Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-01


people. Their character is vastly
different now than what it was
years ago. Some of the best minds
and The purest hearts have been CALI
| ed To The stage which have elevated
| Its character a thousand fold ana
now We are beginning to learn thal
that which was an evil thirty or for
ty years ago, is now not only pleas
ure, but a duty. Yet the orthodox
churches are severe in denouncing
them as tending to the utter de-
moraiization OF our young people
Theg make no destination betweS !
the Black Crook, and Shakespeare
best plays. They see no difference
betwee Lydia Thompson's low char
actors, and the grandure Of the op'
eras rendered by Parepa, Nilsson,
Lucca, and Kellogg.
We understand that the function
of the legitimate theatre and the cp'
era is to "teach truth, illustrate no
Bile passions, and to expose moral
meanness." ANY one who has a.
tended the leading theatres in o'r
large cities, will be convinced of thb
fact. Whoever heard Mr.. Jefferson
in Rip Van Wrinkle, but had ther
souls deeply moved by his matches
dramatic powers, and had seen one
Of the grandest illustrations of tie
power Of love to conquer evil. 1t
has more religious power in it than
half the sermons, We have seen al
audience of $500 convulsed inlO
tears time and time again, over Ed
win Adams rendition of Enoch Ar
don. In itself it is not a powerful
drama, but as rendered by Mr.. ADJ
ans, it has bee ONE one Of the most
soul-moving plays on the stage.
During the performance on q certain
evening, an old gentleman, named
Rowe, with whom we were some
what acquainted, and who was not
noted for his tender sensibiities, was
overcome at Mr. Adams touching
and powerful representation of poor
Enoch's return to his old home after
the shlpwreck, and an absence of
twelve years. Poor Rowe wept and
sobbed, aud after wiping the flowing
tears from his eyes, he said to some
friends in tone to be heard by all
around, 81 would give $50 if Mary"
meaning his wife, "was here to-
night" We believe no sermon
could have moved that mans soul as
Mr.. Adams did. Who has not heard
Booth or Barrette as Hamlet, in
in Shakespeare's sublime tragedy CT
Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark,
without having the noblest pastor
Of tho soul aroused ? Wins ever
heard Parepa, or Lucca, OF Clara
Louisa Kellogg, in their favorite
operas, singing as if inspired by
some superhuman power, without
having his soul cheered by such an
OF extraordinary musical
powers. The theatre and the opera
are wonderful agencies in bringing
out mans better nature. Theysin-
spire true life, arouse the soul, and
make one better fitted to appreciate
the real goodness Of this world. We
are here to enjoy its pleasures, and
its beauties, and no class Of people
on earth more than christians, should
know how to use and religiously i'm
prove the opportunities for pleasure,
recreation and profit, afforded by the
pure and legitimated theatre, and the
opera. Serving God and the enjoy
ment of substantial pleasures Of this
life should go hand in hand. There
is no creature more to be pitied than
a christian whose soul is whitening
away for lack of some rational
Christians don't seom
to understand the right use OF the
world God has given them. They
abuse it by narrowing their ideas as
to its use to the diminution of q pins
point. A christian life, and the en-
joyment Of the pleasures of the
world are not antagonistic The
one should net rob US OF The other.
We have often thought, and have
not had occasion to change our mind
after duly considering the serious
ness of the assertion that if we had
only a week to live, we would want
more opportunity to hear Lucca and
Kellogg sing in that powerful opera
OF "Mignon," and weep with those
who weep, and laugh with those
who laugh, and wave our hat in
ccstacy Of joy over the wonderful
power of the worlds greatest sing
ers.
"Lot every one be fully putsuaded
in bis own mind" IF he thinks be
can't be virtuous and attend balls,
let him stay away. If he can't con-
sistently serve God, and amuse him
self by going to the theatre and the
opera, he should not go. But if be
is fully pursuaded that these amuse-
ments are helpful, and do him good,
let him enjoy them to the fullest ex'
tent of his means, and that without
apology. We hate to see a young
man or q young woman apologize
for having bit Of pleasure. There
is too much of sneaking and con-
temptable spirit IN most of US in the
enjoyment of many of our most VAL
liable pleasures. We have no right
to use them in this way. If they
are right, let US enjoy them heartily,
and face the world with q broad. OPP
en- contenance, tree from every sus~
picion of guilt.
We hopo the day will soon come
when the church will sanction pure
and innocent and harmless amuse-
ments; when the church will not
turn against her children but
gather them to her arms, and hold
them to her bosom and fellowship.
Then we shall have true religion, and
christians will learn that the enjoy
ment of the pure pleasures Of life,
whether we include the theatre, the
opera, or dancing. has nothing to do
in deciding whether man or a wo-
man will commune with wicked splr-
it's, or fill a station of angelic dignity
in the Great Hereafter.