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366

On Theatrical Amusements.

[VOL.2 of these theatrical amateurs, who are not objection; and while I allow you all the young men of vacant minds, pleased force of your Horatian quotation, I do with trifles, and unequal to greater attain- not admit of its appropriate application iments and those who are so easily in this instance; for certainly it cannot pleased, or rather so indolent in their be said of any one, Omne tulit punclum, choice of amusement, are usually found while any valid objection remains.—How to be superficial in their studies, and far my objections may be so considered desultory in the graver pursuits of life- by you, I shalt not pretend to anticipate not unfrequently flippant in conversation, I have but one object, that of giving weak in judgment, and impatient of you such advice as my experience every serious call upon their attention.

warrants; and if I dare assert so much Certain it is, that a mind, however upon the ground which I have taken, I capable of improvement in itself, must should go on and say, that you have in degenerate into insipiency, when it is this instance but one duty to fulfil, that thus constantly occupied in the contem- of following my admonition. Now, plation of objects unworthy of its powers G, were the moral tendency on these powers also will be proportion- frequenting theatres the only question ately weakened by such an application between us, I should not hesitate to of them, and when it becomes necessary decide against the habit; for I would be to conform them to the higher obliga- understood in this part of the subject as tions of life, they will shrink from the adverting to the frequency of the attenencounter. Here I would remind you dance, and the habitual fondness for such of the sentiment of one of your school amusement which that frequency creates authors, who was as well acquainted with in young minds-for there is no morality the human mind as he was remarkable to be learnt at a theatre which may not for the skill and energy with which he as easily be acquired at home, and, I applied its intellectual efficiency." In venture to add, much more effectually, my opinion," says he, "it is altogether without that distraction of the attention impossible that those who are occupied and erratic propensity of the imagination in matters of trifling import and unworthy which the glare, shew, and surrounding of their attention, should ever possess an objects of a playhouse always produce elevated and vigorous turn of mind--and I believe I speak the sentiments of for it must necessarily follow, that of nine persons out of ten who give themof whatever nature be the pursuits of selves the trouble of thinking, when I men, such will be their sentiments and pronounce at once against the possibility inclinations.

of moral impression being made of any lasting influence upon the mind of a young man by stage representations, while such numerous indecorous and indecent interruptions to this influence are permitted to exist, as at present degrade our theatres, for the shameless and avowed purpose of alluring our youth by their vicious excitements.

One thing I must premise, before I enter more fully into the subject of this letter. I would not be understood as objecting to your acquiring a knowledge of the British drama, which forms a material feature in the character of our national taste--I would only prevent you from mistaking the means of acquiring it. It may be made one object of However, G, I will not stop to your English reading, and so far will insist upon this argument; it is too true afford you a pleasing source of relaxation to be denied, and I fear the evil consefor your leisure hours; but it is a know- quence is too common to be got rid of ledge that is not to be obtained by with a "pish," or a "perhaps."-Let throwing away those hours upon the us return to the "utile" of the stagedramatic productions of the present day, It is said, and has been very ably, though or in attending their representation. This I think with some sophistry, maintained, 13 a waste of time against which I would that the stage has a corrective influence strenuously object; and with whatever over the public mind, that it softens the plea you may urge that the utile is suffi- manners and attacks the vices of a people ciently blended with the dulce to justify through a medium which no other source such an attendance, I must maintain my of public instruction admits of; namely,

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personal representation. I have no ob- the drama of the present day produces jection to allow this, provided it can be more harm than good. This you will proved at the same time, that the evidence say is a sweeping clause of condemnaappears in the character of society; for tion which you cannot assent to, and in if it is to be called a useful medium, let the phraseology of the day you may term its usefulness be made apparent. But it illiberal; but the proof of the liberality does it appear in the present tone of the or illiberality of any sentiment is the public mind, or in the aspect of its prom- truth of it. Now then let us bring some inent features. Surely by this time, of the most popular plays to this test. when so many ages have had this didactic What think you of the modern tragedies? volume to study in, when the best writers I know not one that can with justice be and the best actors may well be supposed applauded, as conveying that useful into have impressed all its most powerful struction for which you contend. The lessons upon the head and heart of the major part of them are extravagant in public, we may reasonably expect the subject, improbable in incident, and proof in its most striking testimony. distorted in style. We will select one Well, then, where shall we look for it? from the rest; Bertram, for instance; in the purity of our young men ?-in the this ought to serve your purpose as to modesty of our young women?-in the public impression, for it had as continued self restraint of the more mature of both a run as any tragedy that has been written sexes?-in the sober-mindedness of the for these fifty years. It will also serve aged, and in the manners of all?-One mine; as an example of the public taste; glance at the general sentiment and de- and I really cannot qualify my rejection portment of those who rank among the of it with one single allowance of its play-going part of the world, will at usefulness. Its characters are either once satisfy us, that our search would be weak or wicked. Its plot outrages all fruitless. When was there more pre- dramatic justice; and its style is inflated mature vice to be found among the beyond even the ludicrous bombast. young men than now?--when less re- You will, perhaps, quote me half a tiring delicacy among the young women? hundred beautiful lines-I thank you-when have we heard of more flagrant but tell me, are they useful? They are trespasses against social virtue: and when have we seen more folly in fashion, and more crime in conduct?

pretty, doubtless, and poetically descriptive, but nothing more. And then the infamous supposition on which the caBut you will ask, how happens it that tastrophe of the heroine's madness and the stage is only to be accused of this the hero's villainy turns, is too gross fruitless effort; why has not the pulpit the imagination to dwell upon. Much succeeded better? for you will naturally of the success of this favourite play decontend, that if this be a just descrip- pended upon Mr. Kean's acting, and all

for

tion, the latter more sanctified source of his powers were "written up to,' as the instruction might as well be inveighed saying is. The Apostate, you will say, against as the stage, if merely the effect had nothing of this meretricious character is to be the criterion of its usefulness? about it; may be so; but the speeches The answer I must draw from your own of the principal character seem to have premises. The theatre is a source of been framed with the direct design of amusement-the pulpit one of graver calunniating Christianity; or, at least, consideration, and those who prefer the of casting the Christian profession into former to the latter, are most likely to the shade of opprobrious misrepresentafurnish us with the examples of vitiated tion; and this, I think, cannot be called mind and heart to which I have alluded; a useful lesson in a Christian country. and with such persons the lessons of the One or two of Massinger's plays have pulpit cannot, be expected to prevail. I been revived, but not for the purpose of am, however, much disposed to think, their utility, except to the funds of the that except furnishing the memory with theatre. The principal character in the a few passages for quotation, and some Duke of Milan is a compound of every light topics for common-place talk, that unamiable passion of the heart, sufficiently

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experience of society will not justify me in asserting, that they have been useful in deterring the gamester or the young man from that criminal indulgence, the ruinous consequences of which they so well pourtray.

disguised by a pretended sensitiveness of I am still willing to grant, that both honour and feeling to pervert that juster these plays may be seen without any sense of both which a young mind ought bad effect; but I lament to add, that the to cherish, without any reservation whatever. It would be too much to take every modern effort of this kind for our discussion; but I am convinced, that out of the whole we should not be able to select more than one or two which deserve our unmixed commenda- There is a story on your side of the tion, as having a direct tendency to jus- question which I have often heard re tify your idea of the useful. There are lated, but never seen or heard attested; two tragedies which, as they are ground- That a young apprentice, who had seen ed upon domestic scenes, may, perhaps, Mr. Garrick in George Barnwell, was put in this claim to our adoption. I mean so strongly influenced by the reproaches the Gamester and George Barnwell-at of his conscience, as to call upon that least they have generally been extolled gentleman, and in the most pathetic as such. Of the former of these, not- terms confessed to him that he had saved withstanding, a very sagacious critic of him from destruction, by his inimitable these productions has given quite a dif- personation of that character; for that he ferent opinion. Mrs. Inchbald does not was so deeply impressed with the interest hesitate to declare, that no confirmed which his acting had given to it, that he gamester is likely to be converted by it, felt himself quite an altered man. I and that the passion for play has not at cannot take upon myself to deny the all been diminished by its impression. I truth of this anecdote, but one thing I believe this to be the case, because gam- may presume upon, that,if the play itself ing is more than a contingent foible; it was the cause of the youth's conversion, is a criminal passion, which roots itself it would have effected it as well in his in the mind, and absorbs all the con- closet as in a theatre; and if it was not sciousness of the heart. The same may the cause, it was the actor, and not the be said of George Barnwell, only with a play, that was useful, and as the crimes different application; the desire of illicit of robbery and murder must have been gratification grows by indulgence, and sufficiently evident in their atrocity to subverts every honest principle of self any mind endowed with the slightest denial. And whether this play was or portion of intelligence or reflection, it not founded in fact, we have not seen does not require the young man to go to the instance more rarely exemplified; the theatre to pick up the conviction; which speaks little for the usefulness of and I should make a very low estimate this play. True, indeed, the murderous of his virtuous struggles against such means used by Barnwell may not have horrible designs, who, having suffered been applied to the same purpose, and himself to be overcome by vicious prounder the same circumstances, yet we are pensities, could pretend to excuse himnot to conclude that any wicked and self by such an apology as this, “had I dissipated young man, placed in an oflice seen my perpetration previously repof trust, who has formed similar vicious resented on the stage, I should never associations to that of Barnwell, has have committed it." been deterred from such a perpetration, As to Shakspeare's Tragedies and his merely because he was conscious of its Historical Plays, if I were to hazard an iniquity, but because it has not been opinion with respect to the "utile" of necessary to his enjoyments. Besides, which we are speaking, I might perhaps the character of Milwood is so disgusting be regarded as guilty of an unpardonin representation, that it totally frustrates able profanation in the eyes of nine the purpose of the author; and every play-goers out of ten; but I must run youth who hears her speak, wonders more the risk of the unholy trespass, and deat the folly of her victim, than shrinks clare that, in my conscience, I do not from the probability of himself being so perceive their usefulness. That they are fraught with the finest imagery, the

ensnared.

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most sublime sentiments, and the most your reading, for they are so intrinsically masterly delineations of the human heart, excellent that the mind can enjoy them I am proud to join with every English in the closet as satisfactorily as in the classic in admitting; and I have no hesi- theatre; for none of them is so dependent tation in asserting, that every English- for its effect upon scene decoration as man, for the honour of his country, ought not to be equally enjoyed without as to read them, because the genius of Shak- with it. The same may be said of his speare soars far above that of any dramatic Comedies as I have presumed to assert writer whom the world has produced. of his Tragedies and Historical Plays,

The characters of Shakspeare are pecu- with this exception, that the force of liarly his own, and, with his grasp of character is more individualized in the the passions, his insight into the heart of former, and is not so much blended man in every condition, and with his with the business of the scene; and, discriminating powers of original delin- among them all, I do not call to my reeation, he has moulded them as no man collection one that, by its affinity to the before or since could do ;-but I question character and manners of our own age, whether, with all this excellence, his conveys any conviction of its vices, its folplays may be deemed, in the strict sense lies, or its pursuits. Their usefulness,there. of the word, useful. The knowledge fore, might be called in question, if it is to which they convey is that of character be measured by their applicatory nature. only, and this is in no degree applicable I would not be fastidious, nor be to the personal experience of the auditors, thought to overstrain this point; far His Drumatis Persona speak and act otherwise; for I am inclined to grant, consistently enough with their individual that a masterly personification of Shakrelation to each other, but this relation speare's principal characters, is a high forms a connection of circumstantial intellectual treat; and an hour or two events which belongs entirely to other spent in such an amusement affords times. The ambition of Macbeth, the much rational entertainment; but I jealousy of Othello, the madness of Lear, think an hour or two quite enough to be and the subtilty of Richard, are all most so engaged. Nor ought it to be often admirably consonant with the subject of repeated, since our time is of too much each of these exquisite tragedies; and value to be prodigally expended on any the principles of each character are amusement. This admission, however, wonderfully preserved and distinguished I do not choose to extend towards the in the sentiments and conduct of each. empty productions of the dramatists of It is nevertheless certain, that the im- our time, which have been dignified by pressions upon the understanding and the title of tragedies or comedies. The the feelings of the spectators, depend literary talent of the stage never was at a more upon the precision with which lower ebb, and this never was more such principles are marked by the actor, truly demonstrated than by our modern than they arise out of any conviction comedies, the majority of which have which refers them to ourselves. It not the slightest pretensions to dramatic certainly is an accomplishment to under- genius. Bad puns, stale jests, cant stand Shakspeare and to taste his beauties, phrases, forced situations, and confused but it is the accomplishment of a well plots unnaturally developed, make up educated intellect, rather than a useful the hotch-potch of almost all of them. attainment for the purposes of life. The The muse of Sheridan and Cumberland representation of these plays, therefore, has fled with their shades beyond the can have little other effect upon the gene- reach of any comedy-writer of the preral mind than to delight it. It is a re-sent day. The names of Burgoyne and fined amusement, but not a useful one. Colman have a claim to honourable menStill, if you will not give up the point of tion: but for those writers who have usefulness, in this case, and you insist made some effort to amuse the public upon it that, independent of the represen- with what they have taken upon themtation, they are useful in themselves, selves to call comedies, no more can be then I should say, make them a part of said in their praise than to acknowledge,

22 ATHENEUM. Vol. 2.

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Taste in Female Dress.

[VOL. 2.

that they have furnished the stage with I do not, however, despair of having little else but farcical caricatures of per- induced you to give the observations sonal absurdities; to fill up the useless which it contains some seasonable reaggregate, I may add the melo-dramas flection; and I think I may trust to and spectacles, which are most of them your candour and good sense for your as disgraceful to the public taste as they drawing a just balance between the are intolerable intrusions upon the reg- profit and loss of such an employment ular drama. I hope, therefore, I shall of your time:-the embarking of so senot be considered by you as drawing a rious a capital in so ambiguous a venture conclusion from false premises, while I is at all events, to say the least of it, an am anxious to convince you, that no imprudent speculation; and I have thus useful result can ensue to a young man, far taken upon me to caution you, bewho inconsiderately barters so large a cause I am anxious to secure to you a portion of his richest possession, as he more assured gain in a more justifiable ought always to esteem his time to be, appropriation of your resources. in so unprofitable a pursuit. I have, His utere mecum, my dear G———, and perhaps, extended this letter somewhat take me in as a partner of your better beyond the stretch of your patience, for satisfactions, to promote which has ever I know how ill we brook a long remon- been the earnest wish of strance against a favourite indulgence. Your affectionate father,

W.

PERSO

From the Literary Gazette.

ON TASTE IN FEMALE DRESS.
CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 256.

With respect to reigning fashions, it must
never be considered, that

"One form of dress prescrib'd can suit with all:
One brightest shines when wealth and art combine
To make the finish'd piece completely fine;
When least adorn'd, another steals our hearts,
And, rich in native beauties, wants not arts;
In some are such resistless graces found
That in all dresses they are sure to wound;
Their perfect forms all foreign aids despise

ERSONAL neatness may almost be classed with the cardinal virtues. It was an observation of Lavater, that persons habitually attentive to dress, display the same regularity in their domestic affairs. "Young women," says he, "who neglect their toilette, and manifest little concern about dress, indicate in this very particular, a disregard of order, a mind but ill-adapted to the details of And gems but borrow lustre from their eyes,” house-keeping; a deficiency of taste, and The natural figure of a woman is of the of the qualities that inspire love: they first importance in determining the style will be careless in every thing. The girl of her dress. What sight, for instance, of eighteen, who desires not to please, can be more preposterous than that of a will be a slut and a shrew at twenty-five. short, thick, broad-shouldered, fat female Pay attention, young men, to this sign; in a spencer?-It has been well observed, it never yet was known to deceive." Hus- too, that "short women destroy their bands, as well as lovers, are gratified and symmetry, and encumber their charms, delighted in seeing their partners hand- by all redundancy of ornament ;" and somely adorned; and I am well convinc- that "a little woman, feathered and fured, that many a heart, now roving in belowed, looks like a queen of the Banquest of variety, might have been de- tam tribe." tained in willing captivity at home, by Nor is the substance of which dresses the silken chains of personal decoration. are composed unworthy of notice. MakIt is one of the moral duties of every ing due allowance for the season, that married woman, always to appear well which will display, or soften the contour dressed in the presence of her husband. of the form, with most propriety and ef To effect this expensiveness of attire is fect, should always be preferred. The by no means requisite. The simplest Roman ladies had their ventus textilis, robe may evince the wearer's taste as and their linea nebula-linen so fine as nobly as the most gorgeous brocade. to acquire those names

; and, from

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