New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-29


the geenroom" OF a thcater the resort OF fast
men OF quality II the reverend critic knew anything
about American theaters he would aware In
weiregIited theater any not engaged upon tae
stage allowed behind the and that the
room Is dun hotel pirlor 1t false to main
tain that actors do not lose their popularity the dis
cOyery Of their RIGHTEOUSNESS. The puac fOrgives
vagaries In genius more readily than in Ord
nary human beings whatever the profession
but an actor more poorly afford disgrace himself
than any other First. because mis- disgrace
comes known secondly because Righteousness Injuries
his art He nightly faces the public and must have
clear head. Let Eim be frequently drunk otherwise
incapacitated from doing his best and he loses caste
However, for the sake OF argument let
the public expect virtue from actors Is this not
good reason for getting none Has not public opinion
more TO do with most peoples behavior than they will
ever admit Won't men and women abroad commit
foles they dare attempt at homei In
morals have nothing to do with art; but actors
dreadful snners. the way To reform them would be 10
frOwn upon their msdemeanOrs. II actors offend
against morals and the public countenances them, then
the public fault. Bt the public is indifferent
To private character and that endures longest IN
reputation and popularity whO given ability, shows the
ceanest record
AT this hour" AYERS the clerical critic the drama
Yields mighty influence Ia this country 1t comes
down to us unexhausted by the march OF many hun
dred years, and wearing garands that many hands
very important admission. You say" be continues,
that the dramatic writings OF the world contain
OF the best poetry the finest sentiment, the ele
waited morality. l admit 1t. You say that the
theater has marshaed its OF the best
poetry, music, elOquence. and painting 1 admit 1t.
You say that Of the OF men have catered for
the dramatic tastes OF the world admit 1t.
You say Of the dramatic writings OF the world
have had decidedly a religious tendency. admit IL.
You that some OF the most astonishing talent that
the world has has made its chief exhibition in
the playhouse. l admit IL. You say that
theaters have done many noble charities. know It.
Witness the hospitals that have been founded the dest
families that received their benefits, and the
wonderful charities flowed from them just after the
Chicago fire. You say that vast mulutudes Of
people have, through the theater, become acquainted
with literature otherwise they would have had
an opportunity OF becoming acquainted WITH admit
it. You ask. would theater with virtuOus actors,
and audience Of perfect correctness in behavior and
where everything conducted In a Christian manner,
be highly beneficial to Christian community 7 No
doubt Of il. Such institution would be an auxiliary
TO the Church. You say you know thealers whlch
answer exactly tins description Then l exclude such
from anything that shall say tonight, for come not
for wholesale denuucation, but TO do justice. lie
told against a theater Is lust bad any other he
Really the clerical allows all that his opponents
wish. The theater is tremendous power, endowed
great vitality, has dOue good does DO good in
tam instances, and properly conducted would be
an auxiliary TO the Church. The critic deprecates
wholesale denuucatiou and then adds " They say the
way to do is to reform the theaer. say it
be reformed" And this after excluding theaters
from abuse. "A lie told against theater is as bad as
any other lie"
After telling the horrors OF unseemlY literature
OF the harm by dsgrsceful journalism this same
rite wisely asserts that only way fight bad
book is by printing good The only way TO over
come unclean newspaper literature is by scattering
abroad that which is heathful. The longest
railway tram that over the Erie or Hudson
tracks was not long enough large enough to carry the
beastliness and the putrefacton which have gathered
up the bad books and newspapers Of this land in the
last 90 years. Would 1t not be quite sensible TO talk
about abOshing literature the dramaf Is not one as
feasible as the othrr7 T. the clerical critic knew what
he was talking about, would he be quite so Illogical
81 confess that have bat three times il my life in
thea purpose OF witnessing play and that
in very cary manhood" Yet this gentleman dares
TO proclaim the tBeater beyond the pale or
reform, aud it's followers given over to
the DEVIL Because he deDouuces gambling
houses aud houses without having vlsied
any, therefore he liberty to assl the theater OF
Which he is personally equally ignorant The cases are
not parallel No one ever heard OF good coming out OF
gambling prostitution. Both mean more or less ruin
10 body aud mind. TAeir yotaries confessit. The
drama is as much literature, pantin Fculp-
turc architecture music. II has done noble work
cordin to this critics statements and therefore is
most ouly insulted by being ranged beside the most
lnsicous of vices. What has brought forth good fruit
may bring forth good fruit again
In singular contrast to the opinions already qloed
are those OF Dr. j. g. Holland lately gvenin Scroners
aeseryedly popular magazine That the Rev. DR.. Bel
lows the Rev. Wm. T. ger, the Rsv. o. b. Frothng-
should advocate theaterg going Is to be expected
but as the religious denominations 10 which they
belong embrace minority OF Protestant Christians,
their influence upon the public much Lose than that o.
equally prominent cergymen Of stricter sects Dr u0-
land is an ardent active member Of the Presbyterian
Church. consequently his arguments in favor or the
drama are little Importance. The radical mis-
take Of the Protestant Church OF this country main
tains Dr. Holland that lack of discrimination in its
condemnation OF theaters which has gone 10 TIE ex
treme OF making that sin in Itself which is not sin at
all To 20 to the theatcT for an evenings entertain
ment is regarded by mulutudes as a ndgrant wrong
60 wrong ia considered ITSELF or so bad is IL IN ex
ample, that ministers are shut out or the theater
AZ a class with sweeping completeness. We know
that many clergymen regard TINS hard
shin for they have told but their uuwise prede
cessors have made the bed Tor them and they are
obliged TO lie III H.
More than once have met Presbyterian cler-ymen in
European theaiers who have said TO me; Don't men
ton this at home believe the theater but do not
dare advocate belief because the Church would de-
nounce u.s." go the theater tonight aud tell me al
about the debut" said clergyman recently TO mem
Der of his flock "Id 20 If could" 81 am extremely
fond of the theater believe IN 1t art" remarked
a young EpiscOpalian clergyman not long since. l
deny self relaxation and pleasure because know
that by so doing greater influence over my
people IL is wrong that this should be- but human
beings are ignorant prejudiced what you TO do
II am glad you have gone upon the stage" said
another EpiscOpalan clergyman to debuante e can
not 20 to the tneater self OF prejudice, but
hail with delight the improving tone OF sentiment re-
garding It, nd every lady and gentleman who adopts
the dramatic profession helps on the good cause"