The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19
LYRIC HALL

Rev. o. b. rockingham Upon Public
Amuscme -Pharisaical Purisa nism
and Recuperative Recreati0ns-The
Opera, Theatre and Opera BouHe-How
Amusements May Be Made Salutary
and How Managers Should Strive to
Please.
Mr.. rockingham, the leader OF the "Independ-
ents," gave illustration OF the independence with
which he expresses his views upon subjects OF pop.
MAR interest by discOursing yesterday morning
upon '.Public Amusements.n This is one of the
Subjects ne began, that come nearest my heart,
and 1t ia one Of great Importance. take no text.
for the Bible Is net book of sport. The people in
the New Testament had small time for amusement.
Their leaders were always drawing them In the op-
poste direction. The people OF the New Tesla
ment had still more earnest task. They felt
that life for them might be very short,
indeed; the thoughts OF Christ were ever
before them, ahd the gates Of the new world were
open to receive them. Yet these people had their
joys too. They had JOY in their love ieasts. The
Church OF the Middle Ages encouraged amusement
and so did the Church of Rome.
THE CHURCH FOUNDED THE THEATRE,
taking the lead in feeding that taste for the dra-
matte entertainment. The Puritans, whose de.
scendants we are, made war against pleasure.
They frowned upon amusements Of all kinds. They
upon the W GRID as cold and hearress. They could
not spare moment OF time, and their preachers
were always telling them that they had no time for
smiles. The Puritans hated fun, but they were JUS
titled In 1t by what pleasure consisted OF in those
times. All smiles were evil, all pleasures we're
low, all beauty, grace and the charm OF music were
associated with something indecent and indelcate.
The Puritan was too noble and too much se!re-
speeding. He could better afford to 90
THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT LAUGHTER
than 60 through life with heart full Of tears.
are different. There is no class or dtettante.
sumptuous people who kill time and drone across
the world now. There il now no such class, or it
IL so very small that 1t Is as good as none. We are
on plane with men who exercise their faculties.
The theatre has lost its offensive feature, and
We need amusement for recreation ana diversion.
We would nave more OF 1t instead OF less. II Is
to whom amusement Is q bore. Philosophers need
no recreation we could not think OF Plato .o as
to ne rstva ssea
n need. Amusement IS for children, but we We
are all children. Theodore Parker was q
door In the world was open, yet he said that what
he wanted was not books-he had enough OF
clergyman In Boston used to slip away from tne
Puritan city to ours and go to theatre In Cham
There this man would sit for an hour or two hav-
Ing thrown Off all burdens and laugh like o boy.
There are people who are overstraned by the
small, and do the work OF many. The people who
complain OF their work are not those who do the
most. The human constitution Das an exhaustless
capacity for work. Physicians tell US that the
number OF nervous diseases IL rapidly increasing.
IL is not too much work, but
TOO LITTLE PLAY.
Labor Is not the curse, but nothing but labor Is
the curse The teacher who Is always lnstructing
In the paths that have been trodden before, and
repeating the old phrases that have been told so
often and who takes care OF family and children,
writes Tor magazines and becomes interested
In the cause for the education OF women, Is
0vertaken with insanity and then comes the
fearful end--suicide. man whose life has been
sunshiny and joyous and who has been brought In
contact with the exquisite creations OF PrOvi-
dence, Is always working on one thread dies
In the very prime OF his power when he needed
but few years 10 complete his great work.