The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-16
A Bull Asainst The Comet.

Bull Against the Comet,
MON, tte NJ T. Tribune.
lord Sydney, Chamberlain of the House
hoId. In the exercise OF his right as guardian
of the theatrical morals OF London, has issued
a deeree which Is certain TO excite the live
i;ost euotious among the clubs and the cou-
iisses although ts practical result is, to say the
100 donbtful. In circular he admOnishes the
,,oyaoers of the metropolis that the costumes of
tba ladies whom they employ are becoming
So nnblio scandal" and intimates that while
tbev are iuordiuately attractive to large
majority of the community, they VIII not
Ia tbs critical inspection of the grave, the
5eoorous. and the refined. Under these cir
o,,mstanoes he is compelled to call serious
oItontion 10 the subject" and to invite "ob-
servations and suggestion" from the managers
tbemselyes-with what special view ne does
not disclose. IL. ILL Ill,
tonic. To any ordinary person, lsnlillsr Win
tbe nsntomimio and burlesque displays OF
fondan the idea of connecting suspicious Of
improperly with the costumes worn by the
vonnp women isiludicrous. To the objections
~ dnlness and artistic vulgarity the pautO-
mines are always open; but II requires an
intellect ouokened by the elevated atmosphere
of the Lord Chamberlain's office, OF which
that high oonservator of morals, Viscount
Wiloughby d'Eresby, is distinguished orns-
ment, TO Q6lGDL III bnblA ohJ IUNAAbJ VI AhNC-
oency. The fact is that England, being as we
sll know an unprogressve country, has not
vet aoouired that lOoseness of theatrical taste
which ohsraoterizes some older and some
Younger nations. If by any chance some OF
our recent New York exhibitions could be
transferred to London playhouse, and If
Lord Sydney could be persuaded to witness
them, we can well imagine how his noble eyes
might wink, how he might 60 rafting down
IL. - O. ann W "
Virtuous fury he might cancel with few
strokes of his pen the licenses of the reckless
managers who had attempted so daring an
innovation. But London is not New York,
and, in this respect, is not likely to be for
some time to come. Aud therefore we lind
that Lord Sydney, impelled apparently by
some influence outside of his own inclination,
has approached the subject in the tenderest
possible manner, and far from issuing posi-
tive remonstrance or prohibition, simply sug-
gests species Of purifying consultation be-
tween himself and the managers.
Why the movement, such as II 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 Men
ken; after the aristocratic jubilees with which
the most brazen Of French troupes have been
welcomed year after year, it 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 demonstration of this sort. Possibly the
anxious spirits of the metropolis, having OBJ
served the slight tendency to reaction in
theatrical affairs and being averse to the idea
of any change without their interference, have
hit upon this plan for securing, through their
official representative, the credit of a partial
reform which seemed already inevitable. But
whatever the motive, the result will be
unimpOrtant either way. If the managers
have any "observationf or suggestions to
ofer," these will probably be to the effect that
the mass of the theatrical public prefers pan
tomims and burlesque to any other form OF
entertainment; that, as rule, by pantomime
they can live, whereas by the Legitimate
they must starve; that il, as the Lord Cham
berain asserts, "many profess themselves un-
willing to permit the ladies of their families
to visit the theatres, there is nothing in the
British Constitution to prevent them from
staying at home; and that, if any serious sus-
piOion Of indelicacy is entertained, informs-
tion may be applied for to the leaders of
fashionable society, the Prince of Wales at
their head, whose chief public enjoyment is
derived from performances of this class.
The Chamberlain's circular is essentially a
false alarm. English morality has nothing to
apprehend nowadays from English panto-
mime. To what extent the costumes overstep
decenoy may be seen any evening at either OF
the Broadway theatres where English actresses
are now performing. They fairly represent
what is done in the way of burlesque in their
own country. Artistically and intellectually
considered, it is the poorest, feeblest, most
drivelling show that ever beguiled a public Of
lts dollars; but indecency is not one of its
errors.