The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-26

make them as moral and refined as them
Selves
All my experience of theatres and man.
ayers goes to assure me that this view is
practically sound one.
| feel absolutely certain that if it were
the common habit of clergymen to go reg
ularly to theatres, and to regularly hiss in
decency and immortality there, their intlu-
ence would be utterly irresistible. Players
and managers alike would learn to stand
in awe of such a body of determined moral
censers and the effect would be positive
and permanent for good.
But while clergymen and religionists, as
now, stand afar off and den ounce the thea
tire in wholesale terms, actors and managers
will reply Indignantly, 'tWhat do they know
about us and eur business? They never
visit the theatcr-many of them never saw
a play in their lves-how can they judge
of that of which they are confessedly igno-
rant ?''
Mr.. Lewis Tappan once gave an interest
ing account of meeting he attended thir-
ty or forty years ago at the house Of Rev.
DR.. Claiming, of Boston, composed of
lawyers, clergymen, physicians and MGR
chants, at which the question was discussed
Of encouraging the fremont Theatre, then
projected as reformed place of amuse-
ment. DR.. Claiming stated that he had
long thought that religious persons should
!, tha,, f1nu hnI
done in public amusements, with view to
elevate their character, allure the young
men from corrupt pleasures, and make
amusements subservient to good morals.
The truth probably is, that there is moth
ing on earth wholly bad, and the true prin-
cipls fer the earnest and candid reformer
is to carefully separate the good from the
bad, recognizing the former while denounc-
ing the latter
Cander is the great requirement of our
moral censors. The stupid twaddle which
well-meaning men often utter is positive
injury to good morals, as well as an insult
to intelligence.
As specimen of this baneful twaddle, a
writer in the atlantic Monthly mentions a
Lecture on Popular Amusements,' de-
livered to young men by celebrated
preacher at Indianapolis, in 1916. * With
admirable perspicuity, the lecturer places
'vagabonds, fiddlcrs, fashionable actors,
strumpet dancers, dancing horses, and box
ing men,, in the same category, and with
naivete truly refreshing asks his hearers if
they ever knew theatre in which prayer
at the beginning and at the end of the per-
fermance would not be considered an intru-
sion. The only term fit to apply in char
acterizins such extravaganza is 'bigeted
intolerance, and many will think opposi-
ton useless and Improbable. But this
TRADE represents the opinion of very
large and important part of the commu-
nifty, who think twice before making such
a compromise with conscience as to 90 to
the theatre themselves, and who would
never dream of permitting such lapses from
grace on the part of their children. The
feeling is illiberal, and evidence of incom-
plete culture
In one of the very best and most ably
conducted of Boston's religious papers,
once read this silly mess:
'.Not many months ago coffin bore
from the Tulleries the body of Count Bac-
ciocai, cousin of the Emperor, the first
chamberlain and superintendent Of the Mea-
tres. He had seventeen grand crosses of
the highest orders in Europe. He saw all
tie splendid sights, and heard all the acon-
dr0Us music of the stage, and by those whose
taste was in that direction, he was thought
the happiest Of men. But alas not to speak
Of religion, there was one thing which cost
him more bard daily labor than the hardest
worker usually performs, and that was the
getting of little rest in Sleep
Truly, when one reads such awful exam
pies of the evil effects of theatres, one is
forced to say that there is no reply to make
to such an argument.
Lack of the power of getting sleep, as
everybody knews, is a popularity unknown
to people who never go to theatres, -who
never see the "splendid sights - and hear
the " wondrous music"
l had some acquaintance with Count
Bacciochi when | lived in Paris, and |
chance to know that he was so 6Lase about
these things that he cared about as much
for the "splendid sights" and the "won-
drous musie' Of the theatres as a railroad
superintendent would care for the "mag-
nificent scenery he advertised on his
road as an inducement to travellers to go
that way So, if for his sins the Count
Bacciochi could not sleep, it certainly was
net for the sin Of being toe "happy' over
the theatres which his duties made him
oversee.
1t is twaddle like this which make wick
ed men laugh and Satan chuckle.
Some enthusiastic enemy Of the theatre
once printed the appalling statement that
alt is estimated more money is expended
in the United States for theatres than for
all the Sabbath schools in the country"
This astounding intelligence drew forth
from an irreverent wag the counter state
ment that st has been estimated that the
cost of washing linen that might just as
well be worn two days longer, amounts to
enough, in this country, to defray the OK
penses of the American Board of Foreign
Missions Tie expenses of buttons on the
backs of our coats, where they are of nc
earthly use, is equal to the support Of al
our orphan asylums. 1t is estimated that
the value of old boots thrown aside, which
might have been worn a day longer, Is
more than enough to buy flannel night
gowns for every baby in the land. Also
that the cost of every inch on the full shirt
collars of our young men is equal to the
sum necessary to put Bible in the hand:
of every Patagonian giant"
But there have been, and are, many di
vines who treat this subject with candor,-
men who believe that
|. There have been more in some ono
play,
Laughed inte wit and virtue, than hath beer
by twenty tedious lectures drawn from sill
And fopPish humors."
Among later utterances from clergymen
one OF the most notable is that of Rev DR.
Bellows, in the New York Academy o
Music. a few wears aoo. and with , fou aX