Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-11-08

PuBLIc ANusENESTs-As public Journalists We feel il
to be duty, all times, TO give only
views tend elevate aud improve the community nor
would say aught that might give countenance To i'm
purity vice. Influenced by this feeling intend Of
icrng few thoughts the character OF public
ment and the duty OF citizens regarding them That
people crowded together in large cities and working hard
during the day, will have relaxation night, is
TACT which experience and history prove IL is OF all
countries and true at every period Of the worlds oi
The character OF nation may be discovered by the kind
OF amusement most popular and most general amongst
people The ancient Greek the type of refinement and
literature in his day. delighted in listening the tragedies
Of Eurpdes and SpphOces; aud at the theatre he
those specimens of good TASTE and heard those maxns
elevated morality which made him the model Of manhood
throughout the whole heather world. The warike Ro-
man, the other hand familiar with bloodshed aud de-
lighting in war; found bis most agreeable amusement in
the amphitheatre, aud the with wild beasts so il
is at the present day Ia enlightened and sober England
and in America where the people intelligent and re-
fined, the theatre affords the iayOe mode al relaxation IL
not Improvement IN France. with all the volatility of
her mercural people aud with her loose morals the ballet
dance and the masquerade suit the popular TASTE aud
sy the depraved desires Of sensual population Spain
patronizes the bull fight. Ireland delights IT, her
DonnybroOk fair, and wild cOnviviality and 20
everywhere, the tastes and the refinement Of a
people may be learned from the public they
most generally patrOBse. Nov. although hold the
theatre be the most intellectual of all the modes of
public relaxation with which we are acquainted and
though think il might be made school Of public mo-
rails aud the very best refners OF feeling and public
generally, either in this country England WE NUT
DRIVE BLAsPHENT AND LAcivIoUs ISUESDo STAGE
before il can sub-erve the poses OF public good-we
must avoid the double cnedre which makes the ground
lings smile, aud BAsIsH those ladies' with
nomca dresses whose sole merit lies in the suppleness
their limbs, and the ndecacy Of their pastures Such
exhibitions improve one they disgust the refined aud
destroy all good impressions that the best DRAMA with
the Purest moral might have previously produced Such
exhibitions frequently drive away the good and virtuous
from the theatre who otherwise would paronise IT, and
offer an invitation Tor those 10 attend who require such
exhibitions TO whvt dcpravcd taste Managers should
endcavor 70 educate public TASTE by leveDg up down.
aud secure the attendance Of the good not the
tastes Of the vulgar The opinions have advanced ~
favor Of the theatre, when properly conducted we hold
IN common with the most distinguished hiyucs and the
purest men, the world has seem whilst the common
sense OF any rciecing mind viii bear n the oicc.
tons have urged Mrs MOwai in the last chapter of
her Autobiography, has enumerated the opinions Of dis
ungnshed mel this subject, and refer the curious
to that interesting work for the theories and facts that
would occupy too much Of space 10 notce-Phiia.
EreHiHg Journal