The New York herald., 1874-11-17
Wanted, an American Censor.

wante0s IN AmcEAC0A NChoOEs
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In common with other lovers OF pure drama,
avail myself OF the privilege (which you have so
kindly extended to the public) to express,
through the medium OF your enterprising journal
a humble opinion upon this question OF SUNDAY
amuse ments.n
Ii seems to be pretty generally acknowledged
by the eminent divines, well as by the other
writers whose NEWS have been given In the
HERALD, that musical and dramatic entertain
ments, II kept up to high standard, could not
have other than elevating influence upon
listeners, even upon Sunday night To my mind
NO sane man, unless his senses be clogged and
dulled by prejudice, can have reasonable doubt
OF the efficacy OF good music a restorer OF calm
20 the weary soul an assuager of grief and an IN
spirer Of holy AMI pure thought. SHAKESPEARE
apuy tells u.s.
Was it not to refresh the mind OF uan.
Alter his studies or his usual pain!
Since, then, music is an undoubted recreation, in
what more fitting manner, | ask, can tired hu-
nanity, after . six days battle with the tolls and
cares or busy lie, receive healthy diversion than
through Its agency The tendencies OF the drama
OF moral and instructive nature are in the same
direction. AS regards the matter Of falling OF
cnupch ah e6s ~ S snrx n naL no c1urcn
ctsted, and where the services are characterized
by attractiveness, hberallty and earnestness need
fear any diminutlon or the number OF Its worship
pers. 1 have not the slightest doubt that such
churches as the Revs. Beecher and Hepwortns
would De just as crowded every Sunday ii places
Of public entertainment were also open on that
day. church-goer who will deseIt the shrine
for the theatre must surely find very little IN the
services worth remaining for. To such churches
and their creed, the words of dramatic author
.ntly apply
That zeal must needs be very weak and faint
That lets the yotary forsake mis- saint
Now. allowing that entertainments OF . high
character on sunday are unobjectionable. nay de.
slraDe, the only difficulty to be encountered Is
that which the Rev. J. Hyatt Smith would so
properly impress upon us-vlz., where the line Is
70 be drawn between what is respectable and
what tB not.
There would seem to be but one way in which
this difnculty can be obvlAted, by the establish
ment OF what the American stage u so sadly In
need of-an Intelligent censorship. ASIDE from
ahe Sunday question this would prevent repre-
uentation, even upon week days, OF filthy ana de-
mOralizng plays. Let the theatrical and n.erary
people form themselves into a body and, laying
aside all petty jealousles, select some leader OF
recognized ability IN the world OF letters a GEN.
gor and then, II such thing be possible, the State
might invest him with the power OF practically
suppressng ali immoral and degrading exhIbl-
ti0ns. Special rfgidity might be exercised by the
censor In permitting none but the highest class OF
entertainments upon Sunday. BY this means two
important results might be attaned-frst, our
stage would be freed from such filth as the ''can-
can, - IS well as French immortality OF more pre-
penslve nature second, we could be furnished
With series OF much.needed Sunday dramatic
and musical performances OF an unoojectlonabe
quality. Il. N. l.