The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-02
To the Public.
RICHMOND, VA, February !,


ITO be or not 20 be. '-IIAHLET
Ladies' and Gentlemen, In the hazardous
and arduOus undertaking upon which We have
entered III opening the New Richmond
Theatre we deem il but ~ act OF courtesy 10
all. and 4 matter ct justice 10 ourselves, 10
more fully dpfiu" our position, and 10 give
more general outline OF our plans, and 70
better express our confidence OF ultimate
success, than can he done in the usual adycr.
tisements of The day, feeling assured that
when fully understood, We shall receive that
cordial support and patronage from the COM
munity in general who, We are informed, III
davs gone by were never bchmdhand IN
encouraging where merit and honesty OF rnT-
pose were the basis OF the undertaking.
We now stand arTaigncd IT the bar Of pub
lie opinion and we are resolved, If il be posi-
BILE, that Judgment shall he given III our favor.
Ii WAS not without mature consideration that
We embarked upon this present voyage. We
saw the dangers u which We were exposed,
but were willing to brave them ALL supported,
rs We felt sure we should be, br discerning and
apprecia,iye patrons. The first difficulty thtl
presented itself was the collecting together
such a dramatic company rs we should t"l Il
pride, and you n pleasure, in seeing upon the
boards 4 first il seemed almost hopeless
task, but, i'll some measure, IL was al length
accomplished, though At great cost. lhe lnau-
guratlOn concerts, We ar" compelled 10 state.
involved n considerable less bat We have tn"
satisfaction Of knowing that our faith was
kent, and that the opening was Indicative OF
our future course, that we should present 10
YOU nothing but what was chaste and good,
and of the highest order OF artistic worth
within our reach
Another difficulty presented itself, md one
10 which we wish 10 call especial attention.
There had been SO-called " third tier The
demolition of this could only be done at conSl-
dprabr peCuniary loss, but we determined II
should be done, and the fact was announced III
the simple notice that no improper charac-
tcrs would BE- admitted 10 amy part OF the
house" The " third tier is now converted
into 4 gallery for the reception of cOlOrrd per-
sons We trust that this will bc fully apprcci-
atcd, and that those who have hitherto held
themselves aloof on account OF TINS expressed
objection will, by their frequent presence
convince us that this move has been mace III
the right direction.
Our plans may be briefly statcd-they are TO
give 4 series of entertainments OF the highest
classical order that our means and the support
we receive will enable us. The drama, under
our management, shall be pure, Wecded OF al
offence 10 proprIety and dccorun, we "lSh II
10 be instructive aud amusing, guide ana
encoura ragcment, and warning ,Athu we VISA
10 write over our portal, " those VINO cnirr
here leave care behind In the due course oi
time we shall! he able 10 bring on the regular
opera in this Mr.. Grau, the great lmpreSsaTio,
kindly aids US. We have already made arrango. b..
mcnts that this shall be succeeded by several
of the most renowned Stars, and those brtut: :
full and sensational pieces that have lately
entraEced other audiences.
And now it only remains for us, in conclu-
sion, 10 state our confidence and belief, that
our labors viii not be III vain. The attend
ance of each evening we regard As the index
of our future success or failure, the iorlneFt
now that we stand confessed before you, we
know you desire the latter, with popula'
tion like that of Richmond, win entertain
ments which III any city would be apprecla.
ted would bc an enigma which we couid
never solve and position We should IAN 10
realize. 1t is now that we chiefly want
encouragement and an earnest OF our lulure
success. The infancy of the management
requires the stimulus of your patronage 10
enable il 10 acquire strength and manhood
We have invited from the press an imIas'
tial criticism "nothing eXtenuate, nor ser
down aught in malice
The question need hardly be asked, shs's'
Richmond be behind other cities in potn
hemispheres In the support of the most popr.
lar of all amusementsi In Europe we all
know that the theatre IL the resort OF The
Young, there to learn from the - mirror held
up 10 nature " the pleasant ways of wisdom
and virtue, 10 see the past rs II really was,
| and 10 have the most remarkable portions oi
the worlds history, its manners, and customs