Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-01-28
For the Spy.
The Theatre.

The first argues the claims Of Messrs Gates g.
Brown. The second contends that theatres are
Moral Nusances' The friends of theatre believe
sincerely that theatre is moral benefit. How
shall the question be settled BY discussion, Of
course, and each doing simply as he would wish
to be done by.
Our city is made up of the usual classes of So
ciey, parties in politics, and sects in religion all
believing their class the most moral, their party
the most pure, their sect The most religious, and
that the others teach doctrines that strike at the
very foundation Of the good and the true. 1t is
probable large majority are in favor Of thea
tire. People oil high morality and responsibility
are on both sides Neither ought to coerce the
conscience Of the other. Those that believe it
wrong to go, ought to be allowed to stay at home
And, that those who believe it right and benef-
cial, ought 10 be permitted to go, would seem
too plain to be controverted The principle
was admirably stated in noble and manly
manner,by the Alderman who said, Il am oppos-
ed 10 theatre. do not go, myself, nor let my
family 90. But my neighbors, who are as good
as | am, are in favor of it they go themselves,
and take their families with them Far be it
from me to throw any legal distractions in their
way. All want, is,such protection as will pre-
vent my chldren's going, when do not know IT,
The Legislature, surprising that the wants of
the community require such amusements as
theatre, gave the City government power to Ii
cense, intending they should do it under proper
and JudiciouS restrictions. If they had not so in
tended, they would have passed law prohibit
ing dramatic exhibitions.
1t is said that the argument for a theatre rests
on the same basis, as the argument against the
Maine Law. If so, the argument against the Ii
qaor law is well founded
The City has one shop, where any man, who
&c Uofs uah nIafin
cessittes require. One theatre for the present
would meet our wants.
The theatre is charged with the sins ofthe per-
son who is in the habit of visiting such places
and from such loose conclusions. it is argued it
should be prohibited. Oar children learn many
faults, tricks and sins, at the public schools Our
boys contract habits too loathsome u mention at
boarding schools Our churches are seandaiized
by the sins of their members Shall they be abat-
ed? Sin is the offspring of ialibIe human nature,
and the wisest and best institutions cannot prevent
it. The writer has visited the Boston Museum.
and he presumes nine tentbs of the remonstrants
have done the same. Saying nothing of the dii-
ference in TALENT he can most conscientously say
that so far as moral department and pIopriety Of
action are concerned, ours will compare favora-
bly, with that.
1t is desirable 10 have the best theatre we can
proprietors shall be able TO pay all their bills, and
make fair compensation for their services And
any business man will see that 1t would be better
10 have two active persons licensed who are now
receivin salaries, and dispense with Messrs
Gates u Brown, if it can be done, and the thing
carried on as well without them. 1t would be a
pecuniary saving of some $3.50 per annum-a
part Of which could be laid out in increasing the
talent of the acting, and a part in improving
the scenery, &c.
The remonstrants mostly belong to what are
called the better classes in society. They are al
lowed to select, and have, all the social enjoy
ments and amusements that their tastes require.
But we have among US many young men, wear
ing the homeiy coat, spun and woven by the
hands of distant sister, made up by mothers
love, and mothers care, taken from all the ems
dearments of social life, and planted among stran-
gers, without sufficient talent, wardrobe, taste,
pecnniary resources, or education. to introduce
them into the society of these remonsuants, but
worthy young men in their place and condition,
who feel void, want in their natures ungrati-
fed, and unmet No kind fraternal hand IS ex-
tended toSake them into the family circles and
sooh their social wants-no genial warmth TO
greet them a. the corner of the Streets but cold
selfish world husllng them down, without consid-
GRAFTON and without regret. 1t is to save such
young men as these from the grog shops, the
gambling saloons, and the Hells Of debauchery,
lhas the friends of humanity desire TO establish
Innocent places of amusement And, dare any
one take the responsibility of depriving them Of
this single Oasis in the desert of their lives The
remonsirants may never have felt the loneliness,
and void in their sad condition, but others have
felt it, in all the bitterness of its experience
IL Is believed That this remonstrance originated
from the same source whence sprung the request
that young men, not belonging TO an Evangelical
Church, should put one dollar year into their
hands, and have such books dealt out in return as
they in their lciSdom thought fit and proper for
them to read-with no right of holding office or
voting. The young man who would debase him
self to such terms, is fit only to be slave.
1t would be well 10 look around, and see what
the consequences will be, to lash the friends ofI-
nocent amusement into union with the friends
of Rum, and to create party division that will
bring in all the bitterness Of oulra ged person.
al rights.
1t seems, to the friends of amusement, dicta-
tional arrogant, meddlesome, self sufficient, ty-
ranical and bigoued, for those who choose some
other place than the theatre, to pretend others
| have not Just as good right 10 select the theatre
| for themselves. And if they want to draw the
reins closely, and see how far the masses Of
Worcester, after they have saddled and brdled
them, will allow them to ride anu spur them, let
them try it. Only, if they get their necks broke
in this equestrian exercise, it will not be the first
accident that has happened from riding the un-
subdued 1t is mighty easy to assume that ,ce
know Just what we need, what is useful and prop
er for US. And it ID mighty sef-suficlent to ass
sumo that we know better than our neighbor
what ought to satisfy his wants. And no man
| with the spirit of man in him, will allow it TO
be peaceably done. 1t is not intended to have
this saddle and bride tried on many mere times,
and to work in the team with those who do it,
81
| MONUMENT TO ROBERT RANToUJ, JR.-
In memory of this distinguished son Of Beverly, "a
neat and cbaste monument, of Italian marble,
| has recently been erected in Inc family burial ot