Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-27

1 IAA--I HHHH I
James
pa-Li, ''''' s.......",-......-... v ernOn
IVa1tA Ellis
y :. Garfield
ia. elIIng Miss Deering
Te1y APeiey. Caulfold
NJ Millions
Goer Taylor
M;ss a SEQ. MISS Le-lle
"nioo nPeiey Mis- Sinclair
The Theatrical Bulletin Of December
18th, pays the following tribute to Mr..
}. A. Signaigo, then a member of the
company, and now the genial and &C
eomplished proprietor and editor of the
Grenada Miss Sentinel:
The %frequenters of the theater will re.
greet 70 learn that one of the best mem
oers OF the company, our talented young
Irlend, >. a. Slgnaigo, will no longer
AFFORD them amusement and entertain
mental least for the present season
by his admirable delineation Of the narts
assigned him and his representation Of
which has given so much satisfaction.
de leaves us for st. Louis, where we
hope his success will be c-ommensurat
to his deservings. Though young in the
profession as well as young in years, his
representations of "old men" This line
OF %buslness) are better than MANY who
have had much larger experience, and
the frost of many winters mon their
heads. Els make up of an "old man"
Is always In good taste and keeping, and
he IS likewise always perfect, while his
readings are chaste and correct. We
have watched his rise in the profession
he has chosen with interest. knowing
him to be as amiable and clever in 80.
cial life as "honorably ambitious" of
playing well his part" in all the varied
scenes of life. We have known him
from boyhood and he has ever approved
himself worthy of the esteem of his
friends as a courteous gentleman and for
his honest fidelity to all the trusts re.
posed In him. AS a poet Of no mean
pretenslons and a rising star in the
dramatic horizon, he will yet occupy a
proud position before be gets his due
we commend him to the good offices of
our friends wherever he may 90.
On the ensuing week, commencing
December 18th, the celebrated Mrs. W.
Farran appeared as Julia" in the
~Hunchback, in Evadne, or the Statues,
as Mrs. Haller in the Stranger, Az
Marian +" in the Wrecker's Daughter.
as Constance in the Love Chase, as
" Lucretia Borgia," and as widow
Blandish in the Rights of Woman.
1t will be noticed that many of the
above plays are of the stage, especially
Shells Evadne, Sheridan Knowles
Wrecker's Daughter, and Couldock's
speciality, the Advocate.
In January, 1857, the protean ac-
tress and fairy star" las she was then
described), Maggie Mitchell, commenced
a Encouragement, and appeared as
Corlo" in Asmodeus, pet of the
Petticoats," Cricket on the Hearth"
as Peg Wellington" in Masks and
Faces, as Fanny " in An Object of In.
%tereSt, as " Catherine" in A Husband at
Sight, and as the heroine in Mischief
Making.
STAGE PROFANITY.
During Miss Mitchells engagement it
seems the company INDUCED in stage
profanity, judging by the following com
munication published in the Theatrical
Bulletin:
MEMPHIS, January oath. 1857.
d. I. Ash, Manager Of Theater:
DEAR SIR: You must excuse this
line; but wishing you and your company
well, l resort to a private note in prefer
ence to a public article, to speak of your
company's performances and language
to some extent, as noticeable on the
stage. To be plain, there is too much
profanity on the stage-too much
damned" damnation," =" devil" etc.
used by the members-uncalled for, and
unexpected by the audience. No one in
this city patrOnizes your theater more
than l, or wishes it greater success: and
hence the liberty OF this note. Men in
passion are sometimes profane-but it is
a great vulgarity, and inexcusable in
respectable audiences. Ladies dislike il
at whose suggestion this note is partly
penned-gentlemen in cool moments do
not like it, and wit and effect on the
stage are not dependent upon it by any
means. Some managers exclude it en-. ,
.tlrely-will not have it; and we believe
that you would have better lady patron
age land consequently gentlemen) if
such language be prohibited. | was
present three nights this past week and
every night the above ~vulgarity YVES
often committed. The drama should be
elevated-made the great intellectual
feast for the public with a moral tenden-
cy. Youth learn profanity fast enough
without being publicly taught vice. |
shall still patronizs you, but sincerely |
hope my suggestion will be taken kindly !
and acted npon.
Very respectfully,
A CTIzENI, ,
The editor Of the Bulletin deprecated
the use Of profanity, and says that "Mr. !
Ash had demonstrated with the actors,
who claimed it as their right to render
the text of the play as they found it,"
but he suggests that if the audience
would hiss when the actors so rendered !
the text instead Of applauding, the evil
would soon have an end" and be adds
sententiously as follows; These pro- +!
fame expressions suit the Bowery very
well, but an actor should reeolleot that
a Memphis audience aud a New York
one are W very different things This i
little storm of indignation blew over,
and we presume profanity disappeared
from the stage, even if it remained stub
bornly in the texts Of the plays. The