The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-02

| pOtlsm. Any single profession, be II the military,
the clergy, or the lawyers, that attalns the as
cendancy, in any community, will always lead
to the same results. Past history has proved,
again and again, to the world, that the tendency
of the ,clergy, the military, and the lawyers,
as classes of society, is hostile to public and
| general liberty, and no one can deny the gene
raj fact. In this country the clergy are placed in
their natural position. Human rights and Ii
berty are most in danger, in these United States,
from the profession of arms and the profession
of the law. The republic of Rome lost her prin-
cples by soldiers and lawyers. Mark that, good
people.
| THEATRES AND PUBLIC AMUsEMENTs.-Th
are nearly twenty places of public amusement in
this city, including theatres and every species of
exhibition, to say nothing Of public balls and
other places, where you can procure ticket at
the door The Bowery, the Chatham, the Park,
the Broadway, the Olympic, are all doing, more
or less, prosperous business.
The legitimate drama, however, does not seem
to succeed or pay. Melo-drama, spectacle, ex-
hibition, horses, and humbug, seem to please the
public much better than the old classic drama,
including Shakespeare and Sheridan, who are far
behind the age. Some attempt Is made at the
there seems to be no sympathy with II at all, at
the present day A new spirit seems to have ari.
sen, in certain quarters, favorable to native pro-
auctions, especially those formed on incidents
in the Mexican war. They take remarkably
well, principally at the Bowery theatre. The
Italian Opera is, of course, well attended when
good singing and good music are brought for
| ward.
But one of the most curious phases In public
amusements that has struck at this time,
is the progress of exhibiting the almost naked
| figures of men and women, under the designa-
ton of model artists, holy groups, and sacred
| figures, taken from the scriptures, and the old
and new testament 1t is only a few months
since the first Of these exhibitions was opened to
a New York audience. They seem to have
sprung up soon after the arrival of Powers sta
tue of the Greek Slave here. That was looked
upon by all classes of society as work of art; but
the mass of our community have no particular
| prediction for cold marble 1t was soon discover
ed that the exhibition ofliving men and women, lin
a semi-transparent drapery, looking like nudity,
always under the name of model artists, or sculp-
tural groups, take remarkably well. According
| ly, from the first week the model artists were
exhibited, they have increased to such degree
that you can view them in almost every street
and lane, in any low grog shop, at six cents
sight. They are rapidly degeneratng from the
taste and propriety which characterised them
| in Palmo's or Pinteuxs, aud have, at last, got
so low, in some of the bystreets, aslthree, four,
or five cents, thereby inviting newsboys, loafers,
and the veriest ragamuffins about town, to see
| them.
| We remember the rise, progress, and fall of
masquerading, as an amusement. The exhibit
ton of semi-naked figures as models of art seems
to be running the same course; and we should
not be surprised to see the necessity of the legis-
lature passing law regulating such exhibitions.
In some of the out of-the-way streets and lanes,
these exhibitions are really too bad, and their
! further tolerance in our city would be a dis
grace
The OPERA.-The opera of" Romeo and Juliet
does not seem to take. The house, on the Sc
cond representation, was quite thin, and the ap-
pause cold, formal and badly put III. Madame
Patti is acknowledged on all hands to have been
a good artist-very chaste and correct. But she
has passed her hey-day, and is no longer what
she has been. Mile BarillI has been pronounced
| beautiful, and possesses good deal OF grace and
action; but as vocalist, is by no means correct,
| finished, or pleasing. Signor Rosl seems to be
the artist who carries off the most praise from
the sklful and knowing; but on the whole,
So Romeo and Juliet is tame, and ags far be-
hind some OF the preceding operas.
BY the by, the musical criticisms OF some OF
! the journals quite amusing, more especial
! ly those of the Courier des Etdfs Unis. In some
of the articles that appear in that delecablc paper
concerning the opera, there ia such good nature,
and amiable combinations of sense and Stiffness,
Of absurdity and critical acumcn, of learning
and numbering, that they seem to be more a sort
Of halifoITed literary articles, than real musi-
cal c,1tigues. One very sensible remark made in
these critiques, must strike every person rather
correct, WIS that the refined audience OF the
Astor Place Opera applaud seldom when APP
plause is deserved, and fail to condemn when
condemnation is mcrited. In fact, the critic
thinks the audiences there would relish much
better, and be better judges, of mere English
ballad, than they would be Of the finished musi-
cal compositions called Italian operas. There
! il more truth than poetry In this remark; and
the following advertisement Is proper
WANTED IMnr piATELY.-A few young gentlemen, with
moustaches who can o,iate einqaers at the Italian
Opera They must furnish their own gloves. Apply at
the Office OF the managers
THE SoUrHERNER.-The Charleston spring
races, which come off this month"; appear to
! have given some animation to the sporting
world, for we notice already that the services OF
! the elegant and favorite ocean steamer Southern
er, are in requisition She came down to her
dock yesterday in beautiful trim, and will com.
mence her spring campaign between this port
and Charleston, on Saturday, under Capt Berry.
her sstimsble commander