The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-01-02

acteu '1ntefludes as they were called.
ADDISON, who was regarded as an exem-
plary Christian, wrote the tragedy of Cato,
the Opera OF Rosamond, and the comedy
of the Drummer-a triple sinnerl Yet
history records his death as a model for the
most pious TO emulate and envy.
CoLERIDGE, THOMPSON, GoLpsMrn, Jo-
ANNA BAmLUs and Miss MILFORD, were all
composers for actual representation upon
the stage.
Lord BACON tells us, in his works, that
''The drama is rs history brought before
the eyes. II presents the images of things
as u they were present, while history treats
of them as past" r.. d.
The great MILTON wrote the Masks o
Arcadus and Comus, and the tragic poem OF
Samson Agonistes. In his preface to the
last he says
Tragedy, as il was ancieutly composed,
hath ever been held the greatest moralest,
and most profitable of all other poems.
Heretofore men In highest dignity have
labored not little TO be thought able TO.
| compose tragedy"
D'IsRAEII the elder declares that Utbe>
stage Is supplement to the pulpit where
virtue, according to PLATo's sublime idea.
moves our love and affection when made
visible to the eye"
Sir Joshua REYNOLDS says:
"Every establishment that tends 10 the
cultivation OF the pleasures of the mind os
distinct from those of the sense, may b,
considered as an inferior school of morality.
where the mind Is polished and prepared
| for higher attainments."
Sir PHILIP SNDNEY, In his defense of
Posesy ays
comedy Is an imitation of the common
errors of our life, which the poet repre-
sented In the most ludierous sort that NAV
be, so rs II Is impossible than any bcho,,ler.
can be content to be such one Aod Mt
tie reason hath any man to say that men
learn the evil by seeing 1t so set ont since
there Is no man living, but, hy the force
truth has in his nature, no SOONER, seetI,
these men play their parts but wishctl,
them IN pistrlnium; so that the right use.
OF comedy will, think, by nobody he
blamed. And much less the hi0b AMI ex-
cellent tragedy that openeth the greatest
wound and shOweth forth the ulcers that
are covered with tissue; that maketh Kings.
fear TO be tyrants, and tyrants TO manifest
their tyrannical humors; that with stirring
tne enectS OF admiration and cOmmiseri-
ton, teacheth the uncertainty of the world
and upon how weak foundations gildeI
roofs are builded"
Much more could easily be gathered to-
gether upon this point, was there the tim,
10 prepare it. But more is unnecessary for
my purpose. do not claim that all great
and good men, &c, have In all times favored
the drama, as my antagonist claims ilnani-
nifty for his proposition; am simply re-
futing his claim. In doing so, ouch is
omtted that might be used. Every intel
, ligent reader VIII perceive and wonder at
omissions that may seem striking. In the
hurry OF prepsttion these omissions viii
naturally occur; and If all was said or.
quoted that could be said or quoted in Myor,
J of the drama, volume would be seqaisito
TO contain 1t.
But cannot close wE no adtling the,
testimony of ALExANpER WHDDRRBHRNR a
"ruling elder in the Kirk of Scotland" and
afterwards Chancellor of England, under
the title of Lord LoUGHRoURoUaH. He
was the representative for the burgh of
Dumfermline in the General Assembly Of
Scotland when 1t met and took under con-
. sideration the question raised by the
appearance of DIR. HOMES tragedy, whether
the Church should make movement
| against the stage. He alludes to DIR. HOME
(who had resigned before that time) and
his tragedy, and the character of Lady
! Randolph in 1t in the following eloquent
language:
: 'Be contented with the laws which you,-
wise and pious ancestors have handed
down to you for the conservation of disci-
pline and morals. Already have Won driv-
en- from your body its brightest Ornament
!Dr. HoME(, who might have continued to
lnculcate the precepts of the Gospel from
the pulpit, as well as embodying them in
character and action. IL II, indeed, forbid
! den to show us the Kingdom of heaven by A
parabler In all the sermons produced by
the united genius of the Church of Scot
land, challenge you to produce any thing
more pure in morality, or more touching
IN eloqueGce, than the exclamation of Lad%
Randolph;
Thou first OF yirtGesi let no mortal leave
Thy onward path, although the earth shall zane
And nom the gulf ei holl destruction cry '-'
10 take dlssimuations winding way
My work is now almost done; aud think
may say that the proposition OF DIR.
THOMAS has been shown to he entirely
untenable. But let the public judge. wa
II Ia too late at this period OF our civiliza-
tion to decry the drama. IL has existed for,
thousands OF years, and has stronger hold
upon the affections of the world now
than ever. Great and good men In nearly
every age have derived benefit aud instr,le-
1 tion from it. Its devotees have been the
companions of poets, statesmen, orators,
divlnes, councillors, princes and kings.
lfaN A..