Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-29
THE TRUE STANDARD
Authors Should Write Plays That Are
Good Rather Than Amusing.
ATTRACTIONS FOR THIS WEEK.
Louis james and the Star Carer at
tho Acndcmy-Bunal Bill and His
wild West show to De Here Thurs
day-Drnmntic Notes.

by the multitude is not the wish merely
10 injure or contemporary deride or dis
miss the popular medocrity. but the de-
sire that the age shall excel In all kinds
OF worth, and that the people shall both
be the best and have the best. The poet
Pope asserted the comfortable doctrine
that whatever Is. is right Mr.. Chal-
cote. the brewer, in Robertson's comedy
OF ours" announced the frcer though
less agreeable conclusion that whatever
IL, IS wrong" There are writer's who
celebrate the elories Of the present age.
and who continually minister 10 vanity
by informing the people that they are
but little lower than the angels. Such
writer's are not a source OF help and
strength. The world does not prosper
through being Gatterod. Too much Is
beard about the rights OF man; too little
about his duties. The moralsts who
frankly tell n people the truth, when the
people, as often happens, are doing wrong
and going wrong, are better friends OF
mankind than the fatterers of the popu-
lar mood and conduct.
ceves that people in general are more
deeply Interested I'm what they call
amuscments than in serious occupations.
You must study popular amusements'
therefore, il you wish to understand the
mental condition ana tendency OF the
people. Those matters enSro5s much at
teutiOn. and it is through the discussion
and guidance OF their amuscments that
the people arr most eesily and directly
r.sf oil rf
that discussion and guidance both long
in vogue. are sharply contrasted in con-
temporary practice-that Of universal
laudation and that OF objection and re-
monstrnnce The former largely predOmi-
hates. and IL has wrought evil by making
bad matters worse Within recent years
although noble and beautiful works have
been shown and important steps nave
been taken-an avalanche or trash mas
been cast upon the stage. and the people
have accepted Il, and have practically APP
proved it-while scarcely voice among
public censors has been raised against
that fragrant abuse Of the theatre. on
the contrary. the public has been told
| TO ACCEPT II. has been praised for accept
| ing Il, and has been prompted 10 en-
| courage the extension Of IL. I'VE are
| hard-working, nervous tired community
| so runs the stream Of mischieVors coGh-
| sel-and we need recreation Nheh We
| 60 TO the theatre We want 10 be amused
| We do not want to think. Let US have
| something lightr Thus caioled, and thus
| cabling Itself, the popular intelligence
! surrenGcrs 70 folly. and the average the
/ atrical MANAGER brings forth Rag Ba-
| bies" and "ParlOr Matches ana COM
pIacsntly remarks. 81 must give them
| what they want"
TIL writer's and managers who reason
| in that way DO not reason well III was
unfortunate that the custom or viewing
the stage as an "amusement' ever pre-
vailed: for the stage is an institution
HIGHER and finer than any amusement, and
II possesses an influence upon society
second only To that Of the hearthstone.
But. even viewing II as one Of the amuse-
ments no man has right to degrade It's
character or impair It's usefulness. III
we overwork ourselves. as community,
let US quit that injurious and useless Gus
tom. Half Of the activity that people
commonly call work" consists OF pa
rade and pother. The actual work OF
the world is done silently, by the minori-
", and usually II does not occupy all
the time or exhaust all the strength.
Let us econemlze our strength, and stop
the snort!ng and the waste. If we are
"tired" and nervous" we can, surely,
rest and refresh the nerves without turn
ing the stage into a playground for
idiots and making the theatre hospital
for victims OF dyspepsia. Sick persons
are in no IT condition to comprehend the
drama, and. even if they were, the actor
IS not an apothecary. The time FOR going
TO the play is when you are wei and re-
freshed, and can appreciate what you see
and hear; when your mind ana soul are
receptive. and you are not concerned
with the state Of your liver and the Ills
of your system. There are influences in
the dramatic art which can ennoble and
helm YOU. even though they Go not foster
the lower instincts or elicit vacant laugh
FER. The men and women who de-
vote their lives 10 the study and practice
OF acting are not frivolous mountebanks'
erAulous 10 make you laugh by cutting
caper: nor are you yourself such poor
creature as you appear TO be when you
prattle about your lass!tude and allege
YOUR preference for theatrical rubbish.
It Is not meant that the stage Is in
decline. Ever since the theatre existed
II has been subject TO fluctuations, ac-
cordant with the moods and caprices or
public taste. There has never been
time In its history when trash was not
striving 10 submerge ii, and when base
and sordld views Of its province did not
nrd specious advocates ard ignoble minis
| ters. But 1t is meant that trash has
| been more than usually rampant In re-
| cont years. and that IL is habitually
| Viewed with a mischievous lenience and
| federation. There is more than common
| need Of wholesome censure as wen OF
| the public taste as Of the pernicious doc
| trine that IL l. the province and policy
t,Iy
! low the people instead of leading them.
BY public report Mr.. Louis Jamess
production of "VlrSinius," which Will be
/ seen at the Academy tomorrow night
| and at n matinee on Tuesday. is perhaps
| tie most elaborate ever attempted Of the
plav. Messrs Wagenhals & Kenper
! have spared no expense or trouble IN
! nt<inc him with such an equipment az Is
/ becoming 10 his position on the stage.
| The scenery is by Duehler & Lanpnear.
! OF Chicago. and is sad by competent
| Judges TO be very fine. IL Is historically
| correct. the monuments being accurate
! roDroductlons OF the scenes OF the play.
/ In the Forum scene the massive arches,
! the distant gardens OF Eero's palace.
| and the sheer heights OF the Capitol Hill
are reproduced with fidelity TO the best
| authorities OF what these famous features
! OF that time must have been. Tapestries,
| draperies, hanElngs, armors, ana cos
| tunes are all from designs drawn from
! the existing monuments and most relia-
| bic historical data. Mr.. James's managers
have surrounded HIN with remarkably
| strong company. Among the we,l-known
| people IN his support are MISS Alma
| kruger, Mr. Guy Lindsey, Mr. William
| Harris, Mr.. Henry Lansdon, ard MT.
| James Harrison.
L t., IL Ia