Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-05-10
,:RLLkLEGToa, DEL.
SATURDAY. Afternoon May To-
OUR WINTERS AMUsEMENrs-wHAT II
THEIR IHFLUENCE7


Thu list of the various amusements given in
Wilmington, during the "sesson" just closed,
was no doubt surprisingly long to most OF our
RAIDERS. The extent to which entertainments
OF ali sorts have multiplied, in our city, s hard
ly realized until the details come to be thus
spread before US. Il
1t must be said, we think, that the average OF |
these entertainments is high. The musical per |
f1raAnces have generally been Of most credit |
able class Such concerts as those OF Cariotta
Patti, Rubinstein and Wieniawski, and
the Mendelssohn Quintette, would not be
under tho requirements Of even the most cui-
tiyated musical communities. Their influence,
with that Of other similar performances, is seen
in our numerous amateur concerts, and in the
formation of such promising and painstaking
singing societies Is the "Old Folks" and the
Mendelssohn Choral Union. This is good in
fiuence. The cultivation Of music is . healthy
indication OF higher civilization, and in so FAR
as our public entertainments have aided and en-
coursged 1t, they have done us great service.
OF the dramatic performances, it may be
said with truth that they have never descended
into the Indecent. Managers have had reason
to learn that the tastes Of our plAy-goers reject
that sort. Although it is true that large por :
ton Of our most cultivated and wealthy people
are scrupulous against the attendance Of any
theatrical representations, at all, still the tastes
of those Who do attend do not tolerate vulgar and
indecent pIAys. The opera botlfs companies re-
member this, and the higher class Operas pre-
scented here have been those against which no
one Who pAtronizes them, at all. could raise a
serious objection. On the other hand, for those
who love the Drama, and appreciate its develop
ing and educating influence, the genius Of jan
auschek and Davenport. the GENIAL humor 81
Jefferson, Ovens and Bishop, the refined AnC
elevAiing tone of Mrs Riehings and Mrs. Bow
ers, have high value, and are enjoyed to the
full degree. Such representations Of human
life. with its passions and its foIlies shown OF
the one hrnd, but also with its higher and noble
Qualities developed by contrast, on the other
are surely no encouragement to the better pur
poses Of the heart and conscience.
Generally speaking, our lectures have bee
sad, tiresome, dragging enterprises. Gougl
draws, and he is enjoyed his geniAlity, yivacity
and use Of dramatic effects make his platform
addresses q real entertainment, and though b
fekrlessly marches through all the domains Q
the Commonplace, and treads sometimes on tn
verge Of Cant, it cannot be questioned that hi
influence over the mass Of the people is real
great, and exercised in good direction. Georg
Macdonald ia another Of the preachers, who's
disguised sermons are called lectures his "Rol
ert Burns" was delight to hundreds OF on
most cultivated people, and its recollection is y
very pleasing one. But besides Mr. Cough al
Mr.. Macdonald, both Of whose lectures yield'
a good margin Of profit lin money! the 9th
lectures, with few if any exceptions, were atten
ed by small audiences and greater or less 10
TO the managers. The gentleman who broug
Miss Dickinson here, after the most iber
advertising and fullest notice, got only sm'
audience and found itself cut Of pocket. II
mage drew fair house, but his charge wasl
extravagant, (s3O0.,) that though he reduced
forty dollars, the managers still lost consider
bic amount. The lectures by Generr. Ha
though very mertorious, broke down and on
one was given, though three had been arnouuc
the Historical Society, under whose auspic
they were given, pocketing severe loss.
also of the other lectures, generally t
houses we're thin, the receipts hight, the lectl
ers expected and collected their full fee, (Wend
Phillips being the only exception, to G
knowledge and the very name Of "Lectur
had depressing sound.
NoYeftnelehb, WINE Inlb ID tno TecOTu OF
lecture season, financially, it must not be has
ly concluded that it had no good result.
believe it helped materially in the work of ed
cation and culture The ePgranmatic eloquer
of Phillips, the smooth descriptive power of
Wi"itts, the geni satire Of Nasty and OIL
Logan, the good lessons of "Over Optic
such must surely have an effect in the right
reotion. They would have done more, if tn
audiences had been larger, but they did SOL
thing, as 1t was
Altogether. as we sum it up, the record of
Season is a credit to Wilmington. In matel
point Of view, it will be great advantage
have our city reputed for the great number q
high character of its amusements Those v
wish to bring hither new people, and so incre
our citys prosperity, will surely help that
jecs by circulating the facts shown in yest
davis and to-day's issues of the OohINfRRCIi-