The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-06
An SEM ENTS.
The Best and Most Remsuerative Policy for
the variety Theatres.

What are called the variety theatres in
this city do not receive tho attention which they
deserve that Is to say, their influence for good
or evil seems Ia L. disfegaid,d The fact that
these places of amusement in reality
schools for tho young. good or bad schools. ~
the case may bc. schools which they are always
eager to attend. schuuls where they may learn
something uf art. which always exercises rcln-
ing power. or whore they may become familiar
with Vulrafity. cuarscncss, rudencss. and other
things which. presented in an amusing manner
can but strongly impress a youthful imagina-
tion. dcbasc the mind. and give 1t permanent
bent IN the wrong direction, appears 90 receive
no consideration. For the most part the man
ayers Of these establishments seem ready to gra-
tify their patrons tastes in regard to everything
except ART istic beauty. Women dres sed AS men
initiating the coxcumb, the utterly vulgar SWELL
the tipsy. furpl~h loafcr, and other types of re-
pulsive i'll breeding men dressed a. women, and
caricaiuring the female countcrparts II such
characters ~ are indicated above: STYLES Of
dress. or " undrc-s which are not designed To
serve any artistic purpose almost anything. ia
fact within such limits rs municipal regulations
allow, are prepared. sometimes AT considerable
expense, 4" excite or TO- crafty curiosity OF the
inexperienced, and for 10 higher purpose. Al
most any style Of dress which is obviously neccs-
sary To the exhibition Of tru. art, may pass un-
noticed. Art wells nude statue with veil ~
purity art surrounds the great dancer with a
screen initu1trNllv To gross perceptions. From
the very nature II the art which the dancer rv-
hihitS ID Is necessary that her movements should
hr seen. only when the art Is absent does the
nudity or the short skirt become prominent, i'm
modest. and rcpulsivc.
Boys and young mcn require no urging TO go
GO these schools. Thousands every night may
it seen at them. and 81 these thousands very
lar-e majority would infinitely prefer to see
something Of HIGHER order than they can now
hnt there. They li,r To- hc amused. TO laugh to
have their tcudercr feelings touched. their
uul'icr emotions aroused. Wc,l.lrod is quite AS
anu-iuc ~ g. brutal wit, and infinitely more at
irrtivr 10 all except semi harUHrihns. Gro
tc~qucncss may hc made artistic and elegant rs
cH-.ir les rlW AND tclcllcnt hN any man who has
so much aesthetic taste aud invention u.s. should
ls' iu--,-.,d hy "a theatrical manager some "
tie Ni'fi'-t songs la the ENGLISH language are
among VI" most elegant compositions.
\ Cur-id"rtUun that the directors II these
establishments can certainly appreciate. IL the
TACT tNHt the lHn-urc- art furnishes are pcrpn-
MAI while Of the strange. nm uuth, or imWod-
est things which 10y their novelty may for a time
trl" the fancy. pleasure seekers soon tire.
Furthermore. hV cl"NutiuE the standard 81 the
representations at their respective houses. they
may become entitled to critical notice In the
tw-puIcr~. because they bring forward work
10y that increased publicity for which 50 many
OF them -ccr. without furnishing any adequate
reason. The history 81 different theatres of this
81 l-- iu the city Of NtW York would show that
thN.c which have most iudiciOusN ~triVen fii Z,
Ni- degree Of artistic excellence. aud freedom
o. M immoral taiut-, have uniformly been the
most surrcs~iul n th, long run. go far ~ money
nttirg j. concerned. TO ~ny nothing II other
rewards which no imam cam regard a. Valuelcss.