New-York tribune., 1870-01-12
ASPECTS or THE STAGE

| This il a remarkable dramatic season. Ii
| has often seemed 10 us 10 be our duty-and
we have always performed ito censure the
folly that continually prates about the decline
of the drama. Such a state of theatrical affairs
"a this now existing furnishes q significant
comment Oh that sort of fooshucss, and gives
| peculiar point and emphasis TO all advocacy
of the best interests of the stage. Our theatcr
has its good phases and its bad phases.
Sometimes it seems to aspire and sometimes
it seems to degenerate But through
all vicsstudeS of rise and fall,
its spirit continually improves. This city, at
the present time has, we believe, more theaters
that are elegant, sumptuOus, and well appointed,
than any other city iD the world can boast
certainly more tlIan arc possessed by any other
city in America. Our native artists find here
their fullest appreciation and their amplest
pecuniary IecOmponse; and the best foreign
artists are, one by one, secking-and finding
in this community kiudled reward OF rcputa-
ton and profit.
At this moment three Of the best actors OF
the age-Mr. Booth, Mr.. Wallack, and Mr.
Fcchter-are playing here, at as many thcatcrs'
under the brightest circumstances, and with
of the season might be specified. All worthy
tastes are addressed and abundant nourishment
is afforded for many varieties of mind. 1t IS a
credit to our people, and an auspicious sign
of the times that such a state of affairs exists
in the dramatic world An institution which,
like the acted drama depends so directly upon
public suppOrt-"whero either 1t must live or
"have no life"-will. necessarily, take its color,
in great degree. from the public
mind. If, therefore, our dramatic enter
tainmcnts arc intellectual, varied, picturesque,
and worthy the respect and admiration oil
thinking beings-as, on the whole, they are
il is because the influence of thinking beings
has the asccndency, and mOlds the stage.
Such should always be the case. Society
cannot afford to lose a single civilizing and ele-
waiting power-least of all, one that appeals so
directly and so strongly as the drama does to
the universal human heart. In the lace
of such acting as may now be seen III
New York in the face OF Mr. Booths
noble and beautiful presentation OF Shakes
peare's Hamlet to consider that alone
it seems to us that the voice of bigotry must
needs be hushed. and that the enemies OF the
theater-mistakcn or wFOng-headed persons,
who persist in msjudgiug the stage 10y the
superficial dstempers that certain bow black
guards have foisted upon it-must, for very
shame stand abasLcd in silence. No one
can fail TO perceive, we should imagine
tho profound carnestness which undcIlies
such a dramatic enterprise, or the great
ability which, in tragedy. i'll comedy,
and in romantic drama, is now being exerted on
the local stage in general To point cot in
what way, or TO what extent, these arts react
upon the civilization which fosters them, would
he supeIfluous work. Every one who can
think understands these aspects of the subject
But we deem it matter for especial cOngratu-
Iation-and hence these words for the hour
that the present influence of these arts is as
pure as it is potent