New-York tribune., 1878-10-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE MODERN THEATRE.
70 the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR; Much has been said and written Iateiy


SIp. Much has been said and written iatey
shout the desirableness OF we-conducted dramsuo
entertainments and careful moralists have Oeen oH
with prejudice ana sQueamishness In opposing '"'ii "
fiuence to the reformation of the stage 1et""P9 So
of the readers OF this article are themselves "o'Ne
the question whether they ought TO s''Eu "''o' ''
such a Draiseworthy aim--whethor they ought hot !"
Guide the amusemcnts Of their children in this most Sc
ductiye department. instead Of compelling them TO soeA
thor Measure where the parents eyes are not upon
them II some arc thus undecided ltmay bo OF interest
70 know the observations OF who has Lately taken
view OF a modern theatrical representation uh"or 0
cumstanccs most favorable for good impressions
A personal acquaintance and gentlemen OF eNoe"'n'
repute assured that If had nos ATTENDED, 'hs
since nv youth | would find il an entirely uEe'o"'
thing from tat Of my lcCO!Cct.OnS concluded TO 20
and take crOwn-up child. As we took our Se"'N az"
looked around upon the audience, tHouEU'' liV''
certainly we SHALL have far sample OF rehcd u'"
matic entertainments" Many Of The faces were iAhIar
10 meas of ladies' and gentlemen in excellent cy c'r'e'
none better There not noisy boy IN inc houS'
nor rOugh-OCking character az q ne o2i"''"'"' -
the audience while waiting tCr the performance 10 oes"
WAS A. orderly as that OF amy church cOh.FcS''i,"
7 over saw. The performance was late IN
beoiuniuC but there was no mpatOn'e
shown nor foot moved. In fact. everything
copspircd 70 make ne feel much al home as stranger
could The play wos Tho school for Scandal some
indce l. may say this not very moral play l" Uo-lh
on. But neither as plays 20, was II very immoral /
was look ing up matter Of hcaIeSong, ana N"u"
not have been fair to tie inquiry to step outsu' o ,o
acreage one way more than the other. IL was l'Sar
old-lash,oneI legitimate plly. that commahdcd' Io
many consecutive nights the attendance OF the De't o
the not distinctly religious People OF the c''N i' was
enough Early N the performance my squeamsn ear
insisted on aisAuG the rather too frequent use 'S
words" but that was common wien 'he i"S
WAS written. We must overlook that shortly 'here
l}rts s,',p u>4l "a
wit woman and wine. Tie wcll-5red audience az
rlau0cd this TO an encore Being Total abstinence
man did not Ike that but music does so carry every
thing before il. Further on occurred demoh>'4"'i"H
which Lad 10 music to rncito It, The go'1hng oil '"e
scanda ,uongcr OF the play brought out an mnoedo 10
tho las; degree obscene broad that there W." no HIS
taking lis ncaniuE and our refined, intelligent YntuOus
audicnc, torit,as all haU broke ont iuo u4contlp&De
laughter ana applause. People who would I'Fr i.Fu"h
their own hresidcs-I am bound &" believe
it-sLoutcd with merumeht over HSsS1'Sii NJ
story IN The theatre Aud "l5 tUat Le emu vi t ti
90 Tor every forming character III tat mouse gov Wy
ea that il was harm. IN the thoughts q" lal iesptt
rs 10 bc amused witht Now, how is ijf Dd me m M le
rtimate drama soil these gool Pl0rv & ned
It is not to be trusted anyWhtIc, w M'S 'St 80 ,.,c
audience responsible fOI the corruption Oi the stage
Then the Stage must remain corrupt Tor more COT ec
audience Of People OF 'he NoHU Co"'" H'' ~ XVI ~
gcihtr ,..,o ,o..,,ro1 ,ro scone vyhere
y0Sb Siytce tcnpts the yir,uc OF Lci3 Ic0-t what
,yet .rcGusncss can b. supposed 10 attach to the Sc
3cias 90 point of yielding, when an lhti1der
Interrupts tho scene Taxing the IliH %,C U% u u
ground what possible good come OF bringing young
purc-und ,d people OF opposite sexes 10 near in
each Others company. such indecent sucgCsuoCst AS
they meet aitclWaId and review the evenings enter
tainment. what they do wltu these parts OF
itf A fne school of morals" truly, OF which
some of the lessons unfit to Oo reviewed IN
prIvatci Again. in the matter OF common honesty,
vicious Judgment crowned. The spendJhIilt ana
dssipated nephew gets into his unces good giacS ny
lavishing on "a companion money when properly ne
lOpged hs creditors. Generosity at the expense
OF hOuesty multitudcs of swiudlers are dong ts
very hour Occasionally one gets tripped up ana ms
whining apology for his crime Is that h0 sdcihctu
himself to beuCdt his friends who now IN his misfortune
(scj have deserted him." etc. etc ltaS the school OF
morals anything 10 do win fostering he OOseheSe oI
pripCiulp that mcuaCcs our social fabric
st9ndng what Is here said can conceive OF
dramatic entertainment tHat would be refreshmtAt 10
tue toll worn mind aud real promoter OF Nrue But
who could sustain II IN strict purlyf one ny IN tne
not OF ointment makes the whole an offence ana Nhe
The most SO ec OF audiences encourage tine Introduction
OF thinly yelled seusuality, it Is not to be eA-
pected that managers will sec the need OF
expurgatmg their standard plays Until TINS be
done they must not wonder II many very
particular parents be found unwilling TO try to dam out
the food OF immortality with the maReweght OF thelr
chdrtus purity. As things at present II = too costly
risk and the good to be attained Is too INDIRECT WINE
there many epOnabe avenues 10 benen ana
recreation elsewhere can imagine stage with play
ard performers all pure shall We ever see 1t T.
KUO- York, oct 10, 1873.