Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-08
THE FHkATERs.
The Damaging Effects Of Political TX
c~iTement-A BAD Week for Our Places
Of Amn@emaut.

There being only two more theatrical days
in tnis week, It can hardly be hoped that the
places of amusement viii be able ia TINT time
% recover rom the preceding lns1es. since
the week commenced the theaters have had
10 contend against 4 combination Of unto
ward ane damaging events. The week open
ed gtDony. Monday night was cold and dark
and foggy, and damp unuer foot, so that the
eemforH Of a home Preside became prefera-
Die 10 the soy Of theaJsrs,' when combined
with gloomy and chilly rides back and forth
IN dark streets; hence neither the % Jabsn al
the New Memphis Theater nor Miss Charlotte
Ihompso az tae Grand O-perahouse drew
well. Upon the whole The bast week has de-
monstrafed tho fact that the excitement OF q
political campaign is not al all propitious 20
the Z success OF the playhouse.
Theaters in a large city ike ours are, in a
measure, essential To its growing thrift and
demand It's recreaJions, but 70 visitors from
abroad the existence n \ tleater forms no in
considerable part OF the inducements held
forth u gain their attendance for either BUSH
ness or pleasure. Therefore, accepting the
theory that the playhouse IS . necessity,
Which All classes Of people feel, certainly al
times the e-ntarpEsing manager WHO comes
forward 70 supply that want claims at once a
c0nslderauon-indeed, possesses Alright 10 cX-
peet that his efforts as a caterer 70 the public
taste ought 70 meet with a substantial recog-
milton.
Itisin vain that sci --consututed P~uritanical
reiormers indulge is a TRADE against such
amnsefnents Is are calculated to duh the edge
OF haru reniity witt the softening hand Of
taeaAltyi II IL absurd to hear railing accusa-
sous that theatres are vicious institutions.
Like al the Just and proper accessories OF life
they may indeed become vicious, but only by
aDuse-not by use. In a commercial sense,
theatres are an absolute necessity, and posi-
lively valuable. II there were no such attrac-
ions, there would be nc visitors to unger be-
yond the transaction Of business. Hence, a
common interest in the prosperity of a city
VIII urge upon her people TO foster and sup
port its temple OF the drama, and in return
managers, bound TO the people by a mutual
sympathy, should so shape their enterprise as
N0 nulmmn mmhNr favor winch when
rightly appealed to, rarely fails 70 return its
hearty acknowledgment.
But the obligation, strong as IL may be on
the side Of the public, lies also with the man
ayers. In a large measure, theatres are sup
ported BY what Is termed the floating popu-
latlon- that element which visits a city dur
ing the winter, mainly on pleasure, for here
We know many Of the residents or colder
climes ind a Mecca OF mild atmospheric de-
lights, known 10 no other large American
city. II must be remembered hat there is
more intelligence among travellers than
among the same number Of residents Of any
CITY. Men or m who can afford TO visit
cites on pleasure, have not only the means 70
DO 50, but are generally readers, thinkers and
They haY seen much Of the world.
Many have visited Europe, and are cOnversant
with the best dramatic and operate artists of
the splendid continental capitals, and bring
with them glowing recOllectiOnS OF the
dramatlc and lyric stage Of other cities.
IN view, therefore, Of the great necessity TO
properly appeal to the education and refine
mcnt of 8 community: in view Of the prevail
Of a certain vicious leaning Of the STAGE
OF the present day, the following by Charles
viii SHOW how much he felt the iu-
p~ortance of preserving the drama, pure aud
simple, and condemned its degeneration into
base uses;
q 10 where the stage, the poor degraded stage,
Holds its warped mirror TO agaping age;
Where one loose scene shall turn more souls
ten OF Channings lectures can reclaim;
Where, shoals on shoals, the modest millions
rush
One sex to laugh, u one to try to blush.
Tods! who can grace yOn desecrated dome,
he may turn his Shakespeare Ger at
Who there can group the poor ones Of his
race,
20 see and hear what bids him veil his 1ace9
ray heaven, II yet indeed the stage must
~guiltless mirth II may delight the land
ar better else each scenic triumph fall,
md one approving silence curtain ALL"
The play at the Grand O~perahouse last night
vas one VIE. II was done well. A criticism
m so excellent a performance is not de-
handed. Avery good audience was delighted
y the artistic rendition Of nearly all the
haracters.
Pat Short ought TO have better luck with his
troupe OF Royal Japs." but last
light was a decided Improvement upon the .
'revious three OF the week.
This evening there is no doubt but all tile {
laces OF amusement viii be filed.
T. W. Davey. I
This excellent gentleman and popular stage {
at the Grand Operahouse, appears J
o-night as "Modus' in The Hinch6dck, on Inc I
ccaslOn Of Miss ThOmpsOn's benefit.
Miss Charlotte THOMPSON. G
This charming actress and estimable lady, :
Ow playing a very successful engagement al r
ne Grand OperahOuse in this city, owns, and a
I addition 70 her arduous duties in her pro- Z
ass1on, manages one Of the largest plantations D
the South. 1t is beautifully located about 4
lree miles from the city of Montgomery, in .
Iabama, and extending nearly hve miles .
long the Alabama river, Miss Thompson {
$50 owns a very large farm and villa on the q
.udson. There, in summertime, she sur Z
funds herself with a choice number of the q
tghtest uminaries OF art and literature in :
merica. All this has been acquired and II
,nleEed by her W genius and lndOmitable
iergy and tireless aOil. GO, see and hear one
the most wonderful OF the women Of our
IhOmpSOn-tO-night, being
En- benefit, when she viii appear as Julia
The Hinch6Gck, her impersOnation Of :
hich character is spoken Of SO favorably by
le pr in other cities.