The New York herald., 1874-11-16
AN ACTRESS SUPPORTING ART.

TO THE REV DIR. TALMAGE:-
CHARITABLE SIR-The Holy Scriptures command
Us ITO have compassion on ignorance and also
say, But If any be ignorant let him be ignorant.
Yet an fully as sympathize with you, must ask
you II you know that the world has progressed
since the days OF Nell Gwynne, the actress, anil Oar
dinal Richeleu, the priest In answer to your de-
nunctation OF the stage, ask you what crime she
has committed that nnds not its parallel In the
Church When did the stage vomit forth such q
mass Of nith as has lately been thrown from the
Church You speak OF the foulest murder Of
modern times being committed BY q play actor.
There was recently murder committed very
near us. A loving, trusting girl was killed. Her
murderer did not break her skull, but he
did break her heart-and he was q minister.
You say "the blasting influences of the green
room are destructive OF all womany virtuesn
/ ask you were you ever in . green-rOOmf I
do not think you ever were. Ask Mr.. Wal1ack,
Mr. DAILY, or Mr.. Harry Palmer to conduct you
there during the play. You win see small room,
into which no one except members OF the COM
pany are allowed. Perchanoe it will be deserted,
or occupied for few moments only as some
mimic dame comes to adjust her train or some
mimic lover whom she scarcely knows comes to
await his "call.n All is quiet and air ofthorough
gentlltty prevails. In all positions In lie some
women Ego asrray.n Did che shelter OF the Church
keep Mrs. Tilton's name free from scandals Did
Mary P0mer0y meet "the llbertne, the OIsc0ur-
ing or societyr in a theatrep Was the lady who
eioped with the priest from Philadelphia trying
to earn her bread in profession that Charlotte
Cushman has donc much to ennoble No |
but near the very altar Of the Church-iar
from 1.-THE contamination Of the green-room."
Because these crimes are committed shall the
world cry, "Down with the Church away with
her ministers ~ MOI mol l say hundred times
MOI but better you strive to purity the atmosphere
You ask, "Wnat parent OF your congregation
would like to see its daughter . ballet girl ~
ask, What parent likes labor Of any kind forced
upon Its daughter Does he ike her to make
stand ten hours day behind the counter OF Q
store Yet 1t Ii being done every day by daugh-
ters as tepderly reared as any you address. In
tnfB age 11 spetriatiuf, where fortunes are made
liable to have her own bread to earn. SelLmade
bread Is always hard for woman TO eat, and fs:
pecaiiy II she has been raised with no thought for
"the morrow" II she has implanted In her some
= talent EN- or the stage why should she not use Il j
equally with man for the same labor. / think
there are few positions where woman is so well
pI otected. she has brains to gain position she
soon s Leaves the pa1gs o. poverty behind her. ana
than II she had q trade. So you think "players
are invariably disc0ntented and mserable.n As .
member OF the profession, deny 1t. Do ministers
never wish they were dead ~ Are doctors,
lawyers or merchants never drunkards or vaga-
bondsf 1 tell you the stage Is q power. and can
no more be 0blirerated than could the Christian re
gion IN the days OF persecution. Let its standard
intellect and purity OF all occupations.
When the Church has wholly purged itself from
wrong doing then will the stage listen patiently
TO It's denunctattOns. But not until then has IL
earned the rGht to arrogate to Itself the privilege
OF being the only teacher. Respectfully,