The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03
For the Rev Orleans Sunday Crsscent.l
sENsATION!!:

sENsATION;;:
Truly we live in a sensational age, an age Of
false excitements hollow shams, fmsy deceits and
burlesque tragedies.
Imagine the CONSERVATION of our forefathers of
Plymouth Rock renown, could they revisit in the
flesh this sublunary sphere. ITO tell the truth /
would enjoy taking genuine New Highlander of
the old school, to see the Black Crook Un-
dine" and others Of that ilk.)
Talking about sensations, my dear friends, have
you seen the Lancashire Lass?" have you seen
Under the Gaslight ~ and do you not agree with
me they would do credit to the columns Of the
New York Ledgerl The plots are thrilling in in
terest the tsbeaux at the end of each act remind
ing one forcibly of the :" To be continued 10 our
next of the blood and thunder penny magazines.
They are much in the style Of the Blighted Bride"
and the" Deserted Wife," They please the popular
taste, however. of this rapid century, and are
played to crowded houses, while the good old
English comedies are thrust gnominousy into
the background.
We hear there is to be a real locomotive on the
stage with a whole train OF cars, and we rush fran
fically TO see, as IL we could not locomotives
where they belong, in their own Legitimate
sphere.
And again we learn that big steamboat with
real engines and paddle wheels is TO make
triumphal entree. and once more we spend our
last cent to watch said steamboat drag its slow
length along, battling with the tempestuous waves
that oppose its exit from admiring eyes. What
veritable children we are When we can see pal
aces Of steamboats, any time we choose 20 visit
the levee. and that without paying one dollar for
the privilege.
The fact is, as a people, we don't care for act
ing now unless the characters get on regular
Mrs. Joe Gargery rampage we enjoy rant, and
even that does not smuse long. unless the scenic
effects are something extraordinary
pity the stage managers in their efforts to
please a public who consider themselves i'll
treated il a painted scene is substituted for the
genuine article.
obliged to travel with a mensgerie to furnish ami
mails to fill mp the backgrounds OF country
scenery.
By The way, ! notice that the Varieties is
raising quite q troupe of domestic animals,
pigeons, singing Birds donkeys, goats and sheep.
In the natural progress of events we shall have
them trained to take their parts, and indeed
should not wonder II lions and tigers might prove
an important feature. The time was when act
ing, and acting alone was the chief charm of the
play, when the characters owed nothing to dress,
scenery end stage effects, but everything TO the
faithful rendering Of their respective parts.
Not alone do we get sensation on the stage.
We carry q thirst for it everywhere, aud GER
tainfy il seems as If we were gratifed to the very
fullest extent Why, my dear readers, we nave
actually lost all taste for the quiet platitudes, that
pleased before the war. There Is really no COM
fort in taking nice nap in church nova days, to
the dear sleepy tune Of Old Hundred, played
slow in place of which =" ancient century we
nave 1r0vatOre Win variations from Marlna anu
Lucie, which keep the congregatiou wide awake
in hopes Of detecting false note, or want OF
time.
Then we have popular preachers, who give US
sensational sermons TO match the music, and we
leave church very well satisfied with ourselves and
the very enlightened age 10 which we live.
We think we have faint remembrance OF the
early Christians worshiping in caves, but If we
remember at all, II Is only to wonder how they
could possibly have enjoyed the exercises.
How delightful the services were to-day" said
lady friend last Sunday, g that Te Denm was
gem, and dear Mr.. X, how charmingly he preach.
es." "1es. my dear Madam" l replied, that
TesDeum was certainly the last sensation in fash
ionable church music, and your dear Mr.. Y. has
amost charming way Of making miserable sinners
feel exceedingly comfortable"
She opened her eyes quite wide and seemed
really shocked at my want of reverence.
An inc, wonder II we shall all enter heaven
with 0 sensation | wonder, too, II the Emusic OF
the spheres I" will be set to 0fenbsch's operas.
Verify, our enlightenment and civilization are
somewhat immense in this brisk little century.
We dress TO make sensation, walk In the most
grotesque style for the same purpose, wear all the
colors Of the rainbow blended In one toilet simply
10 attract attention. have frequently met ladies
of late on the street, who only needed mask TO
be equipped for fancy dress and masquerade
ball.
We cannot even get married without creating
sensation and as to love, why, young ladies laugh
at the idea of falling in love. "Oh. they don't do
Euch things it is quite old-feshoned."
Dear me, when was young, worth mace the
man, not money, but then things have changed
since then. 1t was q wife's pleasure to help the
man che loved in his struggle: with the world, not
10 drag him backward by extravaganza in dress
and love of show hearts were az premium then;
now il is not good STYLE" and II you are untor-
tunate enough TO possess the astcle, you must
smother it with dress, choke it down with dis-
mouds, show a smiling face to tue world aud its
worshipers, forget you have heart.
Alb, bow few know how sweesit is TO love
Our girls really dc not have time TO fad out.
Launched into society when scarcely old enough
TO know their own minds, marrying the nrst eng
ible posfi that offers, grand sepsatonal wedding
that shall be the envy Of al school-fellows and
intimate friends, and then The bitter awakening TO
the knowledge that they are irrevocably tied to
men estimable enough in themselves perhaps,
but totally uncongenial, totally untitled for the
difficult task of guiding the footsteps of their
thoughtless young wives, who, when the reaction
from the excitement of the wedding shall come,
offer themselves willing sacrifice to the Moloch OF
society.
The neY.yea now dawniDg on US will, | sup
pose, have new sensations Among them we
count on the velocipede mania IL is fast gaining
ground in New York, and we & the Sout are not
lar behind our Northern frienet.
The velocipedes are embleraatical of the rush
and rapdity of the age; so sc: them by all means,
We fast young men they are certainly the most
go-ahesd machine now extsNt. 1t Is true they
have A happy faculty of landing you in the gutter
but then all fast pursuits will eventually serve you
the same trick. We hear the ladies are TO ride
them. If 30, they viii need. velocpede cos
tune, something on the Turkish style. Go it, ye
Young have a good time. LIE is short; we soon
run out and then comes the last, great sensation.
VIVA.