The New York herald., 1877-10-29
THE STAGE.

THE STAGE.
WHAT DANIEL DoUGHERTY THINKS IT rs NOT
BUT OUGHT TO BE-
Mr. Daniel Dougherty, Of Philadelphia delivered
an able lecture in the hall OF the Cooper Union last
evening on "The Stage As 1t Was ana Is ana AS II
Should Be-" The proceeds OF the entertainment
for the aid OF hospta lot the Of ST. Francis
Xavier College, and judging from the size OF the
dence there be doubt that that institution was
handsomely benefited thereby. Both at his appear
ance on the platform and when he rose to speak Mr.
Dougherty was greeted by hearty applause. Many.
fact ALL Of his witty and eloquent sayings were ap
pauded TO the echo The speaker began by making
some general remarks the lecturers art as CON-
pared with that OF The writer The true OF tho
lecture he said is to the lecturer amusing and
tertaining subject, and one whose very title sug.
Rcstive OF enjoyment Therefore, though would
perhaps, have chosen more serious subject myself
have been requested to speak on the subject an
nounced, the STAGE It should be, and TO that
quest your kind attention during the allotted
hour There have been various amusements In
all ages, continued Mr.. Dougherty, and Il
is always part OF wise statesmanship
to provide intervals and means of public enjoyment
The most permanent and popular of all amusements
is the theatre. BY the theatre, however, do not
mean Italian opera, though to cultivated minds
that may often De source OF refined enjoyment; aud
still less do l mean tho opera boune, nor that vilo
mixture OF mirth and murder, ycept the meIodrama,
and least Of all the melange where the eye and mind
are pleased only " the gaudy scenery ana he ascvious
delights Of the ballet. mean that noble drama which
rose with the dawn OF civilization, which has in all
ages formed an outlet Tor the inspired mind OF the
poet, which has delighted the wise and learned, has
educated the mind. corrected the taste and warmed
the heart aud soul Of the II is this that when
properly conducted tends to suppress vice and pro-
mole virtue, and which again become, as II was
long ago, the handmaid Of religion. IL would be in
tercsting to the progress Of the drama
through tho Greek aud Roman times whom It
the zenith OF It's glory; and through
the Middle Ages, when IN the hands of the monks it
served u oil instruction well as Of
atiop My province, however, is simply to vindicata
the stage, while condemn its present dogradation to
point out the dignity Of the profession, while ac-
knowledge the Iamentabie failures OF some Of its
brightest ornaments.
DECLINE OF THE DRAMA
The stage present conducted corrupt. Around
II have gathered many evils that must be condemned
But because oil these clustering evils should we seek
to destroy tho thing itselI? No; rather seek 10
IL from their iaal embrace, and place It in tho
high, untanted position whcn IL deserves Alter tho
Midde Ages, the decline of the stage rapid, and
the corruption of It's representatives such to
spread abroad the obloquy witch among respectable
people It's abuses had already enEendercd In this
country tho Continental Congress passed law pro-
hibitDg any person in the employ OF the government
from VISITING or encouraging any theatrical perform
under penalty OF dismissal from the service. The
very day that action taken, Lafayette arriving IN
Philadelphia, invited Henry Laurons, then President
oil Congress- TO accompany .him TO tho theatre. Lau
informed him Of tue action OF Congress, ana the
Marquis said that in that case no should be
careful not to give offence by going himself.
In some Of the States the production 0r plays
prohibited but the law being systematically evaded
and public sentiment not enforcing II the Law
before long repealed, apd the standard plays (Which
during the existence OF tho obnoxious law had beep
announced AS lectures) reappeared In their proper
colors.
sincerely that a class actors sober
and law abiding any OF tho called learned pro-
fessous. hasten to say that do not class the
ministry as prolesslon. II ID something higher,
hoher, vocation, calling from Coz. Inc actor VINO
TO the highest excellence in his profession.
whethor his part be grave or merry, whether
he weai the buskin or the sock, commands our genu
inc admiration and respect Acting is tho highest OF
the initiative arts Tho actor who, fired with genius
and dllea with his heart makes pulses throD and
hearts beat hgh depicts not tho resemblance OF pas
son, out the reality. There Is no profession or cali
Ing that demands such constant study and assduous
practice. Tue actor makes many sacrifices, ana tho
greatest OF all tor no gives up the delights Of home
and social dcights at The choicest hours.
TfiE GLORY THE STAGE.
The condemnation OF the stage is restricted
to It's aouses-its licenuous and corrupt per-
iormances. All have spoken It's praises ana worked
for It's reurma ion. Many exceicat plays have been
written by snning lights IN tho ministry. Cardinal
WIsemGn tho author OF several plays, and MS last
work was a iecture Shakespeare. Bishop Bancroft
gave private thea,ricas Bishop Warburton annotated
shakespeares works. An actor taught Demosthcncs
decaim, aud Cicero has lett the hIghest ouiosum
ol the purity, genius and abity oil Roscius, who
made tho rs ngure on inc stage by MIS- art and was
the brightest wit Of his times Goldsmith SAID Of
Garrck that he was an epitome of all the pleasant
things in man, and johnson said that his death
vrtue as well as the talent OF the cdeI
Joseph Jefferson that caused the erection OF
mont his memory ut Harrisburg by universal ac.
cord an aclor stands, foremost in tho ranks Of iamc
His name, the world has decrced shall never dio.
Where ali the great mon Of the ages arc grouped,
where every eye is liked there regns immortal Snako-
spearc, and there will ho ride glory through the
ages, TIL tlmo is swallowed in eternity. Hc II IS who,
In philosophy, craftsmanship, valor and worth, has
lett us noDier models than history, though drawn
thererom. la his writings every virtue dnds its
ornament and every vico its punishment
~ ths point the speaker rocited Wosey's famous
solloquy ana the adJurato on to Cromwell AT It's
cusion the building rang with applause, which thence
forth throughout the lecture filed up every pause In
the dow OF talk and illustration the platform. In
The course oil his remarks Mr.. Doughcrly repeated
very many lines oil poetry and related
dotos Of his own boyhood, and the dongs actors
aud other men, Returning 10 the subject of his Ice.
ture, he said d:Members OF the theatrical profession
are particularly lab,o to the vice OF intempcralcc,
the one OF all others be avoided Tho
bulk OF Tho profession, however, models
oil sobriety. There arc men and women the stage
whose exalted character and eminent w.t. virtue and
Wisdom make thom admired and cause their society
out ~ ~ an age oil gold, and IN many respects an age
OF Drass. The degcncrncy Of public taste IS shown
chleny on that stage where whlo he Is worshpped on
lhe stage, Shakespeare Is frequently dshonored.
Brains have been ecpsod by bills the inspiration OF
Inc poet by the brush OF the scene painter, tho
noblest virtue and DobIest sentiments by The doubfo
eHtedre anu rough jokes Of tho OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES aud
negro minstrel Far from me bc IL 10 advise any one
10 90 on tho stage but since II viii always DO resort
oil ambitious youtn hope that before long there wp
! be proper school for instruction ia the noble ART.
Alter all IL depends the people whether tho stage
shall pursue It's downward path rise again to nobcss
heights. Piety and responsibility caunot destroy Tie
! stage; they can only reform It.