Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-07

that occasion were of the "won't go home
till morning" stamp, and could not see
why any one should go to Wells unless to
have high old time. They controlled
the team, and would neither set it on
the road to Poultney, nor permit the rest
of us to do so, until late the next day.
Meantime, they would neither sleep nor
tolerate slumber on the part of any one
else. The performances Of the latter part
of the night were little wilder and
rougher than / was ever before or since
implicated in, however innocently, and
Wells was no wise to blame therefor. /
never saw the respected village save dur
ing this single visit; and / sincerely trust
that my reputation there is not based on
the average conduct of my party on that
exceptionally boisterous occasion. Itwas
never before or since so hard for me to
work as during the afternoon and even
ing following our return to Poultney.
More years passed; / had migrated to
this city; and in December. 1881, l was
first spectator of genuine dramatic
performance. The scene was the old
Bowery; the play was William Tell the
hero's son was personated by a Miss Mes
tayer, then in her early teens, and still, /
think, on the stage, though | have not
seen her these many years. The night
was intensely cold, in doors as we'll as
out, the house was thin, the playing from
fair to middling,yet was in raptures from
first to last. / have since thought that
the wise way would be to choose a fit oc-
casion, go at once to good theatre, and
never darken the doors of any playhouse
again. / never yet entered green-room
and have no desire to enter one; but dim
as is my eye-sight, cannot now help
seeing boards and paint (coarsely laid
on, )and spangles and general tawdriness,
where 1 once saw glory and beauty, and
splendor and poetry, life realized, and
Paradise realized. Yes, unless to recall
lost dreams while watching the ecstacies
of children on their first visit, I judge
that the wise man is he who goes but
once to the theatre and keeps the impress
sion then made on his mind fresh and
!, clear to the close Of life.
After the narration of these incidents
; Mr.. Greeley gives his recollections of the
drama in New York and the actors Civ
: ing criticisms of various stars that have
appeared upon the stage within his mem
ory. We give the concluding paragraphs
! of the article, in reference to the infiu
: ences that have gone out from the thea
7 tire in modern days, and as to the posi-
r bility of reviving the by-gone glories o
: the stage:
S Of late years | have seldom visite'
the theatre, unless to accompany som
i, country friend to whom play was
: novelty and a luxury; having been rt
e PEELED by its habitual leaning to the sid
,s of slavery, tippling and other iniquitie
% whereby some men derive profit frol
7. others weaknesses. The stage was of oil
IN a powerful ally of liberty; yet, through
DR. out our long and arduous struggl
r against the vilest and grossest system I
e, oppression ever known, it had ever {
as many sneers and slurs to each cheerin,
W sympathizing word for the champion
lis mans right to his own limbs and sinew
at Why this was, l stop not here to inquir
nd l rest on the shameful fact. And ii
of Temperance Reform has likewise bet
is, confronted at every step by scurrilo
CT tests, insidious filings, and mean insinu
Dr. tons, from before the foot-lights. Hen
l." thousands, impatient of constant misre
nd resentation and insult, have abandon
us the theatre.
ny believe that it is even yet possible
rs. restore the falling prestige OF the stage
nd to revive its by-gone glories in the az
on when eminent moralists, like Addison a
for DR.. johnson, wcreits steadfast patro
ras and when actors like Garrick and Jo
cal Philip Kemble were the honored and
bly, innate friends of the proudest mobiles
the the land. But, to achieve this, we mi
me have manager who can nowise be bril-
e it or tempted to minister to prurient ap
ere tites, nor pettifog the cause of the opp
SOY sion. We must have stage which &C
ne; mands the respect of the wise and go
me. of the philanthropic and humane,
ded never vanishing villainy, never sneer
in at virtue, never pandering to lewd
gly pulses, nor gliding with sophistry the
an of triumphant wrong. l know that &c
om- fidence is plant of slow growth 1T
lso. once forfeited, it is not easily regain
July yet, feel sure that there will be st
or which, by patient, self-saeriticing d.
, or ton to right and justice, to freedom
ntly humanity, will win the favor and sup
here of the noblest and most worthy, and
e exert benign influence over the ear
light progress and destiny of our race.
h ------
faOp man Who is tbornuobly in q