Daily national Republican., 1863-08-01
2lsI.s.l n.r.u.s r.-ss,.
THE DRAMA-A Hkw rllnArRE IN
wAnuluNTOU, sf. F...


The experience OF The past two years has
proved conclusively th,s ~ drama can be sus-
tained In wasbipgton. Previous to that time, |
tho tcst was mot fairly made for the want of
some enterprisiug man who would risk his cap
ital in constructing . suitable place for drama
tic exhibitions, and sngsse company capable
OF performing comedy or tragedy without die
gustipg everybody in the sudience. e !
At iass, two ssssssnen came to our relief
Mr.. Ford and Mr.. Grovsr. Neither entered
cxtrsvaganily. upon. ths work, but each pro.
vided neat, well-coustructsd theatre, and
engaged good stock company. This was
sufficient % test the question. Tho response
by our cisisens ws pssmpt, and both thsssrss
were weii pssronissA. Appvcisting this, both
managers Immediately engaged some of the
leading stars In ths country; and In this they
were also handsoosiy sustained. 30 that the
drams, in Washington, has now become . per-
manent institution. This is as Il should be.
wheps is there . well regulated city In the
world, poopled by men and women who love
poetry, the arts and sciences, who read history,
and admire tho genius Of Shakespeare, that can
not boast Of It's thoatre1 I
We are told that the invention of the drama
is ono of thoss which should seem 70 proceed
most naturally from the ordinary customs and
feelings Of men. There ID q species Of dramatic
action which seems almost initiative; We nat.
urally initiate the tone aud gestures Of others
in rcciting their sayings aud adventures, or
even in adopting their sentiments. Then, how
natural ID 10 that nations should have taken the
further step Of doing methodics'ly, aud with
design, what all do lnvoluntariIy.
The history Of the dramatic art in Groece Is
well knows; Its elements were found In the 70
lgious festivals celebrated from Inc earliest
ages in that country. Of The Latin drama the
carly Etruscans possessed dramatic represents
tions, whence the Romans derived some pecu.
liar national entertainments; but then drama
consisted mainly Of close limitations Of the
Greek. In Chine. Theatrical entertainments
have formed one Of the most popular amuse.
ments, and theatrical writing has been cult
waited from q very ssfly time. In India, the
dramatic art sppcars TO have dourished during
period Of several ayes, ending about the four.
tecnth, or hftocuth century Of our era. The
Hindoo drama 10 20 widely different from the
Greek or Chinese, that. IL Is regarded, like
them, as spontaneous offspring Of national
genius.
For many centuries after the dow nfall Of the
Roman Empire, Tie drsmstic art In Europe
appears 70, have been entirely lost Its first
revival In the middle ages was owing 70 the
eolemnities Of the church, into which dramatic
interudes were introduced. Al tho period Of
the revival OF literature, the dramatic art was
called nearly at once into life In the four prin.
cipal countries Of Western Europe, Italy,
France, Spain and England. The early French
tragic writer's, from The beginning Of the aix-
teenth century down 10 Corneille, In the middle
of the seventeenth, produced nothing but un-
successful and somewhat bsrbarous limitations
of the Greek tragedy. Corneills worked . de-
cided reform. A peculiar and vigorous system
of criticism, much needed In this country, was
introduced, affecting both tho form and the
substance Of dramatic writing. The French
comic stage Il licensed BY writer's ON the sub
ject to be, beyond all contradiction, the best In
the world. Spain commenced her dramatic
literary sasssr more Independent Of foreign aid
than any other country. Her dramatic art ap.
pears to have orIginstsd as early ss the four.
tesnth century. Tho history Of the drama In
England is too well known for comment. The
English people can no moro do without the
drama than they can survive without eating.
The modsrn German drama 10 founded on the
old English model and has risen 10 high de-
gree of excellence, the stage In Germany being
ipcomparably more national and popular than
In other European countries.
The love Of dramatic art In this country has
become 80 great as 10 attract 10 our shores the
best dramatic talent In the wohd-stock and
etars. Iu view Of this fact, we congratulate
our citizens that In fsH wssks we shall have
completed In this city . temple to be dedicated
to tho drama, wherein We can welcome to the
seat Of the National Government the great dra,
matte representatives Of tbs genius Of the past
MI. Ford's new theatre on Tenth street, the
progress upon which Is detailed In an article
IN our local column, Is fest approaching CON.
pletion. 1t has already assumed such shape az
10 enable the observer 10 form . good ides Of
the structure when complutsd- Ths stage u deep
and broad, and tho height Of the building will
afford ample room for mschinsry and scenery.
Every attention hss been paid to tho security
OF the audience against nre, to ventilation, to
lines Of sight, and acoustic effect.
Mr.. Ford deserves great credit for the man.
ner in which he has pushed forward the work
of constructing his new edince, and We have
no doubt the citizens Of the District as well as
those who will temporarily soJourn here during
the sessions Of Congress, will duly appreciate
his lsbors and reward him accordingly. W,
hope SO, at least. Mr.. Ford intends openin.
his new theatre with hrst-class stock com
pany. .... .-ig-
Tho Wagons and stores 0ebblsd by Nose
by's Gaerrtllas Reoapsared.
A telegram received at Gen.. Heintzelman'
headquarters this morning, states that Colone
Lowell, Second Massachusetts, cavalry, wiz
started IN pursuit Of Moseby and his gsng, over
,ook them md rec nptured all the W .vona afora