New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-29

! charge, then, ths vises ssd folbss q - 49,
az Of cur other smasements, and Of ear esasr,i 20
moral and religious portion Of the coumup;,x ~
class from the peasure-loving resorts Of ths pss.l
I. believe that al the specified classes Of evil -
neced ith the theser would disappear 20 Is gTs1i
extern, they disappear, even in respectable A.
cie,y, t. after having recognized the essential a.
cebcy and necessity Of public amusement in gepsr.i
and Of the tsge in particular, the sober and vt,m,
people OF this and every city would 60 In moderatoe
TO the thestens. 1hSs would at once take IN.
ban OF this diversion thing essentially "a
hopelesay wrong-Gn enormous injury 20 setms
and also to the public, whom il drives 10 hei,
pleasures in defiance Of what they themselves .urn
10 be night. Next, in their presence there woulS ~
the only possible and effective censorship in eornt
ike ours, securing the selection of plsys Of hsT,,
less snd spotles character and their percrmane, IN
manner dccoTous and unblsmnble. Further the x,r,s
influence would .xclude--for IL has partiajv A.. !.
drinking places and improper chsrreter. a.
such from the play house; and finally their e,n,e
nance requirement ana support would give acton ana
actresses the strength and courage they mach nesS
10 nee above the pers of their aborious and exsin
vocation and "a take their place with other re.psc.5
and respectable callings. upon the common platform
Of moral and Christian amenabieness.
These suggestions are not speculauons. They Az.
based upon what is already begun and bow gong On.
The existence Of place like Niblo's Gsrdenospd
honorable mention should never fail 10 be made Of tia,
pioneer in theatrical reform in this comsabity WI.
liam Niblo-which sober people OF the sss lightly.
laced religious sects could attend without sbeolu los
of standing has worked small revolution IN ia sx.
ternal deosncy of theatrical matters and suroundsc
in THE city and country That disgusting and odoas
gallery allotted 10 vice-foneriy deemed tsepa
rable from the thesterhss beeu~ almoct universally
abandoned: while the bar has at least retired FROM
public sight and Is trust, finally 10 retire from w.
cret existence. Ii is encouraging TO learn that eys1.
now the saloon for confectionery aud ices Is NOE
profitable in heAers than the drinking shop, and
where q good orchestra exists comparatively lev
cave their seats between the acts for any otberu
freehment
Is not patent too, that every theater puride.i
self 20 meet the precise taste for purity which dis
covers in its patrons As learn from others-lor
have very small personal eKperience-you might
graduate the approaches to absolute spotlessnes q
words and motons-from q very remote, 70 quite
satisfactory, at any rate, encouraging nearness 10
the standard Of true morality, by observing the cha
racter and class Of the audiences who support the
various theaters Of New-fork l am assured by
CHRISTIAN gentlemen of Boston, that the principal thea
ter In that city is free from reProach Of ppuny
or irreverence the ordinary circle of good soiey.
And what but the partial relaxation of the code which
has excluded moral worth and sobrety from the thea
ter has effected this partial reform Does not
ppgress lie only in this direction And il Is because
Of the abundant proof from all quarters that progress
is making that have been encouraged and compelled
to become a laborer in this field Bat even now, 10
impossible b read the accounts Of the stage, the pob
Of the phys without perceiving how urgently thethe
ter stands in need of gravef eensorshp-"i the fear
and Of the support Of wiser, more thoughoai sad
ever now that the bester in the character OF lis ays
Is at all worse than much Of the literature which snds
its way unreprovsd into our parlors and bedrooms;
aud we may thank the indulgence of sickly appetite
for French novele for the popularity Of the prurien
morbid and undermining drama OF tho French school,
which because it is decent In words, the innocent do
not perceive 10 be indecent in conception and debauch
ing in its main drift IL needs Christian intelligence
sure frm moral instinc<, to recognise and 6ty char
acterixe much of the nsdious poison and fascinating
conuptio. OF the stage. But | truly believe that
dozen Of unquestoued purity, largeness and ee-
vs,on of tone could, at q single representation make
It impossible for such plays the late alsmngy pop
uar Camille" with Others ID its class, 70 be n
heard. 1t is by no means certain that their authou
are impure OF intend wrong. But they write on wrong
and mischicvous theories, and their works are per-
forDd wrong and mschiev Gus theories. tniirs an1
unanimous Reputation must be Fixed upon this whole
school Of plays and the great genius which has helped
kindly eutrcsted and encouraged to seek q nobl0
fame in better and more permanent field Of scting
Thousands are panopEed in innocency and escape
the wrong from such plays; but the last restraints
and they follow the fascination into the pit Of desguc-
ton Ought not the clergy, the fathers the profesn,
the learned, wise and responsible men Of this CONNIE
nifty to be lending their restraining and chastenins
presence. their supervision and judgment to elevs
and improve place Of resort, which their childvn,
then pupils their companions, their parishioners, vii
at any rate attendi hesitate not to say. clearly they
oughteven at the expense of being shocked, or dis
gusted clearly they ought, from dpty alone. Blu;
take away superstition and fear of reprosch, they
would not require to 60 from duty alone. They would
enjoy the relaxation which their presence purified
they would moderate by sharing taste which is made
excessive by the excusveness in which Il INDUCED,
and the inAammatory passions to which il appeals.
Let great works, sterling comedy or solemn tragedy
the FULL would not oovet this tickling of the sentnen
tai nature, which makes one bad play only create
morbid appetite for another; and which carries %
many 10 most harmful excess. On every account
fha. he AID vy,da IF fba hmm
share their smusemeuts when not sinful in themsefve
Their vices they may noe share nor psrtake-ther
tastes and pleasures they may and ought. You need
not tell me that the silent reonstrance the settled
proof which the absence of the religious class
from it's gives to the levity and iminor-
atty Of the theater, are its most effectual
and only Christian checks. j reply that these
have proved utterly Intellectual, nay, have re-
acted upon the church and public morais--that
the theatey is the better tor this own, and the
church much the worse. 1t Affects only the face that
wears IT, Besides, positive influence Is thousand
times more powerful than negative. One good man,
going to the heater, does it more good than hundred
good men who stay away can do II. l believe u
Mn. Mowatt who sates in her Rec0llectons OF the
Stage that she has known the sudden dscoveryby
the management "a the presence VI single person OIL
eminent and virtuous character in the sadsnee
chastsn and qualify the whole performance; rishcng
rbsldry, depressing inuendo, and putting the wnve
company on their good behavior and the lnansgen o.
theaters in Ncw-York directly confirm the fact ~
proved by their own experience. What might not uae
expected end certain presence of q small proportions
OF known and positive friends Of purity, reverence
and decency in the theater do to change what OBJ
jectioabe IN the whole character Of plays and play
ers-the spirit and temper Of the tbeateri
come now finally, to the consideration OF tne ihnn-
ence Of the thoater the dramatic profession ie
which was in my original intention tne main purpose
Of this addrr~ Yov viii excuse me, ladies and gen.
temen of the theater for having 50 long talked over
your heads TO the religious community, bat II has
really been in your behalf and services and promise
90 oIyr6n. my-.ef wholly in what remains 70 your