Daily national Democrat., 1860-09-23
Cnxton.s Dramatic Headings.


The thcater was occupied last evening
by a brilliant audience assembled to hear
the rehearsal, 10y Mr. Rhodes, Of his drama
Of The Mormon Prophet or Superstition in
the Nineteenth Century, lie preiaeed the
performance with the following remarks:
Literature is often said to be uugratcful
But in our times no man OF real merit has
been suffered, ike Chatterton, to die by his
own hand for the want of patron. or like
Otwav, to starye in g1rret for the want Of
food. There is now one great Patron, that
never fills to come to the rescue Of genius,
and very often covers its favorites with a
prcfusiou of houors, wealth and fame That
Patron is the Public. To it, every hdepen-
dent author dedicutes his productions, and
FROM its decisions there IS no appeal tcrjJi-
cizes the critics themselves. and not untre,
Qpeutly rescucs true genius from those would
be arlit,rs Of fate. The Edinburgh Review
auuihiated, as it imagined, Lord Byron as a
poet. But the strains of Byron have been
emhalmed and immotalized ly the great
Pebble Of the World, whilst lis delractor has
fallen into an oblivion so deep that it has
become uncertain who he was.
The pleasure which Literature never fails
TO bring to the cultivated niud-bcng the
pure-t it can enjoys happily subject to 10
caprice Of fortune, and is affected 10y DO
change Of external circumstances Its yotalY
may be AIN exile in foreign laud an invalid
on a he'd of pain; a dependant upon the
worlds charity a homeless wretch, the sport
/ of every wave of sorrow or misfortune still
| in the stores of a well cultivated mind, and
! i'm the recesscs of a teuacious memory he
! possesses sollce for his grits, balm forhi5
/ tor,ures a companion in his solitude, hope
amid dysoa,ou. However the world may
20 eiitoRt him. all uithtp is beyond It's reach.
/ He can silt sniiie at the cccentrciiies OF
Uucle Toby with Sterue, or weep over the
1 Deserted Village with Goldsmith. lie can
enlist with Sir Walter Scott. and serve under
the banners Of the brave Co1r dc Leon or the
chivalrous Saladin or he can accompany the
Last Tribune to the steps of the Capitol with
sir Edward Bulwer, or follow him as guide
aujd the ruins of Pompei He can philosu-
phjze with Dr. Johnson strut with Madame
| dc Stael, stride the Heavens with Newton. or
soar alott beyond them with Shakespeare He
ctn track the ingenious Mr.. Diedr ok Kuick-
! erhockcr, with lrviag at his side, along the
! old cow.palh of Pearl street. or mount with
Prescott to the summit of the Aztec Cholua
! He stretches ont his mind into the past and
/ hears Cicero plead against Nerres he
stretches ont his hand to-day across the
| Ocean, aud feels i. locked in the electric
! grasp of Carlisle, or shaken hy the gentle
! Icuuyson Time is no bar TO his friendships
and distance 10 barrier to his sympathies
| He gaze- into antiquity, and Egypt reveals
| her mysteries; he gpZes into the future, and
Isuiah lifts It's veil
What though his health fail, his gold take
wings, his friends prove false if the doors of
library he open to him, he can repleuish
his body with "a more lasting salubMty, his
purse with purer wealth, his heart with a
tuer love. The turmoil of business never
enters there; the struggle of the money.
changers never pollutes that temple the
hoarse voices of c.a>hiug interests and con-
tending parties are bauished from its pre-
cincls. Tie merchant is there forguful OF
his keys and his yard-stcks the lawyer OBJ
irious of his clients, the mechanic released
from his llOors We meet there a true Re
pp1lic1n Brotherhood, united 10y common
sympathy, to renew the associations If Lov-
hood, to refresh the mad iaded with an
oyeriulhencl load Of business, 10 cheer up
the conscience depressed Jy the sad scenes Of
u frontier life, to acquire strength for the
| dGti-s OF the morrow, and 20 learn from the
sdg,- of all nations GAd times, the royal ant
/ to be happy.
/ ID has been said that each scholar owes
something to the noble Art he cult,vates--a5
each professional man owes delt to his pro-
tession. have oudeayorel partially to dis
charge mine by the composition and con
structiun of an original Drama. which will
no" proceed TO present to YOU and though
never published nor acted, will not be less
welcome on that account a lecture is often
duh, sometimes dry, and not unfrequently n
bore. have essnyed higher style of com
position to entertain my audience tonight,
aud will at once proceed to make you ac-
quainted with my tragedy Of The Mormon
Prophet"
Here Mr. Rhodes proceeded 10 re pro-
daciiou Of rare and sterling merit, which was
exceedingly wen received Th.re are many
passages Of great beauty and the plot is Of
very considerableintercst Those who heard
it rehearsed will not regret their attendance.