The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-02-13
The Theater.

ny tuc PoS'eTS aDOut tOWni IL appears
that another sweet blessing is coming, in
the shape Of another stroling theater.
The cause of this visitation like all others
of the sort, is to be found in two things,
tho love Of pleasure, and the love OF
money-two not very productive causes
Of good in this world though the lovers of
these two things are plenty enough, even
with US.
But what about the theatre itself? Is
that u blessing ESQ., let all attend,
let the churches 90, led on by their pas
tors, to bless and honor and encourage
the drama and the farce.
Some, who pass for good people, and
that they are SO, popularity speaking, no
ono can question, and some even Of our
church members,it is said, for, for, one,
have never seen them do it, attend these
dramatic performances. If such are there
because it is moral duty, why should
not every one 60 who can? Ii they 20
to get blessed why not all share in the
plentiful shower? II it is consistent for
one man or one church member, as such
to attend why not for all? Why should
it not be proper for the pastors to go, if
it is proper for their members, as for any,
body? Suppose then when the Amy
Stone Troupe holds forth, they should at
tend and open with prayer and close with
the benediction? DO you shrink from
such u thought, Or shudder at such an
idea ? But wherefore, if thcaters are fit
for decent, or for any people to attend
If there are intellectual benefit 10 be
derived from theatrical performances,
and no one will question this, at least, in
some, it may be, many instancos-why
not all share in them Though we think
such benefits are rather mcagrc, cspec-
Tally, in such drama as are afforded from
time to time in the School House Hall,
and so far arc not a very paying invest
ment at least so We judge from all re-
ports we hear, as well as from the char
acter, as a ,eRole, OF the current which
flows thithcr.
Ifthcre are moral benefits desirable
from the stage il the theatre Is, as has
often been styled, "thc school OF morals"
then surely ought We not all to BIO con.
slant pupils? Ought not parents espe-
cially, both by precept and example, see
to it that their children are early taught
to love and wait upon the immaculate
dramatis persone Of the stage Surely
if the stage is designed and does tend
"To wake the soul by tender strokes Of ant,
To raise the genius, and to mend the heart
To make mankind in conscious virtue bold,
Live Ger each scene, aud DO what they behold;
then surely let Amy Stone be received
by an audience to the utmost capacity of
the Hall.
That such as 60, will be likely to
Live Ger ca CHI scene, and he what Gey bshoid;'
is doubtless too true; and therein comes
the mischief, if indeed, there be any mis-
chief about such popular amusements.
But if good morals, arc taught at the
theater, how dear reader, do you account
for the fact, that it is so much the resort
Of the VIGOROUSLY immoral? How is it
that whilo numbers have dated their first
entrance upou the paths of vlco from the
time they commenced attendance upon it,
so few have by it been reclaimed from
moral error, aud restored to virtue and
happiness? All, who believes that the
standard of virtue in the community or in
the man, will best be raised, or be raised
at all, by conforming rigidly to the sa-
cred model itpresents 2 Any one, in all
Middlebury, whose opinion weighs, in
the public estimation n feather? doubt
it.
We will not pursue this matter farther
now, but give way for one to speak, VINO
can't be accused Of any such prejudcial
and one-sided views as may be- Read
then, the following powerful testimony
against the theatre.
Some time ago NJ. Dumas. son of the
French novelist, and himself writer Of
theatrical plays, wrote for tho Paris thea.
tiers, play which was severely criticised
because of its immoral tendency. To
one OF his critics Dumas responded thus
"You would not tako your daughter to
see my play; you arc right. Let mo
say, once for all, that you must not take
your daughter TO the theater, 1t is no