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Untitled Article
expense , and they do not " pay " the speculators , because nobody goes to see them a second time . And they are consequently of short duration . But how is the prodigality to be met , how are such expenses to be liquidated ? Managers are not capitalists , and consequently , when amateur pigeons will no longer
suffer themselves to be "plucked" the former must lealize large sums by the theatre , or they could neither go on , or " save their ears ? " No such matter , —an easier way has been discovered . One great patentee of our '' national glory' * avoids paying his just debts by declaring in a court of law that "he is a rogue and a vagabond , according to Act of
Parliament , "—and according to sundry less legal acts he might truly have added , —another , more aristocratically cunning , gets himself placed on the list of Gentlemen Pensioners , whereby none
of his creditors can arrest him ; whereby he increases his expenses and laughs in his sleeve ; whereby the said Gentlemen Pensioners are very highly flattered , and feel themselves very especially honoured in the new member of their very devout and loyal band !
The last three or four years have presented a collection of characters at the head of our leading " national" establishments , such as future annals will find it difficult to reconcile with our boasted civilization , and the March of Intellect . In the prominent position of prime ministers and directors of public taste , intellect and morality , we have had auctioneers , stock-jobbers , dancing-masters , speculating Jews and French charlatans , knowing and caring as much about our literature as of the
mountains in Jebel el Cumri ; while at the present time—the simple statement of their title of " rank" will render all denunciatory epithets quite unnecessary—we find ( with only one or two minor exceptions ) the vulgar , the uneducated , the superannuated ; gamblers , court-panders , self-admitted rogues and vagabonds , ' ^ nor of the Cyprian isle should * we be mute . " Meantime people talk of the decline of the Drama !
A few months ago , a dinner was given at Lincoln to the company of performers belonging chiefly to that place , but occasionally making the circuit of ' Wisbeach , Boston , &c . Here is part of the speech of a country manager : — " Mr . VV . Robertson rose , and addressed the company as follows : — 1 should consider myself extremely degraded and debased , if I
thought for a moment that theatrical existence depended upon un appeal to sensuality ; and should regard it as most cruel and oppressive on the part of the public , if the claims of education , united with a moderate proportion of professional ability , and the correct observances of private life , did not entitle an actor to that respect and estimation in the world , that is extended to every other modification
of society . { Great applause . ) That , we fully recognise the ri ^ ht that the moral principle should govern its amusements , will 1 hope be evident , when 1 assure you that 1 nev « r allow a pluy to be represented ,
Untitled Article
Indestructibility oj the Dramd . $ H
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1836, page 333, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2658/page/5/
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