The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-28
GOING TO TIE OPERA.


School Union without the sanction Of the COMMITTEES
OF Publication, consisting OF fourteen members from
the following denominations OF Christians viz:Bapst,
Methodist CoDgreeatonai Episcopal, Presbyterian, LII
therap and Reformed Dutch. Not more than three "
the members be of the Same aeuomnat on aud
book can be published 10 which any member otae
mittee shall object
So you have been TO the Opera. thought II would be
So for saw when last met you that your heart was
set upon IL, and knew there were those among your
friends who would urge you to both by precep and
ample. Indeed, incidental conversation upon tho
subject you seemed think strange should dsap-
prove OF it, You thought me needessy rigid when OBJ
served The Opera place for professors Of religion"
And you fortified your views by referring to several
every good Christians" who in the habit Of attend
ing there.
Now that you have actually been for YOURSELF andhave
with great fankness described youirsist feel dis
posed to tell You why object it, have doubt that
many professors Of religion have you have. with
out any intention Of compromising their Christian chsrac
ter or njuring the OF Christ They have acted, II
not from impulse yet without reflection. question Of
duty they took particular pains IT, and The
prevailing sentiment around them that the amse-
of perfectly harmless and rational
They fell therefore, with the general currentuot per-
haps without misgvngs hut without perceving that there
could be any serious wrong in it.
AS your opera going friends regard the matter, q
simply "musical epteralnment"-no more less And
since the Creator has given you love Of music,
they think unreasonable that you should not be allowed
To crafty in that sphere where music is cultivated
highest degree of perfection.
II this all, certainly should lay impeachment IN
your way So from it, would offer my services 20
with to the OPERA for happen to be quite fond OF
music you But your friends not altogether
candid Or to be more charitable, they misled by
their love of music rs they, iii turn, mislead you.
In rerr esentng the Opera simply 'musica enter
fattt aEa otof
pieces exhibited On this point afford to be lioe-
1t may be conceded that the Opera much Of
the trash which dees the boards Of the THEATRE
and that 1t comprises very much both the way OF act
ing and Of singing, which is adapted TO please nteln
gent mind and cultivated But mast still insist
many of the current operas OF Ahuru moral tendon
Cyl and that few IL of them are beyond mpeachment
in every scene and character The most popular opera
tale of inamy from beginning to end And bad us is,
there others sharing largely in the public favor which
still worse lhave inquired OF several ladies whether
they tad witnessed opera in which there was not
some passage they would be unwilling to have per-
formed in their par0rs They have uniformly told I
me "No" And yet they can go, night after night and
take their daughters with them, to sit through these .
equvocal scenes the presence Of Heterogeneous audi
encc made up OF both and all conditions If you a-
prove of this fear the effects OF your early education
wearing OIL.
the argument will say, ooh, nothing about th
plot and the play; oil we are concerned with is the mu
SIC" But so happens that you cannot have the music
without the play. Not only but the music derives it's
whole character from the play belongs to the events,
tne passions, tne s1tutlOns Ol LDo tney Wcr0
not what they you would miss those exquisite airs
which fscinate you, and which Oct whisper in
ear often spring out of dramatic incidents which no true
lady would permit herself to speak Of in the presence Of
the other
Besides it would avail nothing restrict your patron
age TO the few operas which may possibly BIO found that
young girl redoent with the purity and fragrance Of her
Christian home might witness without feeling tho crimson
mantlrng her virgin cheek. For by going to tho
Opera you give your counenance TO is. You say
in effect by your example, that is right that such pieces
as the operas generally should be composed and acted
and that mmOratieS with which go of them
abound constitute no serious objection TO them Yos
could wish them expurgaed, but you would sooner take
them they than give the opera altogether This
is the fair Interpretation Of your'conduct Your fas
tdionspess may be rule to yourself but else win
heed it. Your example, in going at all, others will cite "a
an apology or patonzng operas brewery Kind the wors
These dramas III me assure you, were never designed
for persons like You. They belong state Of society
radically unlike any with which you conversant Italy
and France the only countries which could supply tho
music, they also supply literally the morale which dis
pguish them They written for the European CAPT
They pre- suppose social condition to which our grea
Cities corrupt as they are have Appropriated only In
remote degree, and Of which you with your training
little idea; and the less you know about the better
The fashionable society of capitals is mbbing quito
fast enough the intrigue and deception and the apocyha
morals generally which have for centuries prevailed
the Old World The opera but another Of accec
rating the process Of assimilation. But will enarg
The idea would insist upon is that lady should en-
courage any species Of amusement which is Of doubt
full moral tendency, which may mperil, in ever s.
slight degree, her delicacy and refinement of feel
ing, II had sister or daughter, should revolt at tn
idea OF her fiequenting performance where modest
might compel her and to avert her eyes, If nd
TO close her Your bear this sort OF reg
men And II experience has shown that they withou
much difficulty become accustomed to it, this onl
proves the danger OF trying the experiment in the first
stance
Your fashionable friends am aware, may call tn
'prudery And they will be forward to tell you That Ii
broadcast which any OF the avorite opera
extremely ''proper'' when compared with the ball
and other nightly exhibitions OF the theatres Let the
be candid enough to add, that managers frequent
obliged TO combine the ballet and broad farce with ii
opera in order TO cater 10 the very refined taste of po
tion Of those who make up their usual audiences.
member then, that in endorsing the opera you practical
ly endorse all that goes along with IT,
But have another objection TO your frcquentng u
opera 1t has respect to the performers.
an ndscrminaie Remuneration OF the who,e drama,
easy to specify individuals Of that calling, male and
male who have preserved through life an unsuied rep
taton Society has rewarded their histrionic music
gifts with its admiration, and their private virtues with
confidence
And yet impartial person will maintain that the pr
fession, SUCH is distinguished for its morality. m
60 further than this 1t will be conceded that the prev
lent tone OF morals among dramatic performers, boz
is bad Not only but the public make less account
bad moral character in that calling than in any ohe
Some Of the appauded actors and actresses of o.
day have been persons Of known immortality of life b
this made no impression upon the public The feeling
pears to be that ought to be tolerant Of these obq
tics in profession exposed to many temptation
And this suggests the very thought wish TO present
you.
Here is profession so beset with entcements to @
that those Of ls members who escape the contamination
vice are regarded the exception not the rule lar
proportion Of them, IL is well understood fall victims
their depraved appetes, and die early. II will be dee
ed no libel upon them to say that asa class they are
in the habit Of requentng the house Of God. Sunday
their day Of Teasing and recreation. u than tn
wherever the public sentiment will tolerate IT, it Is,
preemnencc, their day of crowded houses and Iucrat
performances.
In continental Europe, Sabbath evening ia the gala
for the opera and the theatre. The very singers who
lured you the Opera IN the constant habit when
home, Of playing Sunday. think You will find on
curry that the for al opening OF the Academy Of Music
our City on Ash Wednesday Of last year OS57) p
ceded by Sunday rehearsal.
That you can approve Of snch things Is OF course,
of the question. You see, plainly do that this INC
of life is all wroDgwropg for this world, and thousa
fold for the world to come. You that II Is
rounding people with spiritual dangers Of app
ing character and that great you feel the difficulties
be in the way OF your salvation, you would not
change places with Of them for ali the worlds the Or