The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-26

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Theatres.
For some time past the majority Of our
leading theatres, once the pride Of our citi-
zens, have been tending dangerously down.
ward. The most of them have fallen into the
hands Of men who are completely ignorant Of
and careless about the moral responsibilities
of their positions, and who are equally desti-
tute of anything like artistic ambition. The
playhouses have consequently been trans
formed into mere machines for making money,
and the public taste has been vitiated by the
vilest Of plays. Very naturally crime has In
creased a. rapidly a. the theatres have degene-
rated. Instead Of being schools Of public
virtue our places Of amusement are, with few
exceptions, wholesale manufactures Of vice.
It II therefore the duty Of the press, a. q guar
dian OF morality, to expose, rebuke and de-
| nounce these dramatic transgressors.
Look ct the GLASS of performances recently
presented at our theatres. One manager shows
us gay seducer leading astray the wifs Of .
poor lsborer and giving her silks, laces and
diamonds a. the wages Of her SIN, taking caro-
also 10 remind her that shs could only have
worn calico had she remained virtuous. An
other offers u tie voluptuous picture of .
group of pretty women freely displaying thsir
charms Of neck and limb. Another justiaes
and makes popular ell sorts Of crimes, from
lying and stealing up to the sum of all villa
MES Another brings forward Jack Sheppard
as hero, and renders the poor boys in the
gallery ambitious Of his fame. All of them
permit the most vulgsr language on the stage,
provided it will raise laugh. Not long ago,
at theatre which pretends to be respectable,
star made her appearance with no other
possible claim to popularity than that she had
fine form and was not half dressed. To give
full effect to her attractions she came out in q
play which began with an attempt at rape and
ended with duel between man and woman.
Had it not been for the prompt protest
of the HRRALD the city might still be disgraced
by such an entertainment. As it is, there are
many now before the public which are nearly
if not quite as bad and as demoralizing
We hope to witness a thorough reform of the
theatres of this city before many months
Three or four new establishments are in con-
temptation or in process Of erection, and 1t
is scarcely possible, from the character Of the
persons connected with these new enterprises,
that they will be conducted in the same spirit
as those which now afflict the metropolis. But
in order to secure thorough reform it is
necessary for the independent press TO speak
out boldly and sincerely, and to indicate un-
mistakably the faults that must be corrected
and avoided. There is, perhaps, but little
probability that our theatres will ever rival
our churches in their teachings; but still it
ought to be impossible for thief to be traced
directly from the gallery of theatre to the pris-
oner's dock; it ought to be impossible for him to
say with any truth that he took his first lesson
in kuavery from the spectacles he saw on the
stage; it ought to be impossible for him to be
melted to such deeds by attractive representa-
tions Of the modes and the rewards of evil con-
duct. The religious press and the religious
community should be reused to appreciate and
to endeavor TO check such monstr0us theatri-
cal decentralization. II is worse than foolish to
spend money for sending missionaries to for
eign lands while we have these dramatic
heather in our very midst. II tho most Of our
theatres are managed by those whose charac-
ters are 80 doubtful that they have resorted TO
aliases or fear investigation; If the class of
plays produced is demoralizing and corrupting;
If the effects of such performances are to be
seen in the daily increase Of crime in our midst,
then it is quite time that the respectable por-
ton Of tho community should do its duty, and
its whole duty, in this matter, let the c0nse-
quences 70 the theatres be what they may.
TIE MAYoRALrY-Tm PRosPEU.-We have
now four candidates in the field for Mayor, and,
taking them in the order Of their nominations,
they are
Citizens Association and Mosoyt-John Heckef
McKeon Dcynocracy-C Godfrey Gunthor.
Tdmmony Hau-John I. Holman.
Repubticdn-Marshall o. Roberts.
Now what is the prospects Here arc four
men from which to pick and choose Mr..
Hecker, supported by the Mozart wing Of the
democracy and the Tribune clique Of the repub-
lcan party, in addition to the committee known
as the Citizens Association, will doubtless
make good run, especially ~ the split be-
tween Tammany and Mozart seems to
be in dead earnest Mr.. Hoffman, the
Tammany candidate, win got the bulk
Of the vote Of that faction. G. Godfrey Gun
Their, from his copperhead record, We sus-
pect, will draw pretty heavily upon the
original rank and file Of Mozart. But against
the democratic forces and the floating mate
rails divided among Hecker, Gunther and
Hoffman, there is pretty fair prospect for
Roberts. KOpdyke, the republican candidate
some years ago, slipped in between two demo-
cratic candidates, surely there must be good
opening now for Roberts with the democracy
divided among three candidates II the re-
publicans unite they can elect Roberts from
present appearances; otherwise the Partially
Of Greeley for Hecker will probably give the
victory to Hoffman As things now stand the