The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-09
Theatres and Their influence ON the
Public Morals and Nrnnners,


The above was the subject Of discussion last even.
ing at Metropolitan Hall. The hall was well filed
by audience in which there was nothing very re-
markaby different from the meetings that generally
semble there The first speaker Mrs Hoffman, 8
lady who appeared to be fair than frai She
rather plainly dressed, her hair In rngets and had
the air OF one who seemed 10 feel ready say II know
my bust ess." She said the surest way make the
stage ccus and immoral Is to denounce it. That Is
the way make anything bad Dancing was denounced
and thea it was done in violation OF conscience The in
ference from this as we understood it, was that indecent
theatrcas are encouraged in violation Of conscience
therefore 1t is right TO pursue and encourage then The
est Of Friendship she heard played and 1t brought
out her very best feelingsher very hottest nature
She then entered into somewhat curious description
Of her feelings and sensations while witnessing sthe
Test" There moments when the inner being would
be inspired with more love. We should now live IN
deeds and heart throbs We should look at things as
they exist We more Of the religion that tones the
voice-one that goes into the family and keeps the hus
band from being We religion that shall in
erpose between the rocks and geys of life and the SEN
stive nature that has to travel them We want re-
gion that will exclude buttons from the collection box
Q4aughter.) She then entered into the antecedents
of some OF the most prominent actors, stating Bar
ney Williams was a regular "dock walloper;n For
rest was GRAND boy; Charlotte Cuslman
was sewing girl; another actor was a pill
maker; Laura Kcsne pretty waiter girl in saloon
In London and could make gin cocktail well any
one She mentioned the original occupation of several
other prominent actors and actresses which OF
kindred character TO those mentioned above The lecturer
described how Adam and Eve tired once and hand
in hand and arm in arm lay down upon the sand and in
this condition visited first by the archangc Michael
and afterwards by She devil passage Of Scripture
was brought in as conclusion to this specimen Of
cloquence and argument The lady then nounced or
the stage with the air OF an actress and absorbed In
the audience.
Mr.. Robinson. a gentleman with bhck coat pants and
necktie and white vest smoothly shaved called upon
as Mr. Robinson but hoped the reporters would call him
Mr. Jones, he did not want his in the papers.
He entered into dissertation upon Shakspere and his
ideas admirng them all. His speech would not be
combatve one. (How could it) He thought, however,
the stage Injurious on the whole. As general
thing, nowadays, you see lot Of botches You have
Camille? French courtesan. These French scnsa-
tional coruptions Of morality have by these means
been transplanted To- America, and to some ex'
tent popularizcd. We have tragedians
adays. Then no spoke of Edwin Booth and
other well known actors, expressing bis opinion
OF them and their performance. II we could have
shaksperes, Johnson's yoaircs plays presented,
where intellectually is presented without immortality,
all would be well enough. But plays nowadays
all blood and thunder You hear low sentiment The
Am rican Cousin for instance Is all bundle OF trash.
We can aueh at some Of thcm but when we reflect we
find we have been laughing at nothing. There is no
benefit from laughing. am in favor OF dancing but
would not Ike my daughters 70 be out all night with
him any how, TO what Kind OF q son-in-law he
would make. don't oppose Quukers but II God wanted
the world drab he would have made IL drab.
Don't have such passion for the theatre that young
people will steal money TO 60 there, and never think OF
school or anything but love and theatres Many Of the
worst characters the patrons OF the theatre In the
present condition Of the stage is doubtful whether II
does more harm than good. Let us have liberty in
everything without liccntousncss There Is more vice
than virtue in the theatres they are managed ut
present Guardians of youth must look after this theatre
business. Don't have the young go and SEQ what Is i'm
hat hnut thu
boards long as IL takes.r They don't want TO ele
vatc morality, but TO elevate their pockets /
would have tho theatre purified We want amusement
York This address well received by the audience
and the frequent ngs at the welknown abuses OF the
stage were frequently applauded, and sometimes pro-
vokcdjanghter.
Tho floor, which contested with him by another The
Chair in doubt who should have 1t, but, on the
Young gentlcmans appealing to the audience, on the
ground that he had the negative side OF the question: 1t
overwhelmingly decided in his favor. He did not
look for morality among young men who attended the
theatres and concert saloons Such people as n r.
Banks and Hannah Moore did not receive their cdu-
cation in the theatres Nine out OF ten actors and
actresses who marry become divorced The sacred
social ito IL much honored by the theatrical perform
ers. The most disastrous and devsh act OF modern
timeshc assassination OF Abraham Lincoln, the best
friend OF cvilizatonwas plotted and carried out In
theatre and by actor He preferred schoolhouses,
churches and Christianity TO theatres George Washing
ton did not get his education from the plays OF Shak
sperc Voltaire or anyone else Sturgeon and all such
take their stand against the theatres. Spain goes
In for bull fights and theatrcas but she has back
almost 10 barbarsm. The speaker proceeding with
considerable energy when 1t announced that his
fifteen minutes up. He frequently aprlauded.
Two other speakers followed but their arguments
were very forcibe and presented the subject in
new light They took opposite sides The conclusion OF
the discussion was then announced for that time.