Seeing, however, that they
are otherwise employed take the liberty fpointing
their attention to It, and OF calling upon the Mayor to
prohibit the representation Of this piece either by hav
ing i Withdrawn from the stage or by suppes'ng the
Now ofthe thousands who have witnessed the perform
ance OF this piece not individual but has expressed
his or her unqualified commendation OF the whole city
press not one Editor has raised his pen against it, but
every one has, the contrary. spoken in its praise
The undersigned freely challenges the whole public
he Mayor and authorities included to find throughout
the piece an indecent blasphemous word even al
fusion. The public is solicited to witness its perform
ance and BY the peoples verdict he i wiling to 1Sas
In reply to this, we simply call attention to the
following cast of characters, from the pay-bill of
the theatre alluded to:-
This Evening. Saturday. Jan. lsth 1916. the perform
ances will commence with new drama of thrilling and
Hall Augustus Lorrimer fashionable roue, syste.
matte .sdscer and highly finished sooundrs Morris;
coiors Johnston Albert Livingsne rich merchant Of
Philadelphia, the victim of Lorrimer, Hamilton; Luke
Tho A.tro!ogsr Of the Lonely Hut Greene; DEVILS Bug
half man halt demon. W. Wood; MIR Arlington, father
Western Hemisphere and Continental Organ not parcu-
lar to- shade, Venues Mutchins, cidevant Colonel,
ruined roue ready to turn his hand to anything for mo-
ney, Conover, Mosquito and Glowworm, two nggers,
ready to pick pocket cut throat. Resor and Belts
Watchmen, Oystermen. Constabes. &c. Mary Airing
sketch from nature Mrs. Judah; Fairhsired Bessie,
the village pride with still some of the
gel left Mrs Flynn; inmates of Monk Hall, Miss Wal
lace, Miss Chester. Miss Pentland, Miss Hilson, &C.
Now, the "Monk's Hal" is described in the
opening scene Of the piece, by Lorimer, the
fashionable roue, Systematic seducer, and highly
finished scoundrel," as place for the indulgence
in "wine and women" and where he will induct
his friend into the mysteries and rites of disspa-
ton and debauchery. The Climates" of this
establishment, 1--WE should think the ladies whose
names appear in this connection would blush al
their promotionD are, as we have before stated,
the /" smother" of brothel, and her minions.-
one of whom gives the " mother" long account
of how she was seduced, of her subsequent life,
and the practice Of her profession" Lorimer
and his friend enter the house, where the friend
discovers that Lormer has brought his sister for
the purpose Of accomplishing her ruin. This, with
due quantity Of profane swearing, drinking, stab
bling, strangling and shooting, is the plot and
terrell of "the Monks of Monk Hail." We leave
them to speak for themselves.
tits, of course, true that the ioords Of this piece
are, generally. such are employed in common
conversaton-but the sentiments, ideas, characters
and incidents are all of the regular brothel stamp
There are many fashionable designation houses
rented, too, by very religious and pious men, who
where person could visit, and find himself sur
rounded with all the extcrnals Of decent society
where he would meet with accomplished and splen-
didly dressed women, by whom no unlady-like word
would be uttered, and converse with respectable
lawyers, merchants, fnanciers and professional
men-where, in short, there should be nothing
to remind him that he was in the house of her
whose feet take hold on hell.' And yet, what
should we think Of the manager of such an esta-
blishment, who should boldly advertise his con-
Germ to public notice, and "challenge the public,
(the Mayor and authorities included) to detect an
indecent word or allusion" in his evening sorSes!
Such place would be far more dangerous in Sc
ducing the virtuous and confirming in crime the
but hafpolluted, than the disgusting dens where
vice is seen in all its naked and disgusting de-
formity.
1t has been said that our notice of "The Monks
of Monk Hail." has had the effect of filling the
theatre where it is played. Perhaps SO. There lis
low and degraded class who always rush to any
such species Of novelty, where their beastial appe-
tites can be gratifed. But this does not, and
should not prevent us from doing our duty as a
public journalist, and denouncing these infamous
spectacles as they deserve and Mr.. Deverna will
find that, in the end, neither he nor his theatre has
been benefited In regard to the play in question,
we assert that it is, from beginning to end, an out
rageous abomination upon decency and public mo
rails, and we again call upon the authorities to sup
press it. We have no special feeling towards Mr..
Deverna or his theatre, and wish both the most
abundant success-so long as they deserve it. Our
hostility is aimed exclusively at centiousness and
obscenity.
The COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TO GEN. MORRIS
Notwithstanding the unfayorable circumstance
to which we have before alluded, as being likely
to operate against this benefit, the Tabernacle las,
evening was filled with large and fashionable
audience, composed of the friends of Gen Morris,
both as poet and citizen. There were from
eighteen hundred to two thousand people in the
house, large proportion of whom were ladies
The performances went off with great Eclat. and