The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-26
THE ATRIc AL.
The Decline or the Drama in America.
TO THE EDITOR OF The HERALD.

n Z n RIG Al.
The Decline or the Drama fn America.
TO THK EDITOR OF The HERALD.
In an able article which lately appeared In your edi-
ton you deduced very clearly from tho fact that
have been and now are in the throes Of revolution,
which affects matters Of well matters Of fact
the inference that the present condition OF the fine arts
and Of letters must In Of time, give place
which shall vie with the Augustan OF any OF the
European monarchies In kindred article the question
ef the demorazng tendency OF the drama present
represented in this city discussed and you very
clearly pointed out the varied defects which contributed
to make II at tho present time corruption than
teacher Of morality.
The great reason why the drama powerful for good
or evil Is the fact that is the most popular Of ali
ations. Under the guise OF amusement good or bad
principles be easily and permanently instilled
into me mind Of the auditor than by other process
II may be doubted whether sthe play Is not moro popu-
lar and generally liked than any distinct class OF tera
ture with the sole exception Of newspaper literature,
and 1t is undenaby more potent with the puoic-ths
great Of the popuIationthan what are estheti.
cally termed "ths arts"
The obvious inference from this FACT thsrsfore, II.
thai those who haVs the agsceoa Or Temporary charge
Of 40 powerful instrument for good evil shosd 20
persons who. primarily. thoroughly able 70 distin-
gush between those opposite qualities and secondly.
who have the inclination and desire 70 decide upsn che
pussuit Of the gsod AnOther and "a equally ebvtous
inference is that as newspaper literature Is tho only
Of literature which s popular with the public
than the play the drama and those who have charge Of
II should DO subject to great exteu 70 the legitimate
criticism Of the press. ftr
Now sir that at the present time the drama
considered on the whole is disgracefuliy low ebb
foofo Of Tho nuhii aIlu
ally prone degenerate-has been fosered and
couraged in its prurient course by unprincpled
agers that at last il has almost ceased TO flow IN It's
legitimate channels and has sought outlets which
thoroughly foreign to the character OF those lessons
which should be the design Of the drama to inculcate
The lofty poetry Of what is called the Legitimate"
drama has been suppanted by spurious senmenality
which has been only too powerful IN creating those
hideous moral excrescences sfast young ades while
the of heroic deeds Of good men and true
have given place that OF the cowardly atrocities
Of Jack Sheppard, Claude Duval. and variety
Of other Bowery pets. The evil OF It is, bow.
ever, that these arocties ara referred to in
terms Of mawkish sentimen,ality the sophstry
of which unfortunately above the detection OF its audi
tors What single phrase for nsan c:s, csn Be more
completely suoversys Of !hs whole ssanos Of moral
ethics than this Which IS put into the mouth Of an
y
told lie!n
Beginning then with the lowest class OF theatres at
which the worst morality admittedly taught proceed
the examination Of the class Of amusement provided
at fashonabv attended theatres. Of which
thing worthy Of the city expected At present almost
all the theatres engaged in representing that kind Of
spectacle which has obtained the OF tho material
istic drama To crticse it, 10 use Johnson's words
would be but ''wasting criticism upon unressng imbe
cikty." Is the triumph Of the painter and the
property man. not Of the author the actor II POUNDS
its claim to public notice rather upon IT'S display OF
rea stage effects than Of real genius Or sterling por
traiturc
II may he contcnded that the public ikeh and il pays
Just So The public frequently like and pay for things
which the OF decent and legitimate but this
fact does not condoae the iiegitimacy OF tho things
themselves II is tho duty of theatrical manager Just
not to depravc public taste and the individual who
is placed In either OF these responsible positions and
neeects to his for good orfets his trust and
his character to the public.
How different this might be to what is! Arc our
American authors grown weary of writing 20 the order OF
money grabbing they awaiting
the OF that brilliant for the stage which awaits
this country Shall continue to have old European
plays rehashed the place Of sterling original and eicva
ting writing? Rather let believe that the materiasc
drama has had It's day. and that the STAGE under good
and judcious management will not be found laggard
when the predicted Augusan era dawns upon this vast
continent. el t.'st. ga KENWARD. 4,
Hengler's Cirque varete is crowded nightly 10 Liver
pool. England. ". Cook, M. Clevori Mr. Parish, Mr.
Thorpe, Mile. Rochcz aud Madame Adams are vol
ce,ved Tho horse Chsniicleer Is introduced by Miss
Louise Henglsr. Messrs. Doughty, Barry, Abbott ana
williams the clowns.
The Daughter of the Regiment has been Withdrawn
from the boards Of the Princes theatre Manchester.
England and replaced by three act drama named after
Nell Gwynne. The two principal parts, Mistress Stew
ard aud Nell Gwynnc, taon by the sisters Nelson.
The other leading characters Mr. H. Haynes King
Charles H., Mr. James Dixon the Duke OF Richmond,
and Mr. Il. Ward Lord Buckhust. Samuel Pepys. the
well known diarst also figures prominently the piece,
andelici.s clever acting the part OF Nj. Hudspeh
The plot is very simple one, based on tue attempt by
the Dukes Of Buckingham and Richmond. with some OF
the Puritans and Fifth Monarchy men, TO wrest the
throne from Charles The documents establishing this
treason arc through the fundamentally Of Nell Gwynne
destroyed and she. the Time brings about the
marriage OF Mistress Steward and the Duke OF Richmond
The drama gives painfully vivid picture OF the corrupt
court of the Mery Monarch" TIE performances closed
with tho burlesque OF AtalaDts.
MILE Stella Colas French actress, who lately played
Juliet the Princess theatre London has been tho
heroine OF very romantic and tragic history In st. Pc
tersburg, Russia young physician OF that city-A
Kaalinsky-fe violently in love with the actress and
offered her marriage. He not rejected II once, but
time for consideration asked, and after the expra
ton Of that time further delay and SO on until four
years had gone by, Me Stella nndng always some pre-.
text for delay All these hndrauces only Increased the
love OF the young DOCTOR who ut last wrote TO have
hna answer TO his suit This came in the shape OF
peremptory refusuaI wl,ereupon NJ Kaaiinsky wrote
farewell letter to Mile. Stella, telling her that when she
received he would be dead Terrified at this, she sent
In t.aafa Of In
81. Petersburg to demonstrate with her desparng lover
He too late. After few minutes conversation ~
Kaansky fell dead In the Of his visitor The peo
pie OF ST. Petersburg hayo shown rather strong feeling
against Mc Stella, and It Is said that she will probably
to France shortly It is not absolutely certsin
whether the doctor died OF q broken heart Or from
poison.