The sun., 1888-05-06
THE CONFEDERATE STAGE.
pICIssTTUDEs or THE DRAMA IN zHS
SOUTH DURING 7Bh WAh

From me Atlanta oonst,u,ion

~
From the Anania oonsntunon
There were but two cities in the entire
Ncn ths urs he ur
years OF tho late unpleasantness. me Two
iortnnate places we're New Orirans Vi, sha hayo meh-
ways been celebrated for their pieasure loSlng
natures. and no matter how yark the outlook
element OF war only seemed to add zest to
the enjoyment Of the habituSs r,s o. tue pPsrs
and the establishment OF military rule this
came to IN end and tho buildings 80 long de,
SotSd to on the ss mGsG drama
the greatest tue world has ever witnessed.
But Richmond was the real home Of nls ,he Con; on
IL Ia OF the actors aud the theatres OF the scu h-
ern capital that | propose to write. The carl
though II had but one theatre oil any prcten-
son ' that nns ws "fd tSs IN son
erT the S'eSS'qb oS bomincn ans after carefully
weighing the question OF S secession had dcsid.
tai was inmsdiately removed from Montsom-
cry Ala TO Riehmond and tnus soa LARGE font
't Of the withdrawal Of the Sou lhern States from
sS Sn bS upcn 'Ss pGSsSn p'Ss as Rs
capital OF tho new nation Il raridiy grey.
and the sSs Sxe Il SS as
families. civil and army officers, ana large
South threat ened with invasion by the Federal
armies. With few exceptions the visitors were
psens S IN t6e es ans
@ To sSaT %S. H. so4s sns he he sS
came the lessee Of the old theatre. BY his en-
iormsd. @ iu and sdSeiors troupe employed e%br.cins
most Of the available talent Of the capital, and
actors tors from qSf New Yers who had been ssrsDded
in Dixie at the breaking out OF the war. and
naa 6een unable TO stn U% Si ths X,
orgi1al. perhaps, that had ever eraced the
boards mGd S,at 81 any theatre. 20 re- c,,,.,.,. , .
t outside World 3 and nd only an occssional sSe
consequence of this the supply OF material Of
which to make costumes was very small and
hf H1 IN ha to to o he mos s
able wardrobe OF costumes that ever formed
OF 5hs Be-
red. and Blue % flannel and nc trimmed With tissue
gether with the awkward movements Of tho
semi-amatenr actors. made ,i,e many OF the more
as days o hsr Work b,
Ogden and numberless rehearsals BY the COM
pany. the first night was announced. and never
In the history of the stage was there frst
1t was study for an art ST. this audience
toilets But the factories Of the North were ST.
lent, and the cotton plaptatiions io 9i the South
aa han TO mako s
to please the eye. But though the costumes OF
the audience were In some instances. homeiy.
fairer women or braver men never met. Here
sat four ladies dressed in antique silks. res:
eued from old clothes presses. where they had
thought thou to what uses they would one day be
put, BY the side Of the fine old silks sat patri.
@ with e rare old
yellow with age Here were officers of the
army and navy in all the glory Of gold lace and
from over the sea by the blockade runners.
Here. by their Sides were muddy and battle:
them % without leave vel for the sake Of an evening
Of pleasure.
The first play performed by the new troupe
been faithfully rehearsed Tor two montha It's
success was assured before the performance
Nisht after nishs ths psoPls q t6s 5saledsTsss
pany now produced the latest pIays as they
ogden & had % soon Sa made @ arrsngements @ With the
blockade runners % to % iurnish @ him with With the @ new
The theatre was now in the full tide o.. its
success, and its manager on the road to Tor
tered with their easy success. and comedy lost
all charms for them. No sooner did some Of
than. each bright particular star concluded
s.sSs sgs s
wagsd between the comedian and tragedia4
factions that the company was In danger OF
So So the company Ieft, the gentle waters q flight
heavy tragedy.
Wh.rs the Ion. damsel with n frantic serseoh
And ohesk; s' husIs'. As ! brandy peach ,..
On the green bsizs beneath the canvas trees; 1 -'-
sf s p Viii San 1ssns9s y.so ~ ya or d
Had the soldiers who formed tho larger part
certainly have opposed the change. They saw
each one of them had the material out Of which
one could have been written. Comedy had been
o TN
school brought back the scenes, Of the battle
field fleI only too plainly. But the rise Of the new
theatre theatre was DESTROYED by are. .,
and Older citizens Of Of the, capital had long de-
n""1sed ths theatre and al aedred
for % the times. they now rejolced that hI; one
source oi their annoyance had been removed;
have t; With t6s promise Of their SUPPORT thse
eSsiJlo boIoy ORubll WONT W WOEh WALL
a will and soon had another building In pro-
cess OF erection The work progressed slowly
the meantime the many strangers in the city
had no place of resort. In consequence tho
boys In gray would push themselves into any
place. and heir tattered uniforms made up
large part Of every assembl age.
marriage taking place In CHURCH came 70
for tho soldiers would be the first there. and
would crowd up the aisles and into the yesti.
bule in such numbers that 1t became almost
impossible for the bridal party to reach the
altar. Some would even make a flank move
sill. These latter were mostly Of StoneWaii
JRckson's division. which was noted Tor its
flank movements. The crowds at last became
SO great that IL was no unusual sight to SEQ
soldiers stationed at church doors with fxod
bayonets and orders to admit no one who wore
q uniform unless he bore ticket.
To crafty this taste for amussments the
ladies' OF the soldiers' Aid Society. Of whlch
Mrs Gen Leo was President, held a series Of
receptions at the hotels. to which ali who wore
Contedernts uniforms were admitted. On ao-