Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-22
THE RIGHT STANDARD
,,r>crs OF DRAMATIC ART
rpoN SOCIETY IN GENERAL.
popuIar and Successful Mclodrama
and Fields Minstrcls at the Acad-
envy This wholesome Notable
changes in Programme of Latter.

nat is accepted by the multitude is MOI
me wish merely 10 injure or 70 con-
.emptuously deride or dismiss the popu-
ar mcdiocri,y. but the desire that tho
aco shall excel in all kinds OF work,
end that the people shah both be the
BEST and have the best. The poet Pope
asserted the comfortable doctrine that
Whatever Is. Is right" Mr. Chalcote,
me brewer, in Robertson's comedy or
ours" announced the frecr, though
less agreeable conclusion, that what
'yer IS. IS wrong" There are writers
Who celebrate the glories OF the pre-
sent age. and who continually minis
.er 20 vanity by informing the people
hat they are but little lower than the
sngels. Such writer's are not source
Of help and strength. The world does
not prosper through being fattered. Too
much Is heard about the rights Of man;
700 little about his duties. The moralists
who frankly tell people the truth.
when that people, as often happens, Is
5oing wrong and going wrong, arc bet
ter friends OF mankind than the hatter-
srs Of tho popular mood and conduct.
Observation. with extended view, per-
rcives that people in general are more
aeeply Interested in what they cal
srnuseInents than in serious occupations.
You must study popular amusements,
therefore II you wish to understand the
mental condition and tendency OF the
people. Those matters engrOss much at
tenton. and IL IS through the discussion
and guidance OF their amusements that
the people are most easily and directly
reached and affected. Two methods OF
that discussion and guidance. both long
and vogue, are sharply contrasted in
contemporary practice-that Of universal
laudatiOn. and that Of objection and
remOnstrance The former largely pre-
dominates. and 10 has wrought evil by
making bad matters worse. Within re-
cent years-althougn noble and beau
tul works have been shown, and inn
r1rtant steps have been taken-an
avalanche Of trash has been cast upon
the stage. and the people have accepted
90 and have. practically. approved it,
while scarcely q voice among public
c.rsors has been raised against that
f4rrant abuse of the theatre. on the
contrary, the pubic has been told 10
accept IT, has been praised for accept
ing IT, and has been prompted TO en-
courage the extension OF IL. I'VE are
Woodworking. nervous tired commu-
rftv"-sl runs the stream OF mischievous
colnsel-"and we need recreation. When
We go TO a theatre we want to be
amused. We do not want 10 think. Let
iis have something light Thus cajoled.
and thus caJoling itself. the popular in
telllgence surrenders TO folly and the
average theatrical manager compliment
IN remarks. II must give them what
they want"
The writer's and the managers who rea-
son In that way do not reason we'll 1t
was unfortunate THAI the custom Of view
ing the stage as an amusement ever
prevailed; for the stage is an institution
higher and finer than any amusement
and II Possesses an influence upon society
second only 10 that of the hearthstone
But. even viewing IL as one of the
amusements, no man has right 10 de-
grade its character or impair it's useful
ness. II we overwork ourselves as a
community, let us quit that injurious
and useless custom. Half of the activity
that people commonly call work" con-
slsts Of parade and pother The actual
work of the world is done silently by
the minority, and usually IL does not oc-
cupy All the time or exhaust all the
strength Let us economic our ener-
giles and stop the snorting and the waste
II we are tired" and nervous" we
can surely rest and refresh the nerves
without turning the stage into play
ground Tor idiots and making the thea
tire a hospital for victims of dyspepsia
Sick persons are I'm no tit condition 10
comprehend the drama, and even If they
were the actor is not an apothecary
The tire for going to the play is when
YOU are well and refreshed, and can
appreciate what you see and hear; when
your mind and soul are receptive, anG
YOU are not concerned with the state OF
your stomach and the ills Of your sys-
tenn There are influences In the dra-
matte arr which can ennoble and help
you. even though they co not foster the
lower instincts or elicit vacant laughter
The men and women who devote their
lives 20 the study and practice OF act
Ing are not frivolous mountebanks.
omulous 10 make you laugh by cutting
caper: nor are you yourself such
poor creature as you appear 10 be when
you pratte about your lassitude and
allege your preference for theatrical
rubbish.
II Is not meant that the stage is i'm
decline. Ever. since the theatre existed
90 has been subject TO fluctuations ac-
C0riant with the moods and caprices OF
public taste. There never has been a
time in its history when trash was not
striving 20 submerge IL. and when base
and sordld views Of It's province did not
find spcciOus advocates and ignoble MIN
isfgrs But it is meant that trash mas
been more than usually rampant IN re
Csnt years and that IL Is habitualiy
viewed with a mischevous lenience ana
liberation. There is more than common
need OF wholesome censure, as wei Oi
tte public taste as Of the pernicious DOC
thine thar il H. the province and pohcy
p. thinkers. writer's. and managers 10 lOl-
.ow the people instead OF leading them'
Humanity" an English melo-drama'
oy s-ton Vanc, will - presented al IN.
Academy next Tuesday afternoon anu
night 10 contains five acts and elght
.a.s and will be literally mounted II
saId The story deals with the war
between England and the Beers. III paih.s
Virtue and vice In vivid colors' and ieaoS
af.r "a host Of thrilling episodes 10 d
aalpy issue. The play opens in Ensiahu,
ana presents something OF the charm u
English rural life; the scene Is then trans
TERED 20 the Tranavaal, where the hurly-
slr.y OF a military campaign is witness
3D. and the closing scenes are set IN Eng
agi
The American rights 70 the piece nave
3een purchased by Brady and Corbett
The cast Is as follows: Ross ID. O'Neai'
Harry r. Rosscan. Mrs. Mary NJ. Elfeth'
Alice Irving Eleanor Hay, J. Palmer COZ
ms " j. Bowen, Clarence Ferguson
Nyrile May Bessie Bremo. q. }. VII
Jams. Harry Price. Gus Mortimer, HARRY
AaskIns. John Hughes Frank Morrls'
lanes +. Burke. Henry Garter, John