, 1873-06-01

The bQGAEI1 FLAI.
The Black Crook marked distinct era in the
history Of the drama. It supplanted the stand
ard English plays, and substituted in their place
q spectacle which was made attractive and fasci-
mating by all the scenic and mechanical re-
SOURCES OF tho stage, and by an unblushing
display Of half-nude women and 1ascivious
dances. The Black Crook set the fashions for
score or more Of other spectao1es, each more
pronounced than the other in purely sensual
appointments. It created morbid and M
healthy public taste, which refused everything
except the most highly ly-seaaoned food, and was
dissatisfied with q play which did not
combine the glitter Of hnse1 with the fascina-
tions of indecency. Nevertheless, this sort Of
exhibition had short run. It does not take
long to exhaust the resources Of tho stage in
this direction, and indecent exhibitions can only
be carried to a certain point without coming
under police regulation. Having attained the
maximum, thereafter there was no variety, and
the real friends Of the drama hoped that the
public would once more return to the legitimate
drama. That hope, however, has been disap-
pointed The Black Crook and kindred spec
tacles have been shelved, tits true butan infinite
" worse Bpeciesof drama has taken their p1ace-
worse because it is moro insihous andmore sug
gestive and because it openly displays rice under
thin guise Of virtue. The Society Play has
taken the place Of the spectacle, and in almost
every theatre in tho country the foulest details
OF domestic Life are nightly developed On the
stage to fashionable and refined audiences, who
manifest no disapprobation, but, on the other
hand, applaud the sentiments and situations.
The New York Sun gives q summary Of one Of
these plaJg, which Is now drawing large and
fashionable audiences at one OF the largest the
atros in that city, and which, having been q
SUCCESS there, will Of course find its way to this
city sooner or later. The story Of the play is
substantially as follows: 4 young man about
to be married gives supper to his bachelor
friends and invites beTy Of prostitutes. The
brother Of his intended, accompanied by clergy
man, arrives Unexpectedly, and the latter having
retired, the brother Is induced to join the party,
md in the couree OF tho revel falls in love with
The brother, rho has come to town in search Of
girl who had received some injury
at the hands OF his family for which
ho wishes to make reparation, finds her
in the person Of the prostitute With whom
he has fallen in love. Acting upon the advice Of
his clerical associate he resolves to take her to
his home, and present her to his mother and sis
ter and offer her his hand in marriage. This
is the end OF the second act. In the third act,
she is found domici1ed in his family, and the
mother and sister, after slight remonstrance,
Tecai7e her as daughter-in-1aw, and the priest
extends his benediction. After time, the
sisters intended husband arrives, and ia
somewhat aetounded when he learns that
this professional prostitute is to become
his sister-in-law. He orders her to quit the
house, and threatens. il abe does not leave, he
will take steps to make her. "Don't do that,"
cries the prostitute, "or / shall denounce you-
for you we're my first on the LIST" IT know
BETTER" eays the young man. "It is true, so
help mo Heaven" replies the girl, in the most
approved melod1amatio manner, which does not
1a1lt of1ne Gown Inc nouse ne 'nen 'i'oR'ns nef
that II her V1ctl1n mar11es ner Ills 1or'ane WILL 10
1oFte'teo' Inc orokea-nesi''a pto'.''a'e Nue+1
determines 10 give up ner lover ~ = oao 'n'esI-
ment, Tor "ncn On eaen evening 7ne ~ 'e"afueu
By double call before the curtain. This ends the
third act. The last act il one Of blasphemy. The
prostitute is about to be absorbed In the church,
nos OF repentance 1of nel pAa1' n'A "!N41 "D' '
termination 70 1eao q oos'ef n1e IL Au''no' "u'n
the "eoolne procession u nof 4o'oi eAo'see DeA
path and she die7' eucn 18 1ne s'ory WHICH IL
nightly told anu OF 'ne performance 'ae 'u''
says:
Among tho crowded audience tnas "atnessea .e n,s'
.sn,thtast and eo.ced bert fauea In New FORK.
Brothers with their sisters, fathers with their young
daughters young x1'es oe1oe .nean %
% .nd nmra nntnrned youna faces. Ne felt sure that