The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-29

i
Of uufh lhM 'Bas believe equally that exhibits much
exuavaganoe CONFUSION and ,ikgcai reasoning More
oa Of wv me ass II ss lsars on ~
abuses that takes 70 recognise what good IN
ts eagernes 10 point out what evn-or 10 discriminate
between what " essential and what accidental In this
institution: that confounds the evils around, with the
evils within the theatre and to directly to the point,
fails inquire and explain why, and by whose fault, and
in accordance what Il Ia the immortality and
reckssnees of society, s folly and vice, have clustered
about the theatre. do deny the fact, but deny the
totally condsmna,ory differences drawn from fact For
in truth the theatre IL the place where for no fault
inherent In itself the pre- existing ioi's ana vices
not expect to lind the foes and vices OF society, the
evity and ease OF community gathering round schools
and colleges, workshops and churches OF labor
and care any than expect 70 ind files settling
upon rhubarb and aoes and no, on molses aud honey
But would be quite reasonable to give up sugar be
vermin fond Of II 10 give up pleasure be
cause fools and knaves the light aud the wicked make
laughter sobrey does not propose 10 disuse The rribe
muscles; because drunkenness ruins thousand and gut
tony tens Of thousands vrous society does NOT expect n
l give up eating and drinking.
One very large class Of the pers of humanity novi-
tably and indissoasy associated with it pleasure loving
propensiea. is Of the OF pleasure uli
science 10 Sleep and throw humanity attitude Of
sstance This is not its weakness but liz strength its
and charm Of carelsSness and ahandan Ii IL did
do this would not be the recreation society. If
thinking OF their duty their business, self
discipline of Judgment to come Of serious and solemn con
in their anusemens they would srayht~ay become
no longer amusements but trying occupations. 1t Is Of
course then, Of the nature OF pleasure to expose and
mind heart left 10 the impressions OF the time and
here then, IL the place where the positive
Chile vicc Of society must appear rather great class
of hen,hose that affect the senses But by
the character Of pleasure than tse,tes the
character OF the gustatcry nerve, that II ala nM give US
pleasure there would be guttony 10 drink no in
temperance The pleasure Of eating and drinking uni
versal and positive blessing and not to be ascribed
solely with unitarian philosophers, to the necessity
of Supplying with motive for labor, but to the
Creators benevolent desire to communicate happiness
the love Of pleasure dangerous az Is taken from
itself DESTROYED, consequences
would ensue, vastly demoraizng and fatal than any
now proceeding from It's abuse And when We are dwell
ing exclusively upon the evils Of pleasure any Of its
forms would correct Of extravaganza TO stop
and mediate while upon lis origin, i1 uses and its ne
cessity $50
The atractvepcss Of the theatre to vice and folly,
nothing against it, until can be proved that they are
attracted there by what IS bad and depraving II 10 not
enough TO show that they carry there what bad ana de-
pravng that they not kept away by what is bad and
depraVing there but that they are attracted ny what is
bad and depraving. suppose them 10 be- attracted pre-.
cisey by what would attract me or yon or any innent
welntentoned personby the love Of pleasure spec
tacle, society talent beauty, light architecture, and
suppose them he very innocent far the enjoyment
OF these things concerned That, knowing their pre-
fence, and unscrupuousness, the stage
should cater 70 it, a evil that folly and weak
should lind these waiting for them there 80 practice
on their propenses; that they should carry their vices
and tastes to the theatre with them dreadful and
depiable misfortune TO society But am yet to SEQ how,
because the wicked and the careless like what the good
and the careful also hkenaely pleasuret makes plea
wrong and how because the theatre IN it, character
Of an amusement attracts the vicious and the deprayed
IL proves Il % be a vicious and depraved amusement.
Have the vicious depraved human and universal
tastes ef9 Are they not still men and women? Arc no,
Of their dongs and feelings such az the good and the
innocent can shareY For my part believe the thea
tire has in every age exhibited the vices and foes OF
ciety rather than created them, and that II has owed its
reputation for evil mainly the fact that has been the
only place in which the decency or virtue or ooprey OF
society has met the ndseepy the SSe @ ,
vice or disreputblcness encouraged II, should ut
erly condemn H. but believe on the contrary, notwith
standing M imperfect administration, has done some
thing TO correct it, Perhaps the innocent hours Of
the vicious have been those in which they were publicly
amused under the protection Of society For the Innocent
pleasure which even vice md folly get Of their oxis
ence only part Of their career we csn look at with
| any satisfaction: al elsc Is LOIS and ruin.
But whatever the effect Of the theatre Is or has been,
having nothing essentially wrong IN Us principle and hav
ing proved itself to be- in fact what In theory has alrea.
day shown itself be- the most attractive and permanent
OF arnusements fixed and indes.fuctbe fact seems To
| me, tina, avowed moralsts and Christian leaders and
guides have committed grave and huFtu crrtr IN Their
mode Of dealing with H. They have the drama and
the stage swerabe for all the vices and toi.s which
have gathered round hea course as unjust ~ 10 make
the marke, responsible for the dog and rats the thieves
and kuaves, sure 10 find harvest IN That most froqucnted
Know il viii be replied that patience with owls con
with what Ii necessary doos not justify patience
with evils associated with what not necessary that he
cause commerce makes a dangerous lite for saiiors
10 place the dangerous life for actors which the
theatre produces upon the sano plea of great social no
cessl,y: that the end foles OF trade, ~ religion q
domestic life, all Of which cardinal, and necessary
natural interests a humanity do not stand at all upor
the same ground Of absolute discountonance which the
vices foiies If artificial unproductive, and
o.sary amusement occupy But there are various forms
OF necessity and that the necessity Of being
amused hot as fixed and fatal necessity being
fed and warmed. 1t is not Necessary In The same sense,
monty place leisure laughter love among the accessories
Of ie alongside OF bread and water, fire and shelter
Yet in broad view OF social Interests and human require
nents they would be found rank with tom not In the
class but under the OF actual accessories
of true, healthul and vigorous social life. That may
well be said 10 be necessary, which, age after and
81 precise proportion the influence OF civilization, and
of Christianity, found supported and sustained 10
the very face &c the church and nnder tho formal ban
OF religious society That the theatre has survived the
has received from tie pulpit and The norsist,
hibs at least rs wonderful vitality and when we pr.
eeve tina. general censure a dscoursemeri have not
he slightest effect either 10 putting down, or IN mproy
ng IT, why do bot begin 70 inquire what might be done
by treating with candor and sympathy 70 save ~ uses,
aud correct abuses Is fascnaon ~ the
human happiness, and de;ch II from the artificial
associations which tho real Objects Of our suspicion and
| dislike?
when consider TINT egh, ,hea,rss open this city
for six nights every week; that they constantly fire.
quented though Ia very dioron, degrees by all casses
the community except portion a those technically styled
professors Of religion; that the tastes, morals rnanners
happiness Of hundreds of ,honsands o. people affected
by them for good evil u degree which almost renders
the theatre rival 20 the church. coufess that the vast
ness &C this metropolitan interest Is scriuus element
whole civic character and human pro poets make
willing ignore Il; or, the hope OF crushing being
preIoseroys ALLOW 20 III easy while II r,nsls hos
tie morality, In open competition with religion
must for my peace sake. What OF good 10 Is thai
hfo % tbs surdy tree, winch mas been 20 long s.eken
grccnncss. do what 10 direct the ecors OF
Pe,y and morality against what vulnerable 10 the Thea
ire that their may longer be wasted upon Its
| adainanilno portions must strive TO obtain truce
between tho theatre and Tie church. tho dramatic world
and the religious world, lon enough FOR candid nidera
Of their mutual causes OF Jealousy and SUSPICION their
seated opposition and alienation, and endesvor, after
ali our Efforts 10 crush the theatre have failed, get
the public and the dramatic profession 90 unite With
the moral and serious portions Of the community, OF,
what Is more difficult The moral and serious portions
with them, u reform the theatre; W reduce 1t 70 a. theo
r.tc, innocent and bebeacen ohcc, 20 make 1t legih
interest and ho1cst charm of society," Snds< the
\ smile of virtue and the protection Of religion.
You win not suppose ignorant OF the alarm ~ mis-
giving with which suoh hope and esort 70 be
received by the class with whom sin arguing They
will say that instead OF reforming The theatre, shail
deforn the church; tha, religion res It's power
the moment shows any synraily with their seininl
gent tastes and that absolute dsrus and dscounen
Of the theatre, complete and thorough separation
from H. from plague and pollution, ts The only way 10
escape pcrnciors Influence. This am eware, the
almost universal method cf dealing with the subject
suong Herious persons and u because dlstyns The