The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-04-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
New MetrOpOIItan Theatre.

umns of the JOURNAL to the
theatre-goers of the city in behalf of
the aboEe-named place of public en-
tertainment.
Of the abstract merits and de-
merits of Theatres as a means of
recreation, instruction, and amuse-
ment, [ shall say nothing, as / do not
wish to persuade anybody to attend
them who may have conscientious
scruples against it. 1t is fact, how
ever, that very many worthy people
do patronize Theatres, and that Thea
tres, in their various forms, do exist
In all cities of any considerable size.
Moreover, observation will satisfy
any one that the most cultivated
cities of the earth are the most lib
eral patrons of the Theatre, and his
tory proves that the institution goes
hand in hand with intellect on its
onward march. That the Theatre and
the Opera will always exist and be
sustained In the larger cities, as
standard means of willing away lei
sure time, / fully believe. Call the
Theatre a blessing or an evil, we
shall probably always have it.
with us, and the practical question
u.s. not how it is tor be put
down, but how it is to be regulated in
the interest Of enlightened morals,
and purified of internal corruptions-
and vicious surroundings so that those
who attend its performances may be
made not only wiser but better Let
the more respectable of its patrons
insist upon the divorce of the drama
from every mental and physical5infu-
ence which tends to degrade the. intel
leet and body, and make it the inter-
est of its managers to cater to pure
taste instead of that which is impure,
and the principal objections to Thea
tres In the minds of hereligious COM
munity will be removed, and the
number of its patrons and admirers
largely increased.
This is frank and fair statement Of
the whole Theatre controversy which
agitates the public mind from time to
time, and it contains the whole ques-
ton in a nutshell.
Evansville is getting to be a good
sized city, and has her Theatre. The
institution has been running regularly
for several years, and is doubtless per-
manently established In our midst.
/ learn that a movement is on foot,
under the auspices of one of our
most thorough going citizens, to build
an elegant edifce in which to hold
dramatic, operate, and other similar
representations. Thus the Theatre
will secure local habitation and a
name amongst us, and be accommo-
QaJeQ Win TdclIILI6s for It's per fv1 1r.ossa-
ces, such as it has never had in Ev-
ansville. OF this, every person who
admires the Drama will be glad. 1t
has been a serious drawback on its
success that it has had such lily ar
ranged and circumscribed halls for its
accommodation. Considering the dis
advantages that the managers of the
. Metropolitan have labored under,
they have been remarkably successful
in their efforts to furnish frst-class
performances and appropriate scenic
effects. w9li s IS so
Now / wish to speak of the enter
prise that Mr. Golden has under his
charge, not in his name, nor yet in his
special interest, but for the benefit of
the Theatre going community, and of
the business interests of the city as
promoted through the Drama, as an
established Institution In our midst
That our business interests are pro-
NOTED by it. a little reflection and in
quiry amongst business men, will
prove. Many business men, when
{ they start from home to buy mer-
chandise, make their errand one
of pleasure as well as business.
While in a strange place, away from
home, they like to pass their time at
some place of public amusement, and
the Theatre is commonly resorted to
because it furnishes kind of recrea-
ton that assure to present something
novel and interesting, and that per-
sons from all small towns and country
places cannot ordinarily enjoy. Hence,
as other cities of importance have
their Theatres, Evansville must also
support them, and if she does not,
will lose customers, who will &C to
trade where they can find such amuse-
ments. It may safely be said that a
good Dramatic Establishment is second
In Importance, in the above respect, to
first class hotels and we'll filed stores
and manufactures, because other
cities can offer as liberal inducements
to buyers, in the way of bargains, as
we can, and better hotels, while we
lack proper buildings for that pur-
pose, and these things being equal,
and the time required to go to Cincin-
natl or Louisville being so short, and
the expense SO light, many customers
will go where they can add pleasure
to business. ~ sfan1
s. Herein lies the business value Of
the Theatre, the Opera, the Museum,
the Weil7built, well-kept Hotel, of
Parks, and other pleasant. public