Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-20
Theater-Going MoralIy Treated

was given to the Gazette and Demo
crat m en- confdentially.
Theater-G Going Morally Treated.
Nashville Banner.l
No one will question the propriety
of dramatic composition. 1t is the
most forcible method of presenting to
the public great truths. The form of
dialogue has been used by all writers,
even before the method of reciting
them before an audience was ever
adopted. The philosophy of Plato, of
Socrates and other classic writers were
put in the form of questions and an
swers because they could be better
presented and enforced in hat way
than in a dry, metaphysical treatise.
The grand epic Of Homer contains no
stronger passages than the dialogues
of the heroes and the gods. We have
all dwelC with admiration over the
splendid and graphic descriptive
dialogues of Lucian when he brings
Jupiter, Mars, Juno and Mercury
down among mortals to hold con6den-
tial converse. When Kschylus con-
ceived the idea of p~ersonating these
characters on the stage no one thought
it was immoral or degrading, either to
the performers or the audience who
attended them. Even the bible itself
derives much of its impressiveness
from its dramatic character. The book
of Job is one of the finest specimens
of dramatic poetry in any language.
The instances of this meth
cd of writing are innumerable
and we scarcely think any
one will question the morality of the
style. Then if this is unobjectionable,
how in the name Of common sense can
there be any objection to hearing them
presented by persons representing the
characters? lfthey can interpret the
thoughts of the author, making the
great dead live again, move, speak as
if alive, it of course would be far
more impressive and powerful in its
{ effect, and will be better remembered
than if simply perused in a book. The
Interpretation of the thoughts, words
and souls Of genius is a great gift be-
slowed upon some persons, and they
really have no right to restrict the
E talent within themselves. We have
! before us the actors, not as men OF
the present day, but the real actua'
e persons who lived a thousand year:
ago, and who electrified the world BY
r their genius. Pythagoras, Socrates,
Henry the VIII, the gentle Anne
Bolyn, Mary Stuart, Richelieu, and
g many others are made by this gift To
stand before us and give ~utterance t
their philosophy or to their gentle
plants. Even the most sacred sub.
jects are caught by these inspired men
6 and presented in such vivid manner
before us that we again see the mar
OF sorrows, who is acquainted with
/ grief, laboring along the Wis
: dolorOsa, fainting under the cross
and after ascending the hill O
Calvary, we see him fastened to the
tree. This drama, which annually at.
tracts all Germany to the village OF
Ammergau, will hardly be termed
sacriligious or immoral. Within the
last few months DR.. Mcdonald, one Of
the most eminent and pious ministers
!. of England, dramatized the Pilgrims
Progress, and, with his gifted family
presented it to a London audience
: The Christian World. commenting on
the performance, which was held
under the patronage and auspices o.
!. the City Temple church, of London
t says: 1T was a striking proof of the
e natural liking Of men and women fol
: dramatic spectacles; and those who
could have left the place without feel
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the betterf !
:. being there, are deeply to be pitied.
Such persons were few indeed. NAM
q must have felt far more deeply i'm,
I pressed and strengthened by the great
!, dreamer's preaching Of the gospel, al
thus reflected by a devout household
than by many a formal sermon or con
4 ventional service.
Now, in defending the visiting o
, theaters, we do not wish to be under
: stood as endorsing anything in this
COuuSOblOu ObuCl tudu lH6 ltSllluldJ'
!, drama. We have no patience will
y the bare-leg performances, which ar,
= a disgrace to any of the boards, anC
+ which should receive the condemna
ton of all moral people. But the rem.
dition of DR.. Johnson's sublim,
= thoughts, or Shakspeare's inspired
poetry, or Sheridan Knowles histori
cal descriptions, surely can never in
IS jure the most susceptible sensibility
Is The great pe~rsonatOrs of these TRACE
d dies and dramas are the creates,
10 teachers of our day. To any one Wis
IT iting them once their u~tterances ar
rs never forgotten. They live in tn
memory as long as life lasts. 1t. j
Of only the most bigoted Puritanism tina
y, can see in these interpretations augh
D. to condemn or decry.
1t We hope, for the sake of humanity
is that a distinction will be drawn be
=. &c.. a...l ouA..t. .. Mi DZ-Al