The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-24
THE STAGE,
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Lecture by the Hon. Daniel DoughertY.
The subject chosen last night by the distin.
guished Philadelphlan to while away some hours
is one that Ia eli ages, has Interested alike the
scholar and the unlearned. The stage has played
no small part In the history OF civilization, and 1t
furnishes US with. perhaps the best and most re-
liable means OF judging the intellectual value Of
past ages as well as afordng US a standard Of
their morality. From whatever standpoint we
look upon the stage. q critical review OF
its rise and decadence must ever TEEN with
instruction as well as amusement, for its true
function has been to act as mirror for humanity.
rejecting the noble deeds well the follies and
frailttes OF mankind. Mr. Dougherty apologzed
for not taking up some other theme more instruc-
tive to the audience, but justified himself on the
score that the people came to be amused rather
than taught. After paying o handsome compli-
ment TO intellectual amusement, as o '1ink that
bound US to the angels-a glimpse of the lost
Eden" he pointed out the antiquity Of the stage
and its Importance as an aid in educating the
masses at the dawn Of civilization; that in the
Greek and Roman times 1t had been made
the vehicle OF noble thoughts; that 1t
had nourished in the virtuous days OF the
great republic, and that its decadence marked the
corruption OF the people under the emperors.
Liberty and the higher drama persisted together.
Tracing rapidly the rise Of the stage under Chris
tianity, when the monks made 1t the vehicle for
conveying to the popular mind the truths OF
giOn, and used IL az an engine for the overthrow
Of vice, the lecturer came down to our own days,
when the stage has ceased to be q teacher and
only seeks to minister to depraved taste Jor sem
sationaism. While condemning the vices and
Of the stage he Is anxious that the dignity
Of the actors profession should be malntalned,
and urged upon the audience the necessity
which existed for the respectable and re-
ligious part OF the community giving their aid
to the reformation of the stage and its restOra-
ton to the position OF q recognized teacher
OF morality. In illustration OF the power welded
by stage and its Importance In the intellectual
world, he adduced Shakespeare and a number OF
other English authors who mad won proud place
among the great integences Of the world. Tie
lecture was entertaining throughout Mr.. Dough-
erty displayed considerable hstriOniC talent in
the delivery OF several quotations from Shake
speare with which he illustrated his subject, and
eniivened the subject with amusing anecdotes Of
celebrated actors, as well as limitations OF well
known actors. The aim OF the lecture excellent;
and, II we except somewhat unjust and narrow
attack on the Italian opera, there was nothing put
forward which might not be generally accepted
Mr.. Dougherty possesses much intelligent SYM
patty with the stage and actors, bis delivery Is
good, and he enters with his whole heart into his
subject. 1t Is evident that the youthful taste for
histrionics cnUs TO him in his more mature years.
and that he Is never better pleased than when
helping an audience to pass pleasantly few
hours in company with his favorites OF the stage.