The New York herald., 1874-11-22
ssT.o to ssC.o

~Is' 10 ss(s"
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In this mornings HERALD &C., the champion OF
brother Talmage. pays his respects to various par
ties who have objected to clerical nvective. This
much Is his right, especially if he fs wounded but
why his assumption that because he Is neither an
actor nor q preacher he is the only competent
judge IN matters relating to either? II not .
builder why does he buildP True, he says he Is
very "fond Of theatrical performances ana spec
tacular exhibiIions"- OF the latler-and
this confession, together with his correct descrp-
ton OF cancanlsm, makes him in reality what he
can only make me by inferencc--"a hanger-on OF
second rate theatres" or IT may be, OF some sec-
ond rate church, as his mssrated excuse Tor the
Brooklyn divine would seem to imply. Is he NOT
himself "ridicnlous' in citing, some apology for
the Rev. Talmage's vituperatlon, that gentleman's
excitement OF the moment" for what was really
and deliberately planned, in answer to inquiries
and which was elaborated In TWO or more consec.
utive sermons Is ne not himself .'absurd" In
on eaua oons wns the Church Wnss
what ~" did do was to deplore the fact
that there was SO little OF the Christian spirit left
IN the hearts OF many so-called ministers and so
great neglect or ministerial duty. Mr.. Talmage
and his champions make themselves ''ridiculousn
make war and then wonder at the absence or
peace. Give us more OF that "good will to men,n
and cant are no longer effective.
TWO preachers went to the deserts Of Nevada.
where they found VIDE hed @ i9r reform One
hatred OF everybody. He sung his long metres to
. comtortless few, and in time, IN despair. gave
tleman. spoke wen OF everybody, visited the
needy, comforted the afflicted, smiled on hu-
him. and had his reward IN their love, attention
and allegiance. The one repelled; the other con-
TO the s is
country, and | ieel the Importance Of preaching
me Gspe iSs to s 20 nave mo- ~
easy enough and success easier, If you will do as
do: Don't drive them away. but go out and
SO, MIR. Talmage, If you win exercise good sense,
good heart, good words. good method. you viii &C.
theatres or with theatrical people. They have
never presumed to be perfect nor free T from the
never wished for more than their due, nor have
they ever copied church practice in decrying all
other institutions save their own. Nor mas the
directly opposed to them and strongly in favo. Of
the good OF the Church. But they rightly prefer
be enlightened by a Hepworth, Houghton, or
by a Talmage or denounced by his cohorts.
&C." Is Just n SAYING that the people Will have
men ITO uphold Legitimate drama and encourage
honest talent" with view to .elevating the pro.
lession to its ''proper position" Amen, Mr. &C."
To MAKE the best OF what is Is better than making
the worst OF what Is not, for to suppose the
theatre, more than other resorts, is the cess.
pool OF vice, or to confound our many respectable
establishments with the dives and cellars and can
can halls, or to denounce the good and bad alike,
is only to let loose impure stream Of ignorance
which, II the good people OF the amusement world
retain one particle OF the spirit OF selfdelence,
wretcbes who poured 1t iorth." T.
The Manager of the Grand Duke
Theatre Is Excited.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
l understand that q certain Dominic Tallragc,
residing over the river, In the City OF Churches,
has seen 1T during his last Sundays genufexons
to question the morality OF the performances
transpiring at this theatre. Let me squelch him,
enectualy and ioreverl We have on our file of
applications epistle signed "T. d. T.. minister
of the Gospel, looking for bald sensation"
and asking US whether we were IN want OF o tight
rope trapeze performer; II so what were
our termsa The writer OF that epstle al.
gea saa for ne the o robe ne ss e
with the same agility that the harlequin IN
the pantomme displays when he deity trans
forms the black prince INTO piece OF animated
mosaic They say, Mr.. Editor, That consistency Is
jewel. II this IS at all true how many sensation
preachers are there who should even deny them
selves the ornament OF plain gold ring, so great
should be their adherence OF jewelry. II Dominic
Tallrage would only favor us with a visit during
the forthcoming week we might be able to give
him fe w valuable hints that, practically applied,
might nave tendency 20 revive the droop,
and his performances to the dignity of legit
innate business. He need nave no fears that his
OlfactOry nerves will be oDnoxiousy offended or
that his morally sensitive ear (D will be assaied
with immoral or proiane epithes, since our estab.
lishment is a paragon OF cleanliness in moral as
well as sanitary sense. we preach the sublimest
philosophy, and moreover tand this may be COM
parativey new proposition to tae Dominie) we
practise what we preach. During recent SAP
bath day visit to the City OF Churches we hap
pened into the Dominie's lyceum and was as
founded at the want OF discretion and experience
shown by the manager. The house was dark and
gloomy the audience "a beggarly array of empty
benches' and the whole surroundings such as would
impress the stranger that (the Dominic off the
stage) 1T was church place OF worship.
Under these circumstances we ask how does he
ever hope to succeed? With the snceresr SYM
pathy with the Dominic THOMAS J. O'BRIEN,
Manager Grand Duke Theatre.
Box OFFICE, GRAND DUKE THEATRE,(
NEW YORK, Nov. l9, 1874.
Stuart Robson Claims Talmage as .
Brother Actor.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 1874.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD