The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-25
1890 =
- 4 / For the Minnesotian.
Tho Theater---As Place Of Amuse'
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The Theater-.-As = Place Of Amuse"
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People must be amused-that is uniyer-
sal pr op',sition- is impossible for all man
kind to be forever bending over books, OF CAL
culatiny ventures, or studying mathematics
or writing histories. All work and NJ play
makes Jack an idle boy all metaphysics q - u
no endowment would make them incredlol!
stupid. ,aiy4r<i s-lgt.t l....sisg .sYalEAllJ b
/, People must be amused-how t. amn>e
them +? Especially of course ; lmpr"v-
i,gly by all means intellectually, If possible
the variety of tastes being infni,e-as in al
Their things. The Rev. MuggIeton S'ent"',
derives the greatest possible qualification
rom roaring to dimly lighted audience, a
series of denunciations and 'orebodiigs, which
excite his congreea'irn like fourth PROOF
brandy bnt it would be very hard if Mugs-
et,n Shn Or we've the arbiter for the ele
gancies of every body else, and there was no
getting through an evening unless oy listen
n. to the bowls ard bel'owings that are
the delight OF his warm and philanthrop'c
heart.
What. then, is to be done Thousands
exist in every city who require relaxation
mentally OR bodily, after the tolls of TIE day
Where are they to seek it. At the Theatre
Oh no it is The home Of ribaldry-the hot
bed of 'mmorality-t' shocking ilace 1"
visit. So runs the tezt. And the ninth COM
mandment is rolled firmly up into sharp
and angular parcel, and sent with Indignant
force full into the faces of Bulwer, Ta'fourd
and Knowles Tae Theatre is looked upon
as an abomination. Pharasaical humanity
can see nothing in it but school of vice; so t
it frowns up the seadsest Of people, sitting
quietly in the boxes, and looks anathemas al
the lost sheep in the gallery. Whilst to 9th
ers the word itself has magical charm /;
and in spite of what is called tie decadence
of the stage, the Theatre has still unequaled
attractions. The poorest side-scene are sn-
perior to the richest landscapes ard some
thing. sentiment, q regret, recollection,
rises to them from the shabbicst dresses or
the dirtiest of boards-anl
Like the memory of the just.
Smells sweet, and blossoms from the DUST"
That heatres, as places of amusement,
should die out, we hold to be impossible -
what is, Therefore to be done is to fit them
for the high uses to which they may be APP
pile /, by obtaining for them the support of a
CHS. OF people, whose mere presence won'd
be at once cause and a guarantee of the
improvement both of plays and actors an
advocate would he made in the refinement
of the drama-vice would he shown its own
image, but stript of all its allu ements and
no better school or truth, Of honor, or mo, :
alty, could possibly be imagined than stage
teemng with the poetic fancies of our .bles'
aut! ors. and subdued and chastened by the
presence of our best and wisest men.
| A well conduct. Theatre must bea benefit
to society-as much benefit as public
park, or any one department without lifting
him up in all--improve his mind, you refine
his character give him good society, he will
cease to be coarse introduce him to Shaks
pear, Otway and Webster be will be gen
tlelnan. A man with friends like these will
not spend his time in dissipation. lie will
learn what was doing in Rome, at the time o.
Carolanus, or learn the thanklessness of ~.
coplantic friends in the Athenian Timon
that energy and honor overcomes all impedi'
ments male manifest to him in the styry o
the Lady of Lyons, and the grandeur of self
devotion in the noble aspirations Of Ion. A
world Ike this, opening to his view, reflects
a pcasanf light on the e. nth be inhabits
zone touch Of nature makes The whole acorl'
kind = and the same sAntiment that brings
big sob into his rough throat, swells the gen
tie bosom Of the delicate beauty in the from
row of the Dress Circle. BID