posterity must excel ours with
the times to come.

CHAPTER VI.

AMERICAN THEATRES.

Ten years ago the theatres in America were thought immoral places: and if
Niblo's theatre was frequented by the best class, it was for no other
reason, but because it did pass under Niblo's garden. Though every year
the american theatre is gaining ground, and, as it seems, time will bring
it to the consideration which it deserves, it is still in a state of
infancy to what it should be: and it is just because it is in a bad
repute, that talented american writers did not yet display their genius in
such a rich branch of literature.

The ancient Greece, the mother of all nations in literature, was the first
to bring on the scene, the actions of man with which to instruct the
people, and inculcate morals, without preaching precepts: and as the good
example is the best instructor, such a moral is felt, and followed by the
people in earnest, and success: and while they laugh, or weep, the
agreeable pastime leaves in their mind strong impression of virtue. The
aim to inculcate morality, was so strict in those ancient times of Greece,
that a law was passed with which they would not admit any play by any
author, who was not twenty-five years of age.

Good theatres are so necessary to a civilized country, and such an
indisputable branch of literature, that, when I met in America persons,
who did object to them, it seemed as if I had come into a barbarous
country, and not into this very country, which can glory to possess the
best government of our present century throughout the world. We have only
to mention names of different nations to shame those, who call the theatre
an immoral place. OEschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Plautus, Terence,
Goldoni, Alfieri, Corneille, Racine, Lope de Vega, Calderon, Moratin,
Shakspeare, Otway, Shiller, Goethe; and here I will say nothing of chinese
or hindoo writers of comedy and tragedy, whose works stand, and will stand
as the best school of morality.

That many of the american theatres are rather on the immoral, than on the
moral side, I cannot deny it. But, if so, it is the fault of the people,
permitting such plays. The best thing may be turned into an evil. The
theatre is the school of all the fine arts; and were it sustained by the
people as a necessary thing, soon authors would write classical plays.
Classical authors, would form classical performers; and classical
performers, giving a good t