New-York tribune., 1874-12-02
MIR. TALMAGE AND TIE DRAMA.

HIS DISCOURSE ILLOGICAL AND EMPTY-wALIACKS
TIEATER HARDLY THE vEsTIBULE OF HE'LL"
TO me EdttOr Of The Trtbune.
SIR: BY the aid of an unusual amount OF
patience read the report this mornings TRIBUNE
contains OF Mr.. Tamage's sermon OF yesterday can
hardly conceive that the most bgoted member or
his congregation ndorse such Illogical and empty
DISCOURSE Those who know anything OF the subject be
affected have but one feeling with regard to
bis blatant ignorance-cOHtempt For man who Goa
fesses that visited the theater but twice In his
life to denounce 1t In wholesale manner can be nothing
but the hight Of absurdty. AS well suppose Tynda
capable Of expoundinG the laws Of light and sound
without having first investigated them. when Mr.
Tamage utters his predictions about the theater can
easily under rstand what he knows about It, and what he
pictures to be. He says. that 1.-THE theater which
sticks closest to what is called the legitimate drama"
cannot succeed Does he know anything Of the history
OF the theaters Of Europe or coming nearer home has
lie referred 10 the policy Of WaacRs Theater and OBJ
served that by sticking the closest TO the legitimate
drama" 1t has the leading theater OF this con-
tinent and doubt not challenge the scrutiny Of
Mr. Tamage any OF his craft. without fearing that
his lancet" will probe q tester Of "pus and corrup-
tion2"
No one would be foolish In uphoidng every class Of
theatrical entertainment Mr. Talmage is In denounc-
ing every class of 1t. But when the character OF tho
audiences which frequent such theaers Walacks and
Booths is taken into consideration nothing short OF
an insult the taste and common sense OF largo and in
1uential portion OF the community for any one ndi-
yidua no matter whether he be Mr.. Talmage not.
cooly them that they In the habit OF visiting
the vestibule Of he'll" And such insult should be
rep royed by all who have interest In rational
ment and understand that it consists OF something
than prayer-meengs. or course so long be is fiat
tered by the that his uterances have decided
certain young weakminded members Of his congrega-
tion not to frequent the said vestbule for fear Of
being scorched. he viii consider himself justified In
assauitns aud stigmatising pastime and profession
into which should rather be his endeavor to infrse
healthy interest and by that bring about the re-
form which he vanly strives for ia egostsi declama
ton.
As ooe who GEES much good evf in the theater,
and knows that among employees thoro exists
tho good qualities that make gsod cizcus and
a bic and In any other vocation, enter
my protest against the assertions Of Mr. Tamage and
for every one OF the instances OF direct eanaNng
from such theater Waiiacks that he mention |
will produce counter ono In which individual taste
has been improved the intellect expanded and thereby
Mr. Talmage may think those arc small edocts compared
with what he win designate conversions" bot think
and long they are 10 be derived from
tho theater shall support 1t as far IA possibly In
This resolution AN am Joined by the majority OF
and with them resent the insulting utter
ances Of Mr. Talmage. ING
ReU Y0vk, NV. ", 1874