The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-31

PRoBA BIIITY OF THEATRE.-The theatre
question has long been mooted, and the feeling is
now general that it is want that should be at
once supplied. There are few cities Of the size Of
Charleston, and possessing tho same monied re-
sources that would consent to remain for so many
years without some building that could accommo-
date either full troupe or a large audience. Al
present. the Hibernian Hall is the only building in
the city that can be used for any public entertain
ment, and it is entirely too contracted to allow the
necessary paraphernalia to bo used, or, if the ac-
tors are popular, to seat the numbers who attend.
An instance Of this sort occurred q few months
ago, when troupe Of actors who had been perform
ing with great success before crowded houses in
Augusta, Savannah, and other cities, sent an
agent to Charleston to see what arrangements
could be made. The Hibernian was the only place.
and it was impossible to transform it into even the
appearance Of theatre and the trip was aban-
doned.
There are some persons who argue first against
the morality Of theatres, and again that the
travelling troupes collect the money from an already
impoverished city, and take it away without leav-
ing an equivalent. Both OF these objections can
be met and refuted. In the first place. it is I'M
possible to establish standard Of morality that
would satisfy ALL and secondly, if theatre
Of sufficient size is built, it would soon be occu-
pied-not by travelling artists, but by regular
employed stock companies, who would collect and
disseminate money in the place where they were
engaged. All who remember the Charleston of
former days know that the theatre was extensively
patronized by tho merchants who bought their
goods at this market, and whose scruples on the
point Of morality, if thoy ever had any, were left
at home.
Knowing these facts, and also that few persons
like to visit city merely for the purpose Of buy
ing goods, and then to leave without seeing "the
elephant" it s strange that moro interest has not
been taken in the subject by our citizens, and
efforts made to form stock company, and either
rebuild the old theatre alter somo building suit
able for this purpose. An enterprise of this sort
would do more good than hundreds Of circulars or
scores of drummers, for it would sh wv that VIC
we're an energetic people, and were not disposed
to be either 'sunco, good" or rigidly righteous,
but were convinced that oil work and no play was
neither palatable nor profitable.
The Hibernian Society have been making some
efforts to this end, and design having their hall
enlarged by extending it several feet in the rear
and making other alterations that will allow space
for stage and all necessary scenery. The pro-
iect is yet merely in embryo, but we trust that tie
Society will SEQ tho advantages that will accrue
from the change, and will hasten the good work
There is no time to be lost; for the summer is
nearly over and the fall trade will sodh open ope-
rations should be commenced at once; and the
first stone laid toward rebuilding the Old Theatre,
or the first alteration in tho Hibernian Hail. will
be the dawning Of new err that will soon restore
Charleston to her former prosperous condition.