Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-17
KING ST.

Mr.. Editor Il cannot but commend your
zeal in the cause of mental improvement, and
rational pastlme, but you must allow me 10
differ with you IN your commentator OF The
Gtrlcal shows, as an innocent mode OF passing
a winter evening among our citizens. All
such modes OF amusement as will elevate the
taste, by polishing the understanding and ref
ming the morals, will do well enough, and |
accord 10 you a friendship for such-your la
bors prove you TO be a friend to rational i'm
p%rovement, but your zeal perhaps has carried
you a little too far this time.
would not contend that dramatic represen-
tations Of the affairs ofhuman life, are in them
selves sinful; the memorable DR.. WATTS was
inclined to the opinion, ''that valuable compost
lions might be made Of this kind, that would
entertain a virtuous audience with innocentd de-
light" Butthe misfortune is, that vice is por-
trayed with such infatuaiing charms in almost
all dramas, that the young are unable 10 resist
its influences. and too often fall an easy sacrl-
fee. In most plays, intrigue is the basis, and
the william who walks through the path of licen-
tious and unmanly pleasures with the great
est ease, in the end meets with as much ap-
plause as he who walks according TO the laws
ofGod. Likethe Epicurean philosophy, ador-
ned by the poetic elegance of Lucretlus and
Virgil. sanctioned by the skeptical Cicero, and
embraced by Cesar and AtticuS. they have
undermined the morals of the young, destroy
ed the vital principles of religion, and proved
the bane Of the nation. This was the case in
the days or ancient republics. After the man-
Iy exercises OF the degenerate Romans Were
overwhelmed by dissipation and forgotten, and
the Hippodrome, theatrical amusementS, and
gladia,orlal showS had usurped their place,
the Roman youth became so dehauched and
efleminate, that they lost all that noble fire and
spirit which characterized their immortal an
cestors Rome is to this day a to
the nations that when sport can be made of
virtue, and the taste of communities is vi tiated
by theatrical amusements-where ylceis shown
in order to be praised, and virtue blamed, a
nation degenerates into barbarlty, ignorance
and superstition.
Young and old from seeing vice beautifully
portrayed naturally fall IN love with il. and are
led 10 pursue ways equally detrimental TO NOR
ais and understanding. These representations
influence the mind, and like the Upas tree,
dinuse their poisonous vapour all around. dea-
ling death to every thing that comes within Its
destructive vortex. AS DR.. WATTS says
alt is a golden but a fatal circle,
UPON whose magic skirts a thousand devils
al " ~ WIN NcNB NRNhf'AhS H"SNNHSe
Aud bcckou early virtue from lis centre.
II would be endless 10 trace all the vice
That from the play house takes immediate rise.
IL is the iuy xhausted magazine
That stocks The land with vanity and sin.
--By Furnishing 30 long
Nunbers have been undoDe, both old aud young,
A III many souls are now unblesi,
Which else had died in peace and found cter-
nal rest"
The concomitants of this mode Of life ere
well known, and although they may not as yet
have attached themselves to our votaries of
Thespis, yet they are the certain results every
where else in this world %ofours. Our audien-
ces may be moral and decorous. and our play
ers young gentleman of responsibility, but
what has all experience proved TO players and
playhouse frequensers. The company ofpiay
ers and the manner Of spending their time,
with but few exceptions, teach us tina: it's an
unpleasant atmosphere and a barren SOIL
Some ars impressed with ths belief hat it is a