The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-02
TIE LNFL UENOE OF TIE DRAMA.

ApIlet0n'S Journal says:-
The recent refusal of clergyman in this
city to permit the funeral of an actor to take
place in his church has revived in some
quarters, discussion of the moral influence
Of the theatre. The arguments advanced
are not new; but the truth now, as at all
times, is neither on one side nor the other Of
the question, but embraces large share of all
that is advanced both in favor of the theatre
and against it. The theatre, like almost all
social institutions, is complex; it is q varied
and mixed thread of good and evil, and only
careful analysis can determine whether its
Influence upon society has been, as whole,
favorable or not. The same difficulty exists
as to many other things. There are people
who condemn fiction, and can advance good
reasons for their opposition to it. There are
others, but not SO many, who question the
advantage of poetry, or any of the forms of
refined or imaginative literature. Art, in
many Of its FORMS does not escape the severe
analysis of the moralist, nor does music ex-
cepting for religious purposes, meet the ap-
probation Of purists. 1t is possible for a
powerful and to some minds convincing
train of arguments to be advanced against
all those things which serve to warm
the imagination, excite the emotions,
and relax the mind. A people wholly
devoted to such refined pleasures as
art, poetry, and music, would soon lose
all its robustness of character and become
degenerate, effeminate. and contemplate.
But, on the other hand a people wholly in
sensible TO pleasures of thu imagination
would be dull and brutal. 1t is sometimes
the pleasure of q poet to imbgne an Area
dian people in whom innocence, gentle
ness, and Ignorance are united-people
with pure thoughts, simple hearts, and
kindly natures, who remain in igno-
rance of the ein and ambitions of life
But Arcadian peoples exist only in poetry.
Without those refinements that come of civili-
zation men are never innocent, gentle, aud
pure. Whatever injury art, poetry music,
and other products of the Imagination may
cause when attaining too large place in our
civilization, these things arc absolutely neoes-
saIy if people are TO be other than rude aud
stupid. These are truisms. perhaps; but
it is necessary to state them, in order to show
in what spirit and with what understanding
the influence of the drama is to be dis cussed.
That certain evils are to be traced to the
theatre Is no argument against it. So can
certain evils be traced in every one Of our in-
stitutions Many a mind has become effemi-
nate, weak, and worthless, under novel read
ing; but SO has many a mind been sweetened
and humanized by it. Poetry will greatly
elevate the imaginetion but surrender of
tho whole nature to the sweet and dulcet
strains of the verse maker would soon render
one luxurious and effeminate. Fine paint
ings give a glow and delight to the
mind; but he who is greatly enamored
of colors and ideas in color is apt to
become sensuous and weak. Let the drama
take its equal place among the
arts. Let its eXcesses be watched and CON
fronted, just as all other excesses are: but
these excesses should blind no one to its mis-
sion. 1t has, in its time, been illuminated by
great lights. 1t has she'd lustre over many
periods in history. It has been, in certain
epochs, almost the sole instructor of the peo-
pie. 1t has, just like all other arts, struggled
through its sloughs of despond, fallen some
times into wrong paths, and been used for
Lad ends. But it was one of the earliest aids
by which men advanced from barbsrism to
civilization, and, without it and its kindred
arts, culture and taste would be unknown. AS
to the conduct of the divine to which we refer
in the opening sentence, it is scarcely worth
while, at this late hour, to add our voice to
the general indignation. The censure which
it has received seems entirely deserved 1t is
marvellous, indeed, that any one should be
moved to deny to the remains of a man who
all unite in declaring had led blameless life,
the last rites which are even extended to
malefactors. By this unwise act a good
man 8 memory was outraged, large body of
worthy people were insulted, many hearts
no doubt, hardened against religion, and the
fair name of Christianity was DETAINED.
The LAND OF FLOWERS. -Florida-by far
the largest and most accessible of our Atlantic
States, the first among them to be settled by
EuT6 inc f~ fhn oct