New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-15
A BULL AGAINST THE COMET.


theatrical morals of London, has issued de-
cree which is certain to excite the llveliest
emotions among the clubs and the coulisses,
although its practical result is, TO gay
the least, doubtful. In circular, which
we publish elsewhere, he admonishes the
managers of the metropolis that the costumes
of the ladies whom they employ are be-
coming ga public scandal" and intimates
that while they are inordinately attractive to a
large majority of the community, they Will not
bear the critical inspection of the grave, the
decorous, and the refined. Under these circum-
stances he is compelled to call serious atten-
:" lion to the subject" and to invite "ObServa-
" tons and suggestions" from the managers
themselyes-with what special view he does
not disclose.
This is mild way of dealing with mid
topic. To any ordinary person, familiar with
the pantomimic and buresque displays of Lon
don. the idea of connecting suspicious OF I'M
propriety with the costumes worn by the young
women is ludicrous. To the objections of dull
ness and artistic vulgarity the pantomimes are
always open; but it requires an INTELLECT
quickened by the elevated atmosphere OF the
Lord Chamberlain's oilice--Of which that high
conservator of morals, Viscount Willonghby
d. Eresby. is distinguished Ornament-to detect
in them any quality of indecency. The fact is
| that England, being as we all know an unpro-
| gressive country, has not yet acquired that
looseness of theatrical taste which characterizes
some older and some younger nations. If by any
| chance some of our recent New DIRK exhibitions
| could be transferred to a London playhouse,
and il Lord Sydney could be persuaded to
witness them, we can well imagine how his noble
| eyes might wink, how he might go rafting down
| without delay to st. Jamess, and with what
virtuous fury he might cancel with few
strokes of his pen the licenses of the reckless
managers who had attempted so daring an in
novation. But London is not NewYOrk, and,
in this respect, is not likely to be for some
time to come. And therefore we find that
Lord Sydney, impeled apparently by some
influence outside of his own inclination, has
approached the subject in the tenderest pos
sible manner, and far from issuing a positive
remonstrance or prohibition, simply suggests
species of purifying consultation between him
self and the managers.
Why the movement such rs it is, should be
made at this particular time, it is difficult to
conjecture, excepting upon the principle laid
down by Macaulay, that at stated periods
English virtue becomes outrageous, and will not
be controlled. After repeated seasons of popular
admiration lavished upon Miss Menken; after
the aristocratc jubilees with which the most
brazen of French troupes have been welcomed
year after year. il seems odd enough that the
very moment when certain managers are
making serious efforts to introduce more
reasonable order of drama should be chosen for
"A demonstration of this sort Possibly the
anxious spirits of the metropolis, having
observed the slight tendency to reaction in
theatrical affairs aud being ayerse to the idea
of any change without their interference, have
hit upon this plan for securing, through their
official representative, the credit OF partial
reform which seemed already inevitable. But
whatever the motive, the result VIII be
unimportant either way. If the managers have
any observations or suggestions TO Offer"
these will probably be to the effect that the
mass Of the theatrical public prefers panto-
mime and burlesquc to any other form of en-
tcrtainment that, as q rule, by pantomme
they eau live, whereas by the Legitimate"
they must starve that IT, as the Lord Cham
berlain asserts, many profess themselves un-
willing TO permit the ladies of their families" to
ish Constitution to prevent them from staying
mt home; and that. if any serious suspicion of
indelicacy is entertained, information may be
applied for to the leaders of fashionable soci-
ETY., the Prince of Wales at their head, whose
chief public enjoyment is derived from per-
formances of this class.
The Chamberlain's circular is essentially n
false alarm. English morality has nothing to
apprehend, nowadays, from English panto-
mime. To what extent the costumes overstep
decency may be seen any evening at either of
the Broadway theaters where English actresses
are now performing. They fairly represent
what is done in the way of burlesquc in their
own country. Artistically and intellectually
considered, it is the poorest, feoblest. most
drivelng show that ever bcguiled public of
its dollars but ndecency is not one of its errors
------
The Mobile Register is Disguised at the de-
claration of Gen. Cullen A. Battle that he,
though an ex-Rebel soldier, purposes to act
henceforth with the Republicans, and pitches