| Citation |
NYG(W.761.120
7 Dec 1761:12,13,21 (153)
The following piece, on the subject of Theatrical
entertainments, is recommended to the serious perusal of the
gentlemen and ladies of this city, by their very humble
servant, [signed] Philodemus.
Obsta Principiis. Ovid.
That a great part of the inhabitants of this city are very
corrupt in their morals, and sunk into an awful dissipation
of thought, is so sadly evident, that I need not fear the
charge of an uncharitable censurer for such an insinuation.
-- Is it not a pity then, that any practices should be
introduced and patronized, that have a direct tendency to
render them still more dissolute, immoral and prophane? --
But that such is the tendency of those theatrical
entertainments, that are lately introduced among us, is
evident from the nature of the thing, and the long
experience the world has had of their fatal effects. . . [1
1/8 columns long dissertation on whether plays are immoral,
including the following observation:] I must therefore beg
pardon of my readers, and especially of the Fair Sex, if I
say that I have but a very indifferent opinion of the
modesty of a lady that frequents the play-house, which has
so often proved fatal to the reputation of the sex by
criminal assignations, and lascivious intrigues. -- And
besides those scenes of immodesty, so common in plays, I
appear to all that have frequented the theatre, whether they
ever saw one acted, that was not interspersed here and there
with such horrid oaths, and prophane language, that a
serious mind must ever be shock'd to hear.
If plays are considered in a political view, 'tis
impossible to prove them innocent; they greatly hurt the
community by laying a heavy tax on the city, to maintain a
set of vagrants that are of no use to society. . .
The real truth is, --the tendency of plays in general is
not to discover vice, but to guild it over with a false
varnish, and make it the more reputable. --Those persons
then who frequent plays, and take a pleasure in seeing
vicious characters exhibited on the stage, do clearly
evidence (to me at least) an inclination to verge as far
upon those criminal indulgences as ever they can consistent
with their reputation . . .
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