New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-26

Mr. TamaCc preached rather n remarkable SER
mon oil the Drama IN his Brooklyn Tabernacle on
Sunday last. What he definitely discussed, to use
his own words. was the dramatic element which
God has implanted in our natures" Then he went
on 10 say that the drama IL an echo from the feel
ing which God has implanted in Oul natures"
Again whether this dramatic element is strong or
wax, God intended that should develop it,
culture it, employ it Just as He intends to the
eve and the ear, and the baud and the foot" The
preacher promised next Sunday 10 give "a unique
pan by which the dramatic element may be brought
into our recreations, and be made administrative
of the interests Of societyn This admission of the
necessity of the drama and promise of showing how
II can be made morally better. strike us as about all
which is of much Importance In q pretty long dis
course even if the rest of it be not Heather and
prunella." We do not remember any time since the
drama came into existence when there has not been
n talk Of reforming it, with O cry that it
needed reform exceedingly. The admissions of the
nreacher have been made and over again by his
PREDECESSORS in this discussion. but most of them
have been accompanied by dennnciatlons of the
stage as then existing Nothing however, is more
certain than tho fact that the theatre takes its tone
from tho public which supports 1t. Tragedy proper
has usually maintained its moral dignity but conf
edy, being the representative OF existing manners
has reflected popular vices not to condemn, but at
the best to extenuate them. Upon the whole, it Is
not too much to say that the theatre gives the
pie what they want, and are willing to pay their
money to ace. The MANAGERS want full houses and
conduct their business accordingly. A cultivated
moral public. will demand artistic and moral plays
and will go to SEQ no other. But even cultivated
and moral public will not go to the theatre to be
bored We do not understand that Mr. Talmage
himself intends to start theatre Of his own but
from any scheme which he may BIO considering for
dramatic reformation we trust that he will exclude
bombast platitude aud what DR.. Swift called flap
doodle"
A correspondent writing from the United States
Surveyors Office at Yankton, who is presumably
vell.informed about the character of the land in
the surveyed portions of Dakota says that the term
" Bad Lands" which is applied by the map-makers
10 a largo part Of the surface of the Terri
tory, should be abolished Originally, he SAYS the
name was given to small tract of country south Of
White River and west of the Missouri, which might
be included within the limits of single county.
He insists that there are no barren lands between
Fargo and Bismarck. on tho. limo Of the Northern
Pacic Railroad and that although there Is some
rough country in the region traversed by the road
west of Bismarck IL not 80 bad that settlers will
not ultimately occupy it, particularly as 1t abounds
In coal. Dakota, according to the enthusiastic
statement Of this correspondent has moro land tt
for profitable cultivation than all the NewEngland
States, and New-York thrown in" The last spike
In the Northern Pacific Railroad within the limits
of the Territory. he adds, driven last fall. and
tho road Is now well into Montana. The opening Of
the road In the spring to travel beyond the Missouri
will no doubt throw large force Of land-seekers
| into that region, who viii speedily determtnc the