New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-29

Inc Academy OF CluSlc Msl evening Wltnesstu du
unusual, and indeed We believe, an unprecedented
spectacle. Clergymen have written for the stage
some of them we'll but most of them badly; cler-
gymen have sometimes spoken in their pupits, if
not in defense, at least in extenuatiOn of the thea
ter; but we doubt if, upon any occasion, from the
creation of the world or rather from the days Of
Thesps, down to last evening, any clergyman has,
within the walls Of play house. discussed the
morality of its business, or the relation which it
held to theology and churches. However much
the address of DR.. Bellows may frighten the tinid
and trouble the fanatical-howevcr much men, for
whose honesty we have the largest respect, may,
in good faith doubt the expedlency of the course
adopted by the reverend gentleman--we thank him,
not merely for the eloquent production which last
night gave pleasure to 80 many, but for the valor
which he has exhibited in venturing out of the pale
of conyentionality, and in daring to give FLIP to
the social intellect and conscience just where they
needed stimulus. In this will be found tho true
value of Dr. Bellowss Address Arguments equal
10 his in defense Of the drama have again and
again been uttered; and the criticisms Of men who
are familiar as he is not, with the present internal
economy of the playhouse, are more practical and
pertinent than his own: but venture to say that
no one could have presented more attractiyely or
more logically the abstract necessity which has
been the bulwark of the theater through all gem
eratons
Actors have again and again been advised to be
sober; actresses have again and again been advised
to be yrtuous the serious public has again and
again been advised to be the eycr-present censors,
guardians and guarantors Of dramatic morality;
but we do not remember any advocate who has
50 strongly and unanswerably placed the cause OF
the drama exactly where it should be, and who has
sensibly and eloquently pleaded for the influence of
mere amusement and relaxation upon the human
character. Excellent as the whole Address is, We
think that this is IFS strong point. There have
been pettfogging subterfuges; there has been no
end of talk about holding up the mirror TO vice;
about the apprentices warned from plferlng the
till by seeing - George Barnwe;" about sucking
murderers persuaded from homicide by shiverng at
Macbeth" about the burglary, the larceny and
the general RIGHTEOUSNESS which the stage has pre-
vented. This, for the most part, is the emptiest
CANNON. We do not go to the theater tO be
preached to. We do go to the theater to be
amused. DR.. Bellows has hit the nail directly
upon the head; and we think that he has shown.
too, that in all proper ways it is fit, right, proper
and sslutary that We should be amused.
But upon the other hand, there is the dissolute
tendency of amusement, TO which We do not think,
with all his fairness and acumcn that DIR. Bellows
does exact justice. Certainly to be convinced,
| instructed, initiated into arcana of wisdom from
which We have been heretofore excluded, is better
| than to gggle at quips and quirks; and to catch
| through individual experience and through the
Intervention of that awful experience which every
earnest soul must, or later. encounter some
glimpse of the realities of life. is better than to
| tremble at the contemplation of mimic tragedy and
simulated woes. The church has had the adyan.
tage that it was real and earnest, while the
theater only exhibited ''the forms, modes, shows
Of grief II is this which has rendered the
influence Of the stage dubious. II is this which has
made II the fayorte of those who merely desired TO
while away angud hour or tn cheat safety of its
| WEAKNESS. Ii is this which has given to dramatic
literature its character; which has driven stage.
writers to add eryngo to capsicum; which has
forced actors greedy of applause TO FIRE the sullen
blood of the pit BY mouthed oaths by double enten-
DIRE, and by indeicate situations
| We must not be understood TO say that Dr.
Bellows has not proved all this to be unnecessary
| But, before the delivery Of his Address, we all
knew il to be unnecessary; or rather We all knew
that there might be dramatic representations entirely
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