Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-08-19
For, the. Yorkyilie Enquirer.
GOING TO THE o1RcUs.--IT's MORALIT

..-Ert
Let US indicate Some Of the facts, that nay de-
termine The moral aspects Of the act Of attending
Cifcuses aud such like exhibitions.
The conductors Of the Circuscs do not claim to
be public benefactors they do not aim to refine or
educate either mans moral or social nature; nor
do they presume to make their patrons either bet
ter men, or more usefulcitizens. Simply to excite
4 taste for the marvellous, and astonish their rizi-
tors with strange things, and Thus entertain them
for a short time, is the height Of their design.
Their advertisements (some of which are false)
snd outside ~(street) displays, are such as afford
clear proofs of intention to stimulate curiosity,
and thus attract the wondering multituds. Con-
nected With all Cireusss there is sclass Of persons
whose morals. are rotoriousiy corrupt, mud SOME
are the most abandoned ialers and. Iagsbonds of
society, who seem tohaye but, little respect to
dny of God, laws, and wherever In obedience b
their employers, habitually disrespect and profane
the Sabbath. These men are supported and 80 en-
couraged from funds contributed by the crowds
who witness the exhibitions OF the actors.
The multitudes who attend them are a motley
group, the majority being Of those who are most
fond Of coarse iibaldry, clownish slang, vulgarity
and profanity. -"
The performances are such as to require Q dress
not always most decent; a language smoking Of
improprieties, lewdness; and even profanity add
the feats exhibited are unnatural, ONO practical
utility, and do tend to shorten the lives of the
practitioners. = -f y =
From the country they carry off hundreds Of
dolars-(perhsps nearly as much as is sppropria-
ted by the State to educate the poor, )in'return for
which, they giveouly amomeutary qualification Of
some ofthe lowest passions Of boys, and others Of
similar tastes fl the community with q multitude
of petty, senseless, base and demoralising phrases,
and leave behind the example and effects Of de-
bauchery, fornication, and all manner Of corrup-
ton. They are opposed by the most pioss Of the
country. Add now to these facts two others.
The city police and town councils do lift up
their testimony against their exhibitions-as Is
shown by the impositions Of fines for every eIhi-
bition they make. The Congress o the United
States has placed its stigma upon them, as is svi.
dent from this resolution which was adopted early
in the historyio the country.
"Whereas true religion and good morals are the
only foundations Of public liberty and happiness;
Resolred, that it be and is hereby recommended
to the several States, to take the most ~effectusl
means for the encouragement thereof; and sor the
suppression Of theatrical entertainments, kQrse ra-
cling, gaming and such other d~irersions as are pro-
ductive Of iAeas,, and a general dsprar4 Of Prin-
elples and mdnnsrs."
Now, in deducinga conclusion from these facts,
would ask, does it seem to be spure morally, to
p~atronize, aid and sustain by money snd personal
presence, the agencies who are what the Circus Is;
who work such results upon the community as are
wrought BY these and; kindred companies who
degrade, pollute. demoralize ahh tax even the
poor, and who. only leave IN their track q limited
amount Of gratifed curiosity and ~valueless plea
sure, besides a vast ameupt Of mental dissipation
and moral proaigacy! If 50, Why ore pot the good
and refined Of society, the habitual patrons of the
Circus.
Why do towns, cities and Congress, ~legislate a.
gainst it? And why is their such q necessity for
flaming advertisements and pictares to herald
the advent Of a Circus? And why are the young
black and vhite-ths gay and giddy, the pro-
aigateand thoughtless and immoral, the first to be
ecstasied' by the news Of a coming Circus! I am
not prepared to pronounce that morality pure,
which is thus characterized, and finds such persons
it's ablsst advocates and practical expenents.-
Nor does the morality become more pure by the
pleas that are urged by those, who grace the inside
Of the canvass Of the Circus.
: They tell US they are not responsible for the moral
character and conduct Of the circus men. Not valid.
Because the very manner of life that these men
lead, is the occasion to q great degree, for their in.
diligence Of vices. Other modes of life would not
be so encountered with those peculiar temptations,
and hence not SO. prolific of evil. The money paid
by the public is thsmeans, whereby these men sre
enabled to lead such o life-therefore, they who
pay this money, do thereby become the partial
patrons of vice, and so ore, more or less, respon-
sible.
Again; They tell rs they need not be injured by
w~itnsssing tie performance cfMe Circus. This Is
false, if the representation Of the performances
made by us be correct. '.Can q man touch pitch
and not be de6lea?" "Can a man take Goals of
Ere into his bosom and not be burned :" If the
performances do not effect positive good, they must
do injury. Further. There is usually a Menageris
connected Nth the Circus, and il is profitable 10 see
this. Not a good plea. Men 60 into the Circus
in preference to, the Menagerie. If the plea be
sincere, why go into the Circus at all, for they
are separate-and are only nomiually attached to
catch some whose consciences would be offended
by the naked Circus.
Irepeatit then, the attendance upon the Circus is
of very doubtful morality. Were I writing for
Christians, I would say you who ere COMMANDED
to 6be not couformed to this world" sud ''ayoid
the very appearance Of evil, -, and "stand not In
the way of Sinners" pause and reflect before at.
tending the Circus. RUSTICUS.
August 14th, 1858.
Columbia Market.
COLUMBIA, August 18.
Couon.-It will be recollected that our weekly
report, ending on the 7th inst, closed somewhat