New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-29
CHURCH AND TUEATER.
A REPLY TO PULPIT CRITICISM.


THEATER AS THE CHURCB's HELPING HAND
TO me EdttOr or rae Trt0Ene
SIR: 4 distinguished publishing house has
recently issued small volume Of sermons devoted
principally 70 denunclaiol Of the theater it, actors
aud audiences which. for naccuracy rivals the M 81
popular OF Muhlbachs historic novels. 1t seems mar
velous that standing do on the borders OF the
2oih century when the world ought to have cut Its
wisdom there should b. lapses into such Ignorance
and pr,judiccs stagger even the enthusiast IN belief
in progress. The will undoubtedly be widely
read, ana do little harm ny confirming many good
people IN the faith or their Puritan faith re-,
who thinking all pleasure sin regarded the drama
the SUN total OF in'Quity To repay denuuciation
with denunciaiOn is hardly the province Of
Whoever descends 10 it convinces Of ANYTHING
but his own ho'-headed folly. But THE TRIBUNE is
widely read by professed Christians minority OF
whom look a-kance the theaters il seems fitting that
some one not entirely Ignorant Of the subject should
refute exIcGeratlon and untruth.
The author Of these sensational sermons declares that
Christian cannot enance the theater as 1t
h because Of the character OF the majority OF the
people who regularly attend It," As well say that a
Christian shall countenance the world because OF
The character Of the majority of the people
who live in 1t. Most people not bad;
the contrary, there is Infinitely more
good than evil humanity, there could be no i'm
prOvemeu bat the general average not given tn the
utmost delcacy and refinement. however kindly at
heart II the general that keeps trade,
religious awe and Il is the general average that
devOes 100000 annually TO tie theaters OF WORK
To assAl the moral character OF welltOdo men and
women whose almost relaxation from the grind Of
existence the theater, is most unjust Times have
chang since the "thirl tier" was the acknowledged
resort OF vice Society has improved public Difference
10 virtue cOnscq the thea;er the reflex OF ety
as dec0rOus in ifs gallery ms IN Its boXes-iptnitey,
more so at unes-,nd the triumph Of good
ness over vilainy hlds most enthusiastic support
from unwashed gods, whose souls cleaner than their
linen. That abandoned, desperate characters can be
found at taeaters s u; course rue they rarely
known, except to the polce aud not more danger
Gus % morals chan when encountered in the street We
do to walk travel ABROAD because peck
cts may be picked and offended. Churches
often the OF light fingers ami light characters.
Does this fact initiate against ron-ioni The majority
OF the people who regularly attend the theater
spectacle ctiz whose lives will bear close scrutiny
the lives Of their assaiants. Saloons dedicated
bad singing and dancing more theaters than
they are classical concert halls.
Fad q tleater, ana many steps of you find the
hannts Of drunkenness and impurity," asserts the
author OF the s'Tmons Are the vicnlues of NiOios.
Waach's. liOn 90 iare, Booths the Park and Fifth
Avenue Tleate, demOrIlized than the vcinities
Of other great ccntersl Wherever muttddes con2re-
gate there Will b. hrpcs TO seek whom they may de-
Every theater has is adj AGENT bar-room 50 has
every hotel Shall hotels be abolished because their
guests will drink liquor and consequently are provided
with facilities for making beasts OF themselves II they
so desr, II the theater that drinking.
Men persist drinking wherever they be-in Walst.
plying their trade hotels when visiting friends
at theaters between the acts. l. Is the custom The
average masculine stomach in this country Graves
Liquor and society must be revOutiOniz before
better stale Of things exist Wnen society treats
drunkenness crime against good manners there viii
be n change; not before Until then whisky vii! be
sold IN tleaiers aud GU. Of them TIeaers dependent
fl, fors Wi rS 40 IL han
public.
"ERchard III being enacted in one tBeater and
Back Crook in another which would have the lar
geet audience 9" asked authority quote. expecting
tho answer be Back Crook" II This were 80, where
would t1e blame Lief VITA theater or puhlci AS a
rule managers prefer legitimate plays acted by ladies
aud gentlemen. Il such do not pay they spread the
vIands IL demand. ,uy time have heard managers
depUre ueiucacd caste OF t1oirsaudieuces, and re-
gret the necessity acting down to their level But it
Is mistake 10 suppose the puulIc deprdved; 1t is mis-
IKE to declare that under all circum stances the ack
Crook WILL draw better than Richard Ill Let Richard
Ill be as well acted throughout as the
Black Crook illustrated, and Shake peare
Will win u decisive victory. 1t Is the alb
seuec OF dramatic AGILITY that renders Shakespeare I'M
attractive The most cultivated public had rather see
beautiful dancing and scenery tAaD great dranatst
murdered. The Black Crook was complete IN Its way.
It, way is no; intellectual II is seDsuous; but unless
people arc vile heart and seek in such specIaces
needs DO no HARM There those VINO are shocked at
marble yenuses and Greek Slaves. Others in them
perfect FORM thank the Creator for the existence or
80 much beauty. The attire OF ballet girl VIII not
compare in nmodesty with the suggestive dressing OF
many fashionable IT is intention that makes
Iudeeepcy. The Black Crook had great success be-
c.use of IL, novelty Humanity DISHES wildly after
what IS new To-day the Black Crook fails because 1t
T. a thrice-told tale. When John Mccullough plays
Richard III. the theater Is crowded.
Reading Oh. told that the American tn eater has
debanched the nation. that the American the
afer has filed the land with an army OF inyads. We
see them DYING with neuralgia. dyspepsia, with liver
complaints. consumpuOns and there is congratula
ton ia he'll that tneater killed them" great war,
with its terrible upheavai, quickly acquired gains,
H43OO0OJ0 yearly devoted to ram, intense application
10 money bad food trying climate not the
cause OF political social cOrrupton-have nothing TO
do with breaking down the American physlqueI This
accusation is simply amusing, and can only be answered
by smile. SAID distinguished physician recently TO
aucverworked journalist You need distraction, amuse-
msnt. l. there any theater in your town. Yes"
rephed the journalist but rarely have good acting
M That : bad very bad" muttered the physician
..Tnen must put ice the back Of yodr neck" Doc
tors disagree
The reverend critic quite that actors and ac-
treses are vile. atrOciOus libel never was per-
petrated More generOushearted beings never lived.
They are human h1ving great temptations, sometimes
weld TO taem and being before the public, are found
out in their Weaknesses But no profession Is freer
from brutality and coldblOOded vice. The murderer OF
Abraham Lincoln is proclaimed as On actor Too true
bnt does the reverend critic know that this murder Is
the only that be traced TO the theaterf What
other profession can say much The OF actors
are the OF artists literary men, journalists and
professional men OF mpusive temperaments; they are
as exempt from fraity other artists no more
nor lese.
"How can you expect man." continues the critic,
Alb