Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-22


enan csss's vili sssrse< inzys audiences
g RoweF1 tnmoxsev apd sasasday
esseipGa The story, - al ssn&bis
san1sss know, oxsFs nakhing nAsky.
II ehisf objection to il u II drama
t3zs1 forn = the posiag q In - .
nodeL Well Les ~ - how many q
~ en- Look upon - exhibition ef this
kind With the respect and regard which
i sasocistsd with uncsrs srtlstie tssl
ias. ras ssas: are eov On Ais.
n. & Wood, ia ssous in che Streets. "
y ofker,ns sonssbing tnAs u respectAbae
q Rsdmoud's - far - scenery y con-
cswned. Tue usual Thursday matinee
uiii - given today.
There 10 great interssi in Shs "Bsn
Hur's spectNculAr pantomime 20 b
presented here nsxs week. All the
Performer are from home talent. the
outaade parties, hessrs- Clarke and Fox,
furnishing the scenery, stage and SCI
ungs, orchestra, music. calcium lsghts
and hbrettos. All the regular scenery
81 the opera house 10 70 b cleared
away, and the spsciai scenery Of the
company used. II 10 promised that
the spectacuiar effects viii be grand.
About lis persons are 70 take part. and
they will be elegantly costumed. The
company has 20 900 square feet Of seem
cry and sixty-two sss pleces- Among
the most interesting features are the
Arab girls and Nautch dances, in which
the dancers have been drilling for .
long time. Librettos containing the
lines and explanation Of the events
between the scenes, also the account Of
the chariot race, which 10 the only part
that Will be read, will DO sold.
Than Sol smith Russell, and his man.
ager Fred. q. Berger. there are no two
men in the theatrical profession who
are moro highly esteemed. This claim
will DO largely Endorsed in Grand
Rapids where they both have many
good friends and admirers. Recently
minister in Kansas City made q vigor-
Gus attact from tho pulpit upon the
stage and players and Mr.. Russell re.
sponded In the foilowingmodest fashion:
Tho theater, attacked as an instltu-
ton, permits IN appeal 70 the church
- an institution. Mr.. Rankin's attack
on stage players Is sufficiently severe to
rouse = vindictive spirit. My deep re-
spect for clergymen as a class, and for
the value OF their work, will not allow
me 70 give up in this way. Mr. RAN
kin's case is exceptional, and requires
consideration. He may have read re-
Gently the attack ON 'Profane Stage
Players, delivered by Jeremy Collier
in the year l740. IL this is true, my
love for antiquities invites q spirit Of
forgiveness. Early training In re-
hgious home-my father and elder
brother wearing the cloth of divinity,
being myself . churchman, the retalia-
tory spirit was never encouraged.
can but turn the other cheek, and in
meekness appeal for leniency on be-
half Of my brothers and sisters Of the
stage. Surroundings have much to do
with character, and the greatest danger
with stage players is the freedom from
restraints governing those who are reg
istered to behave properly. This argu-
ment 10 weak, though it stands as q
fact. Our moral code is low, but must
improve with change of surroundings.
No class, l sincerely believe, can be
found more susceptible to nor more
ready in accepting better in
fluences than stage PLAYERS. Why
not try them, Mr.. Rankin? You are
striving, most commercially, for the
correction Of evils, for the lettering of
your fellows, and in His name who
came to bring not the righteous. but
sinners, to repentance You know the
value of moral suasion. Come with q
gentle spirit into our wretched sur
soundings, and improve them, as you
can. know you will find them sweetly
responsive. You will be surprised IN
this. And, dear sir, you must see that
in your heated denunciation of us IA
. class, you have practically forbidden
US your church favors, for we should
intrude there now. Come nearer to us
and inject little of that holy atmos-
phere. Come with your censor of
peace, that we may enjoy its incense.
Come. The charge is severe for both
you and ourselves, and you will be SUBJ
jected to contagion, but you will recall
how they went from the presence OF
the council We sorely need all good
influence, while bemoaning over many
faults. There is, too, among stage
AOsAf . aSAAO Si"co WIZ SOAuuSs tucth-
selves well and are full of virtues.
You, however, have denounced them
all. Come, do, and meet this class.
They need you less, it's true, but in
our lives TO the judgment Of
our Heavenly Father, we regret that
Mr.. Rankin docs not approve"
One of the greatest attractions play
ing 1T popular prices Is master and
Man." which will be presented at Red
mond's next week. Treasurer Breen
announces that the sale Of reserved
seats opens today.
A big matinee can be looked for at
the Lyceum Theater today. May
Smith Robbins, as Little Trixie, has in
vited the nevsboys of the city to be her
guests, and rousing, jolly audience 1t
will be. Each paper IN the city has
gwen their newsboys and carriers seats
that will take them in the balcony, and
the orchestra and dress circle are sure
to have large attendance to see these
harduorkers enjoy themselves.
The pantomimists at Smiths Opera
House give very creditable perform
ance. Stuart. the female impersona-
tor. still puzzles. The Japanese court
balancers are simply wonderful, and
withai the performance Is an excellent
one. Matlnees Friday and Saturday.
~ muD nv1um ny, ~~