Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-22


Iigion. There arc professors of religion
that 1 would not want in my parlor or
kitchen or coal cellar. 1t is not what we
profess, but what we are. All who come
on that platform Of the spectacular will
be gentlemen and ladies in the ordinary
ncceptation Of those terms. persons whom
yon would invite to sit Mt your table ana
whom you would introduce to your chill
dren and with whom you would not he
compromised If you were seen passing
down Pennsylvania avenue or Broadway
with them
On that platform there shall he no ca
rouscr, no inebrintc, no cyprian. no foe
of good morals, masculine or feminine. 1t
Is often said we have no right 10 criticise
the private morals Of public entertainers.
We'll. do as you please with other insti-
tutons, on the platform of this new inSu-
tuition we shall have only good mon and
good women in the ordinary social sense
Of goodness Just as soon as the plat
form Of the spectacular is fully and fair
ly established many "A genius who Githcr-
TO has suppressed the dratoatic element
in his nature because he could not find
the realm in which to exercise it will step
over on the platform, and giants of the
who have been toiling for the elevation of
the drama, will step over on that plat
form such women as Charlotte Cush-
man Of the past. such men as Joseph JEFF
fCrson OF the present.
The platform of that new institution,
of that cXpurgated drama, occupied only
by these purest Of men and women, Will
draw to itself millions of people who
have never been to see the drama more
than once or twice in their lives, or never
saw it at all. That institution will COM
bnc the best music, the best architecture,
the best genius six nights the week on
the side of intelligence and good morals.
DO you tell me this plan is chimcrcal
| answer, it only requires one man some
where between here and San Francisco
OF between Bangor and Galveston to see
it and appreciate it-onc man of large IN
dividual means and great heart, and with
100000 he could do more good than all
the LcnoXcs and the Lawrcnccs and the
Ieabodys ever accomplished. lie would
settle for all nations and for all times
the stupcndOuS question of amusement
which for centuries has been under angry
and vituperative discussion and which Is
no nearer being settled today, by all APP
pearanccs, than it was at the start. Such
an institution would have to be support
ed at the start by a donation Of capital,
but very soon, III year or two, 1t would
become self supporting, and the board of
trustees OF the reformed amusement as
ISOLATION would find that the idea paid
not only in morals and the elevation OF
the people, but in dividends and hard
cash.
Prediction of the Future.
| would go to such an institution, such
| a spectacular. ! should go once a week
| the rest of my life and take my family
with me, and the majority OF the families
! of the earth would go to such an institu-
ton. expect the time will come when
can, without bringing upon myself criti'
cism, without being an inconsistent CHRIS
tan. when |, n minister of the good old
Presbyterian church, will be able to go to
some new Institution like this, the spec
tacular and see Hamlet" and king
Lear" and the Merchant Of Venice" ano
the "Hunchback' and Joshua Whit
comb" Meanwhile many of us will have
this dramatic element unmet and unre
called.
For my love OF pictures ! can go to the
art gallery, for my love Of music | can &c
to the concert. for my love of literature
can 60 to the lyccum lecture, but for thi:
dramatic element in my nature, as stronl
as any other passion of the soul, there II
nothing but Injunction and prohibition
Until. sirs, you can establish spcctacu
lar or a similar institution, with as mucl
purity and with MS much entertainment
as this one Of which | speak-until yol
can establish some such institution YOU
may thunder away against evil amuse
ments until the last minute OF the las
hour OF the last day of the worlds exist
ence and without avail.
We want this institution Independent
of the church and Independent of the the
alter. The church tries to compromise thi
matter, and in many churches there ar
dramatic exhibitions. Sometimes the
call them charades sometimes they cal
them magic lantern exhibtions-entel
tainments for which you pay 30 cents, tn
80 cents to go for the support of som
charitable institution. An extemporizc
stage is put up in the church or in the lee
ture room, and there you go and see Da
vid and the giant and Joseph sold int
Egypt and little Samuel awokc, the chic
difference between the exhibition in III
church and the exhibition in the theate
being TINT the exhibition in the theater
more skillful.
Now let us have a new institution. wit
expurgatcd drama and with the SUI
roundings | have spoken of-an institl
ton which we can without sophistry an
without self deception support and pa
rOnize-an institution so uncompromi'
! ingly good that we can attend it wthot
, any shock to our religious sensiblitie
though the Sabbath before we sat at I'll
holy sacrament.
Beware of Contamination.
The amusements Of life are beautif,
: and they are valuable, but they cam,
: pay you for the loss of your soul. coul
not tell your character, could not to
your prospects for this world or the ne'
= by the particular church you attend, bl
IL you will tell me where you were la
, night and where you were the night b
fore and where you have been the nigh
Of the last month, | think ! could gue
, where you will spend eternity.
AS to the drama Of your life and min
it will soon end There will he no enco
. to bring us back. AT the beginning
that drama of life stood cradle, at Il
/ end of it will stand grave. The first ac
UalCnplp Tho In ct mot farewell The /