The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-03
A Noble Deed Nobly Done.

NEW YORK, April 29-Performances were CIV
en- In the principal theatres this afternoon for the
beneht OF the family Of the late Dan Bryant The
attendance was very,large and the gross proceeds,
which go entire 10 the family, will exceed $25 Co.,"
We print the above for the special edit
cation of those Pecksnifian Talmages, in
and out of the pulpit, who are continually
holding up theatres and theatrical people
as merely another name for the devil and
all his works.
Who was Dan Bryant2 Only a Minis
trel, who sung and danced with burnt cork
on his face and bone castanets in his
hands, He gave the public agreat deal of
innocent fun, with no admixture of harm :;
scattered his money freely among his
friends, was notably generous to the poor,
and died-as such men usually die-with
hardly enough cash on hand to buy him a
a shroud and coffin. He left behind a
widow and several children, utterly des-
titute, of course. Such instances as this
are OF every day occurrence outside of
what is called the show business" and in
nine cases out of ten, the fatherless fami.
lies are left to get on the best way they
can-beg, starYe, or do something worse.
We do not say that other classes Of socie-
ty are entirely lacking in sympathy and
benevolence, but we do say that their SYM
patty and benevOleHce rarely take prac-
teal shape, when that shape involves a
considerable pecuniary sacrifice. Be this
as it may, let US look at what the profess
sional associates of Dan Bryant have done
the men and women whom the Talmagi-
ans insist are moral ulcer eating into the
heart of true morality, and tainting the at
mosphere Of the Christian community.
The managers OF New York theatres threw
open their doors at the call of charity the
actors and actresses of New York gave
their services free in response to the same
appeal, and the result of these entertain.
ments is $4,000 or more, which will 90,
every cent of it, to the family of the dead
minstrel A princely gift, and the fruit of
more than princely generosity; for, bear
in mind, few of these managers are rich,
and all of the actors and actresses are COM
PEELED to win daily bread by daily labor.
They contribute time and work, which is
money to them; contribute freely and
gladly, without fuss or flourish of trumpets
and pour the proceeds into the lap of a
woman and children who can never, by any
possibility repay them again.
We do not know how many, if any, of
the dramatic profession in New Yorkiare
also members of the church, or how many,
If any, ever go inside of the doors of sa-
cred edi6ce except to q wedding or funer-
al; but we do know that the Bryant bene-
fit fund is better evidence of the possess
sion of those qualities of heart which are
supposed to be the credentials of Christian
fellowship, than all the so-called worship"
of the supereiliously righteous people who
delight in denouncing the denominations of
the theatre. The population behind the
tootlights may have little of that outward
show which SO often passes for piety, but
such deeds as this prove that they ''have
that within which passeth show"-a spirit
which prompts, not only to kind words and
good wishes which cost nothing, but to
warm-hearted, bountiful, self-sacri6cine
charity; not of the earth, earthv," but of
heaven, heavenly.-St. Louis Rep.