The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-28
is splendld'sotresa Good evening NJ. M,,. 7

. % F''
uninteresting:-
In lSgl vas elected. receiving 15OOi votes.
mem bef of the sovereign state ConVentlon OF
with Inc expectation that it would take the
state Immediately aud bodily out OF the Union.
but IL didn't do anything of the kind quite
the REVERSE" Awful thresteuings were made
against, and horrible deaths promised us II we
didn't carry out He ,OiU Of The people and pass Il
secession UldiuanCe But we diun't see II (the
peoples wild in that lisht, We had tao spYe-
reign power of the State in our hands, and we
exercised Il by dis Owing the Legislature, de-
posing the Governor and executive officers,
State This unmskiug aud making govsrn-
ments Except on the stage) was - new line OF
business for me. hu toent through my part re-
NE through anonymous letters, that my life
would certainly be taken If did thus aud so;
But did thus and SO, nevertheless and here
am alive yet!
Sol Smith became an actor from sincere
love of the profession, and he has always
earnestly defended it and its members from
the aspersions cast upon them. An intimate
acquaintance with actors and actresses of
every grade for fifty years entities the follow
ing opinions about them, and the following
advice to them, to a respectful consideration
Since my retirement nave bsen frequently
asked my opinion OF theatrical people as class,
and have not been back kward ia giving Ii, So
far as l can, IN few words, mere repea6 In
substance what l have said, and what really
think of the membars of the theatrical profess
sion (ss class, my optnion being the result of
an association WITH them for htty years. La the
first place. then. there are unquestiOnably some
very mean and despicable men and women
more men than women-who contrlve to creep
nto the profession and disgrace II; but these
ale rare exceptions, L have intimately known
tors, merchants, and preachers-also mechanics
and laboring men; have been honored with
the acquaintance and friendship of gentle
women, the best in the land; L have been
thrown into temporary association with aN
sorts OF men and women, may say, and SO lar
"a NJ u
tiously declare that the members of the the
atrical profession Will compare favoraoly, as u
class, with those OF any other profession. (Don't
shake your head, reveIe end sir; this is the truth
which write.) Ieuppose have had dealings
with at least thousand actors and actresses in
my time, and OF ali that number cannot call
10 mind more than q score OF black sheep out OF
the whole hock-thaJ Is, that were depraved in
their natures. On the contrary, have found
In the most of them the Christian virtues-not
froieySed, perhaps but carried into act. There
is not more cbarll lab C class OF individuals on
the earth than theatrical performers. Their
means are generally small, but their hearts are
large. Gtrtng is not of their most charitable
acts, for they have precious little TO spare in
that way; yet L believe they contribute In
money as much as any other of tue classes
have mentioned, according to their ability.
Personal service to the sick and disabled are
very seldom Withheld by any. 1t would, per-
haps surpriS e some readers TO now how many
actors and actresses are members of the Churcn
not that l consider them any better Tor that,
or think processing religion always makes one
religious.
But, after all, the good conduct of actors and
only be good and virtuous, but appear so In the
eyes of the world, for there are no people 80
announced by their right names and let them
abandon at once and forever the foolish desire
to be called MisseS-clinging to their maiden
names even after becoming mothers of several
children as II they supposed 1T TO be dlsgraceful
to be wives. know OF no custom so ridiculous
SO foolish, and SO inexcusable as this refer to-
Let me beg the few -AmeTtcdn actresses who
follow this despicable custom to consider, only
for moment, the equivocal position they are
content to occupy white living iOuh men, and not
bbearing their names "oh! shame, where is thy
For the men of the profession L have a few
words. To each actor say, be provident Lay
R55R HR t h66Gr 4apPS bFd1hSs and sisters at
@ only but tSe Enemy and
cause of ruin of many of the wisest aud best of
all Agotd geeng ts'C de3 and 6t thus
Respect yourself, and study to deserve the re-
spect of all good men and women. Respect
true religion, and strive TO 6e religious, whether
you become a professor of religion or not I'D
unto others"-you know the rule ACT on 1t.
What we have to object to in this book is
the unnecessary profanity which disfigures
some of the anecdotes, and the two frequent
use of an expletive which would be startlingly
expressive if it were not SO commonly used
and which is universally prohibited in the
society of decent people. The illustrations are
numerous, but, except those by MIR. Darley,
which have been previously published, they
are not remarkably good. portrait of the
author and facsimile of his autograph is
given as a frontispece.
HARPER's HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN
EUROPE AND THE EAST. By W. Pembroke
Fetridge. Seventh Year. Published by
Harper & Brothers. Philadelphia Agents:
Claxton, Remsen u Haffelfnger.
A work of this kind is peculiarly susceptible
Of ridicule, and the different editions of "Har-
per's Hand book" which have been put before
the public have been sneered at net little.
We believe, however, that the author and
publishers desire to make it as complete and
perfect as possible, and to give just exactly
the kind of information that will be most
useful to the average traveller. To those who
are well posted in history, literature, and art
some of the details may seem unimportant
and trivial; but we think that most of those
who carry the "Hand-book'' in their port
manteaus during tour of Europe will not
consider them so.
Clear and precise directions are given about
obtaining passports, how to use them, what to
see and how to see it, this best routes to take,
the engagement of guides and other attend
ants, the hotels and their rates of charges, the
manners and customs of landlords and the
ways they have for increasing their bills, and
much of which is calculated to provoke a
smile in reading, but which will, nevertheless,
save the traveller much serious annoyance.