The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-14

OF SERIES Vi COMMUNICATIONS 10 tnaI paper /,
entitled 'Letters from the Preside" This arti-
Gle treats of the condition of society in its
moral aspects. Its especial topics are marriage
and divorce, and the vicious lessons as to the
marriage relation that are taught in the cur
rent fiction Of the day, and particularly in our
theatres. The reverend writer Of this "Letter
| from the Preside" sees that the theatre, the
opera and the novel of the present day sadly
need to be redeemed and cleansed," and he
expresses tho wish that he could "write them
down till they are made decent" He finds
that many operas, plays and novels fare exhi-
billions Of social vice rendered 80 attractive
and seductive a. to suggest to every nearer or
reader that the real fun, the chief pleasure Of
life, Is in secret and unholy love-" Bad as the
theatre and the opera, as now managed, really
are, he believes the Bradd0n class OF novels to
be still worse, and that the three together "are
breaking down the restraints OF virtue and
filling the land with the wrecks of domestic
bliss"
That the reverend gentleman is right in all
this is beyond doubt. Not only are all his strong
allegations true, but they would be still true IL
they were . great deal stronger. He declares
that such novels az the one last dramatized and
played in this city are "a moral pestilence;y
and If he had declared that the pure young
girls who are misled into reading such stories,
or who are taken 10 the moral pestt ouses which
present such plays, cannoA come away un-
harmed, must inevitably be infected in some
degree by that bad influence, he would hardly
have gone too far. Our city society is Very
easy in this respect, and ~.sle writer in tho o.
serve, has marked an important point. We 60
wherever amusement is promised, and we have
not enough the habit Of scrutinizing what the
amusement is. The young gentleman invites
the young ladies to this or that theatre at ran
dom, and they go; and those who have the
moral guardianship Of the young ladies-who
would be Mortified at the thought that an in
delicate story should be told or smutty jest
INDUCED in their presence-do not sufficiently
inquire what they hear or learn; and thus it
is, indeed, that the very foundations of mo-
rality are sapped and weakened by the vile
lessons taught, compared to the depravity of
which shipload Of emutly jokes would be rs
We have but one fault to find with tho Oh
serrer in this regard. II is right; but it ought
/, be right . great deal oftcner Moreover.
10 view Of its position. il ought not 10 be
mildly right. but savagely 80. Here is q
journal that is the organ Of a great Christian
denomination. {! Is established because ii il
thought tina. there arc many subjects in Tho
world tina! should be discussed in thc interests
of reaigion which The peIpi1 can only casually
touci. Ito very busncss In the world Is 10 en-
force mornl lessons; 20 inform. instruct and
warn society ngains. tho.' OWLS especially that
ins,diously encrooeh acp hy sep and poison
oil the asnusemcnts and pasl mes Of The people,
that bu! Cor sHca cncroaohm.n's might be in
noccnt and salliary. VIE. such an Office 10
fulfil. This Journal mildly suggcs;s. oncc n year
or so -perlara little oftemcc-thas tho pub
lie cmuscnients are impure, dangerous, evil
II gives a dozen lincs 10 this point. q dozen
10 that, and goes ON, and lin readers per-
laps hear OF the saLjcci again in another six
mon,hs. Instead Of such mild and far divided
rcmonstance against tho vicious conduct Of
the places OF public amusement. such journal
should thunder continually at this mcnssrous
evil II should never lei il rest until In its
sphere Of influence il had forced the subject
upon the earnest attention Of every reader
Week alter week aud month after month il
should hammer on, warming In its work ana
becoming alive to the fact that in just such
ondcavors 10 guard and reform the morals of
The community lies the true sphere Of duty of
a religious journal.
Moreover the writers who touch this topic
now and then in the religious papers ought 10
understand that II s a liviag theme for the pull
pit. Here IL better subject for the Sunday
discourse than the whole field Of politics can
furnish-a subject that will come home TO
every thought and awake earnest reflection in
all IL is right Cor the reverend gentlemen
TO touch these topics in their letters, /, is be-
cause the things they refer 10 orr an evil; and
IL they are an evil Il is wrong Tor these gentle
men TO ignore such topics In The pulpit They
should dcnounce them from that high position,
and give social morality the benefit Of the in
naence that their exalted Once carries with n.
The rass or Beigsum-The ARE ngs~sss
ef France and Prussss.
The last intimation ~ 10 the possible late Of
Belgium assumes that the kingdom is in danger
Of partition, aud argues that the danger il
"rather from Prussia than from France The
occasion Of this apprehension from that quarter
Is thai certain Prusslan Journals speak with
hesitation OF Belgian safety, where II is sup
posed they would speak positively II all were
right in Prussia; and that Others even argue that
the King OF Belgium IL net 60 AZ those who
are sovercigns by divine right, but oaly holds
bis position on compact with the people.
Such facts are certainly not withous senna-
canoe in countries where journals do not dis
cuss the positions Of sovereign Powers in any
udiscriminate or general way, but are always