theatres--can they
be severed from it--Nat wants to hear more--at home at one
o'clock--outside remarks afterwards--his course criticized--went
a number of times thereafter--his object in going good--yet
it was not safe---the Roman youth at the amphitheatre--so
with theatre-goers--theatres always been schools of vice--acts
of Congress against--vain attempt to make theatres respectable
in Boston--the legend of Tertullian--the actor Macready exposed
the vice of theatres--Judge Bulstrode's charge--Sir
Matthew Hale's experience in boyhood--opinion of the infidel
Rousseau 214-225

CHAPTER XXII.

THE DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

The proposition--how it was met--they undertake it--how the
theatre creates love of such amusement--the nephew who became
an actor by hearing--playing Macbeth--make their own scenery--Nat
wrote constitution--evening of the organization--evening
of the first play--a success--remarks of Mr Graves adverse
to such performances--talk in the village--remarks of old Mrs.
Lane--why Nat does it--conversation with Charlie--Nat opposed
to being an actor--desire to be a statesman 226-234

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SURPRISE.

The news--discussion in the town lyceum--occasioned by the
dramatic society--the question "Are dramatical exhibitions beneficial
to society?"--the evening of the debate--Nat goes--Mr.
Bryant's remarks on the low origin of theatres--remarks of another
on the immorality of actors--of another on the profane and
vulgar parts of plays--seven thousand indecent sentences in
English plays--King James the First--Addison's view--the
class of persons who patronize theatres--Nat's excitement--Frank's
question--Nat's attention--rises to speak--the surprise
of the audience--his argument and eloquence astonished all--remark
of Dr. Holt--reminds us of Patrick Henry--description
of his first plea--his triumph--Charlie's view--Nat's argument
changed no one's view--his eloquence they admired--invited
to join town lyceum--the dramatic society dead 235-250

CHAPTER XXIV.

ANOTHER STEP.

Making a new study--conversation with Charlie--Nat's new plans--study
furniture--manual labor--Charlie's opinion--excessive
reading bad--using what is learned--Coleridge's description of
readers--difference between Nat and Charlie--Burke's Essay on
the Sublime and Beautiful--a bit of humor--using the library of
Harvard Coll