American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-29

- THE THEATRE AND ITS INFLUENCE. We
have been much pleased with an article from
the pen of Sargent Talford upon this subject,
which is alike remarkable for its eloquence
and truthfulness 1t is refreshing to meet
with such remarks as the following, showing,
as they do, that even the most abused, thea
trical representations, if under proper govern
ment and regulations are capable Of impart-
ing high and ennobling influences The writer
says:--
1t is only in the theatre, that any image OF
real grandeur of humanity-any picture of ge-
nerous heroism and noble self sacrifice is pour
ed OH the Imagination, and sent warm 10 the
hearts of the vast body of the people. There
are eyes, familiar through months and years
only with mechanical toll, suifused with natu-
raj tears. There are tAe deep fountains of
hearts long cncrusted by narrow cares, burst
open, and u holy light is sent in on the long
sunken forms OF the Imagination, which shone
fair and guodly in hoy hood by their own light
but have since been sealed and forgotten in
their "sunless treasuries.n There do the lowest
and most ignorant catch their only glimpse OF
that poetic radiance which sheds its glory a.
round our being. While they gaze they forget
the petty concerns of their own individual lot,
and recognize and rejoice in the kindred with
nature capable Of high emprse, Of meek suE
feling, and Of defiance to the powers Of agony
and the grave. They are elevated and soften
ed into men. They are carried beyond the o.
norant present time; feel the past and the future
on the instant, and kindle as they gaze on the
massive realities of human virtue, or on those
fairy visions which are the cleaning furesha-
dows OF golden years, which hereafter shall
bless the world, Their horizon is suddcny cx-
tended from the narrow circle OF low anNioties
and selfish joys, to the larthest boundaries of
our moral horizon; and they perceive, in clear
vision, the rocks Of defence for their nature,
which their ielIow-mcn have been privileged
TO raise. While they feel that (which gives
an awe of things above them" their souls are
expanded in the heartest sympathy with the
vast body of their fellows. A thousand hearts
are swayed at once by the same emotion, rs the
high grass of the meadow yields as a single
blade 10 the breeze which sweeps over it. Dis
tlnctious of fortune, rank, talent, ag9, all give
way to the warm tide Of emotion, and every
class feel only as parlakers ~ one primal sym.
pathy, made Of ono blood - and equal m the
Banculies Of their being. Surely tho art that
produces an effect like this--whch separates,
as by divine aIchmy, the artificial from the
real IN humanity supplies to the arii
Fan in the capital the place of those woods
aud free airs, aud mountain streams, which in-
sensibly harmonic the PEASANTS character
which gives the poorest tn feel the old gran
deuT Of tragedy, sweeping by with sceptered
pall--whiCh makes heart Of the child leap
with strange joy, and enables the old man to
fancy himself again chld--is worthy Of no
mean place among the arts which refine our
manners, by eXalung our conceptions.