The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-09-06

public demonstrations and professions repeatedly
Public discussions were often heard, and the Oh
Jects and principles of the organization were fire.
quenty presented to large and attentive audiences.
u his was all done when novelty was attractive
Their means and their aims have become familiar
10 the people. Now, they are working quietly,
and though not with so much zeal, yet with no lit
tie success The order has been purged of those
who entered from idle curiosity or with unworthy
motives, and the membership may now be counted
on as tried and true. There are now in Virginia
upwards OF two hundred Divisions, numbering
ABOUT seven thousand members They have in
their treasures $3i, l.5 TO- These funds are ac-
cumuiated and held for charitable dses Since the
oroer was instituted in Virginia, (and that was Q
very 1sw years ago. S89, ,6S3. SO have been expend
Gu IN relieving the necessities of the needy and
distressed OF its members, their widows and or.
pnsns. AS uere charitable institution, then,
uoes IL not merit the piaudt swell done thou
sooo and faithful servantf' But this is not THE
feature OF the order. To shield from the evils of
,n,enperance Is its great mission. And what o
mission "A mission not yet accomplished Oh
"nat eViis there are in oar midst The hearts of
lhah no'hers and wives have been made to leap
m..l 10y. Inc eyes OF many children have been
IiAoo 70 Diighten with hope, by the happy infiu-
ence OF this order; but these hearts are doomed
10 sadness, ana tnese eyes to tears again If this
shield be Withdrawn, To Sons of Temnerance
snen, we BAY, keep your shield over those already
al" Di'"s o'ners under its saving power
Tie Richmond Theatre has been muob ;rrn-,,,.,
and beautfed under the skifuI direction ~ sot;,o
manager 1. L. MOXLEY, and is now bevond dorht
the handsomest temple of the drama. Of its siz. in
the Union. In passing through the building yas
terday, we observed that it had been thoroughly
cleansed and renovated from top to bottom
The first thing that particularly attracted our
attention, was a new and elegant Drop Curtsin
upon which was painted "The Voyage of Life.
from Calls magnificent picture of that title Mr.
CHARLES GETZ, the artist, has reproduced This
striking scene in admirable STYLE and with the
| most striking effect.
The machinery and scenery have been over.
hauled and improved by Mr. RICHARD MUNDIN,
for many years the machinist of the theatre
In the parquet the seats have been newly cover.
ed with damask cloth, the aisle with oil cloth, and
the wood work handsomely repainted
On the stage an improved fender has been added
to the footlights to prevent accidents to the
ing apparel of the ladies'
An important and decided Improvement has
been made IN the dress circle, by removing the
partitions, introducing additional seats repaintnr
the wood work, and re papering the walls and cell.
ing This alteration makes the house appear much
larger, than before, and will add comfort to those
who occupy the seats
In the second and.third tiers, the improvements
are continued, and the whole interior has been so
completely metamorphosed into new house that
| its old friends will scarcely recognize it.
| The lobby too has not been neglected. Beside
| being papered and painted, it has been converted
into complete picture gallery, where the portraits
of all the actresses and actors of the day are hung
around upon the walls One of these-the like
ness of the late J 3. Booth-wilI attract the at
tenti1n 81 all who knew that great tragedian.
All III all, we have never seen greater changes
| for the better, and more decided taste exhibited
than by MIR. Mo1ley, who has had the direction of
| the alterations, in every respect. We may add
that the upholsteriDg and paper hanging were exc
| cuted by Mr.. John T. Regnault, and the paintiuc
by Mr. j. A Bevil
| TONIGHT the season will commence and Mira
| LIZZIE WESTON DAVENPORT the great Star" is
| to appear in two characters-frst, as Juliet" in
Shakspeares thrilling tragedy of Romeo and Ju-
iiet in which she is said to stand unrivalled; and
| afterwards " Colin" in the amusing farce of
Mature and Philosophy"
| Mrs. Davenport comes among us with an exalted
reputation as an actress and lady Not only is her
conception of this character declared to be fault
less and her reading most artistic, but her personal
attractions are of such high order that she is the
beau ideal of Shakspearo's Juliet in every respect
| A friend, whs is warm admirer of the drama
| aud who has seen most of the theatrical stars in
this country, assures that none of them can ap-
proach Mrs. d. in personating this character
| Forgetting self, the audience and the stage she
throws her very soul into the authors loving dam
| sell and becomes for the time in thought and feel.
| ing, the person she assumes to be. Another ad-
vantage enjoyed by Mrs Davenport, is her versa.
tty Of talent, which as readily adapts itself 10
| the character of the innocent, confding country
damsel, as to the lady of queeny birth. Confined
to particular rote she good in ALL unsurpassed
| in many, and cannot fail to prove an attractive
| Cdiu " tuc Low aLG popuidf mdudStmeut.
Mr.. Davenport is to represent Mercuto on
this occasion, and will doubtless fully sustain his
| reputation as an actor of great promise In Wash
| ington he made such decided hit in the part that
| all W ho saw him were more than delighted
! Mr. Boniface, our old Richmond favorite, repre-
| seais the character of Romeo, in whose hands we
| know full justice will be rendered to the part.
The remainder Of the cast is excellent, and we
have no doubt that our play goers are to enjoy an
intellectual treat this evening, the like of which
| was never before offered them. We trust the
house will be crowded, and that the ladies will
| cupy large space in the dress circle and boxes
| Tie Schooner CreashaD, now lying in the dock,
is superb vessel of $50 tons burthen, and Is de.
signed as a regular packet between this city and
| New York. She is owned by a number of mer.
chants and business men in this city, and from
appearances will prove fast sailer, and strong,
reliable sea boat.
Not Hedrd.-A large crowd of persons assem-
| bled at the Mayors court yesterday morning, to
witness the examination of r. d. AddngtOn, den.
| tist charged with cruelty assaulting and heating
his wife, aud with being caught in the street, dis
| gused in female apparel, but owing to some cir
| cumstance unknown to US, the investigation YVES
| postponed until future day. When this fact was
made known, curses not loud but deep were utter.
ed by the by-standers at being disappointed in get
| ting glimpse of the prisoner, whose acts have
| caused 30 much excitement in our community
| Pauper Annoyancss Several Of the paupers in
| the poor house, drunken worthless creatures, are
| in the habit OF getting beyond the enclosures Of
that institution, without the knowledge OF the su.
| perintendent and then filling themselves 30 fail
| of bad liquor that they are forced to lay on the
sidewalks to sleep off its effects. For want OF
prison cells in which to confne these people, it ID
| impossible for the superintendent to keep them
from liquor all times, but when any of them are
| caught in an inebriated state, they should be Sc
| vereIy punished We know that Mr.. Pearce 10
| untring in his efforts to make the paupers und
his control comfortable, and to keep them In their
| places but the last he never do until the city
| supplies him with cells in which to confne them
| Hacking-Wm Graves was summoned before the
| Mayor yesterday to answer for permitting one Of
his hackmen to charge exhorbitant price fer at
| tending funeral Mr.. Semple testified that the
| hack complained of carried the corpse OF negro
| child to the poor house burying ground and charg
| ed him 81 80 for it. He could not tell how many
| hours the vehicle was in use, and consequently
| was unable to show that he had paid more than
| ordinance rates, which 10 one dollar for the first
hour and fifty cents for every hour thereafter
| The summons was therefore dismissed.
| Not Settled-Two witnesses were before the
Mayor yesterday. and testified in the case Of jim
Brown, free negro, charged with assaulting and
| beating with q stone Charles Chapman dark &C
quaintance but as there were other parties TO be
heard from. the Investigation was adjourned til