Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-05
CITY ITEAS.

RovpYrsN RANPANT.-One Of the inseparable evils a..
teudsnt upon war; the spirit Of roWdyism engendered
in large cities. Men who quit the vacations Of peace,
and become soldiers by the changed habits OF their
life liable 10 be converted into that detsstable thiOg
known a. rowdyn Previous training and assOcis.
lions exercise Of course 10 little Influence upon the
oOnduc. of soldiers but EhdraWA from the wholesome
restraints by which their department vas regulated OF
home and exposure TO the temptations Ia strange city,
will often lead individuals nong the best class oil volun'
teers into the commission of offences and peccRd 10
which they msy bitterly regret hereafter. Hoping TO be
screened from e1posur3 BY the consciousness that they
are Known In the community they viii, in too many
instalces seek TO compensate themselves at the hrst
opportunity for the prVatons and discipline Of the camp
BY indulgenees, from which they would rpulsiVtly
shrink under other circumstances Thus it is that many
young men, who have rallied with noble patriotism to
the g Of their country, contract perncious habits, OF
which mono is more dehssing than rOr3yisrH.
Il required nc peculiar sagacy TO iosesee these con-
sequences OF the war; and hence il 50 persistent
" urged that the third tier Of the Theatre should be
10 cd Il advice had been needed promptly, Il l.
psoaabe that the Theatre would rot have been burn6
bI. Manager postponed the ablemento Of the moral
nuisance until the character OF the establishment mad
f.red and the rOwdes (inclad0g civilians aud rsIu
gees, vel soldeIs) believed that they e joyed
prescTpVe right do they pleased within the walls
OF the building. When the Manager determined 10 *
cude them from that part Of the house. In which nearly
all the previous disturbance had originated, we can wei
conceive that they felt very spiteiu and whilst otter
theories have been broachej il would Lot be difficult to
persuade US that malicious roWdy, ind by re-
sentiment at the we'll directed CJrt OF Manager Hewitt
to the peace and the character Of the
Theatre applied the torch to the edce Be this as II
may the destruction Of the Theatre did not put stop
10 lie bckgulrdism which had brought that establish
i nsnt into uisrepute.
Metropolitan Hail. place Of amusement, occupied by
a troupe Of "Et-ioPesn Mirs:res,' became the head
curriers' o. the rowdel As the imitation Of H'gro &C.
| c,u.rices BY white Il quite dfeIen; business
from the presentation Of the drama and the rquent-
| er5 OF Metropolitan Hall could no. have been drawn
thitter by very refined taste, did not choose 10
CEN nert upon the evidences OF rowdyim and demora-
I. lou wbca I'D rendered this plce OF men chief
" roGu With fast men, shoulder htters and hard cases
generally. Pros flutes admitted TO the gallery,
and Of course it impossible 10 pseservo crier Ng
a.t-r night disturbance occurred, in this gallery,
,ud finally two fac IONS is is said, became srrsy'd
/ AGAINST each C!h5r. Whether this be true or not,
u u certain that grand row, which had been snepii-
"a tor time, took place Moudly nigga. The per-
foi that night frequently iutGrrupt,d ~
cl.s OF put HIN out" ami o,uor voceTatiol IS. A.
easgh blows were eIch rged b. mel in the gallery
bess joined in ard the lee soon became general ~
shat part Of the bCiUC. Pistols we're tired freely, and
seyer,l persons must have be wounded, bu We have
no Information upon this pouS exc p! that man
named Wash ukins employed az tho establishment as
pol csus rece.y a piy q! bi in lis right shoulder.
Waen the tic ng nc ID, the Conservation among
TIE more que portion Of the audience was intense and
mty Of them rushed, panic rcken, from the bmldtg
Toe darkss poured ous ike stream Of black INK Men
ID Ncm IN in tn gallery fldng their egres imPedtd by
| the crowd pressing 10 tho stairWa's, climbed over
tie usrads aud descended the door Le,ow, hoping
20 escsp' in this Way the danger Oi perOrAuon by
stray rs. The hall resouaccd With the mpStcAicns
Of he hsgcrents who finally mad5 h'ir way 10 con.
sed mas 20 the front o. the buiti e. whore several
more shots exchanged The row ended soon alter,
and several Of tkos, Who appeared TO have been el-
gAged In il ran At full speed down Governor street
Tuere we're no arrests tho q number Of Uatchmen
we're in the vicinity. We tnilk that the 1T NUT very
| spon be dCcUed Saether r0SoyI.m or lac and order
shall prevail in this city. 10 the mem time, let the
Mayer and Hastings Court determine to rgidy enforce
the char ,,lg' law.