The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18


to development OF the sentiments. Re-
ligion n believed to be the highest
form Of sentiment. but III this highest
form OF sentiment no longer restraints
mankind. N IL Is too high. II the trans
cendentalism OF the church no longer
sufices to control the semi-educated
masses. n IL no longer touches their
hearts or mouIds their c~onsciences. Is
Il not time to md some other mode.
even though Il be less high. of convey
ing to them lessons of benevolence?
BY some other means TO awaken to
their dreamy. visionary brains some
touch of human sympathy and love?
IL here again the pulpit has failed let
US try the stage. try the opera; let US
try what IL can do to teach the selfish
self-abnegation and to turn the gloomy
consplrator into n Laughing philoso-
pher. Men are often led to brood over
fancied social and political wrongs
simply from the monotony OF their
existence and the cheerlessness OF their
lives: give them amusement. give them
harmless distraction. and their fancied
wrongs will disappear; give them good
operas and good plays and plots n
schemes will cease TO haunt their
minds. Men need amusement and re-
creation as they need food n rest.
Would II not then be wise to supply
IL. truly benevolent to furnish u Of
such a character that IL may elevate
and improve while IL entertains N
diverts? Light English opera con-
tains the finest and most sympathet-
ic compositions and themes in the
known world; operas like The Beg
gar student" etc. Why should they
be left to private speculation?
In the year now ending nearly So
OoO. 900 has been left by will or other
wise for various purposes in the Unit
ed States. But IL seems never to have
occurred TO one of these generous tes-
tators tina II would be equally benev-
olent to help brighten the life of the
poor. but music-loving masses. by the
establishment of a home for opera,
where the charge for admission would
not exceed say % cents. As IL Is now
a manager must charge a good
price for opera or he finds himself rap
idly going down the financial incline.
The other way the noble bounty Of
the testators would be equally bestow-
ed in aiding to dispel the dullness That
enshrouds the existence of the poor
and that TO furnish recreation where
by the mind and the body may be as
sisted to be maintained in health Is
as pensaries to cure them when dis
eased.
Therefore. in closing. I again say,
as / began. give US an endowed the-
alter. where plays and operas can lie
produced in a noble manner at a small
cost TO the masses. Gu the CONNER
cial spirit out of the enterprise en-
tirely.
A sermon or lecture will quickly tire,
but let the lecture be illustrated ty
experiments or even pictures. as the
magic lantern. the attention Is arous-
ed. n faculties stimulated. the ears
and eyes combined carry the idea 10
the brain with a vividness imposei'
BILE when hearing Is the only medium
In dramatic representation not only
are the ears and eyes employed. but the
feelings. the sentiments and even the
passions are brought into activity
Add to all these the soul-stirring
sweet. cheering. melodious strains oi
music. the low songs OF the tenor. th'
of the soprano. the inter
ruptions of the basso. the baritone. the
solos. duets, trios. quartettes and tn
ringing. magic swell OF the choruse'
and ensemble. and this Is opera.
Let the fact at once be grasped that
especially i'm ethics, an ounce of exam
pie is worth a ton of precept. n w
shall have at last mad a start upo,
the road to the moral improvement
of our race. Respectfully,
, DOROTHY MORTON.