66 My eldest boy and all the others, except the youngest darling, sleep at the house of a kind sister-in-law. We have friends who would have come to our relief, but we did not wish merely to transfer a debt, and in so doing, possibly injure those for whom we were bound to feel most regard." I desired to hear no more-with a choked utterance, I made this worthy man understand that I would remove at once all impediment to his egress. His eyes brightened -the wife and the children advanced, having distinguished my emotion and intention almost intuitively :—I was saved from a scene of gratitude, which would have been even more irksome than the one of sorrow, by the entrance of a tidy, active female, and a smart lad, who proved to be the sister-in-law, and the eldest son. The former carried a basket in her hand, covered with a white towel, and the children seemed to be well acquainted with the nature of its contents. Benevolence and notableness shone in her face. When my name struck the ear of the ingenuous and spirited lad, his looks were such as the father thought it necessary to repress at once by a similar mien directed to him. I could have felt no resentment if they had all railed at me, so deeply contrite was I for having blasted the happiness and fortunes of such a family, by a really improvident attempt to recover what was not necessary to my own support and credit. My vexation and repentance were heightened as I examined the wretched room, and observed the family bible on the rough table, and some volumes of the English classics collected by the brother for the use of the sister. The general conversation which ensued impressed me with respect for the good sense and sentiment and liberal improvement of my new friends-I say friends, for such they were at once inclined to be, notwithstanding my agency in their new fate. You will think me tedious, Mr. Editor; but I shall not trespass much longer on your patience. The sequel of my story is—that my debtor, very soon after he was released, was obliged to emigrate with his family to a village in the interior, as he could not be reinstated in his credit and former career. They toil there in a more humble line; thrive in a more simple way; hope to be still able to pay all their debts, and enjoy satisfaction, which I may envy. I shall detest for ever the words imprisonment for debt, and must beg of you, if you should hear of any instances of the arrest of dead bodies, to brand them with the infamy which they merit. A CHRISTIAN. THE STAGE. WE think, and have always thought, that a well-regulated stage is fitted to be useful in several important respects, to a populous city. And it is probable that this opinion would be universal, had the stage always borne that character;—if licentiousness had never been suffered to pollute the drama itself, and the rules of morality and decorum had been strictly maintained on the boards, and in the galleries and lobbies. Objection could no more lie to an assemblage of persons, collected in a commodious and ornamented structure to hear the chaste and elegant productions of inventive and poetical genius, and to witness representations of the struggles and fate of the nobler or more dangerous passions, and pictures of the manners and follies of the different styles of life, than to a concourse for the purpose of hearing a lecture, a trial, or simple recitation; or of enjoying any liberal exhibition whatever, adapted to improve the taste, to give an insight into the varieties of social character and existence, and to excite strong and salutary emotions. The drama is susceptible of excellent uses; and the stock of pieces which English literature now possesses, is, we apprehend, such as to furnish enough, both in Tragedy and Comedy, free of impurity or grossness in the dialogue, and open to no reproach in regard to the general moral and tendency. It is this consideration which entitles us the more to complain, when plays and farces, exceptionable in those points, are introduced, or double entendres, and libertine allusions and incidents are tolerated. A mother who takes her daughter to the theatre, should never be compelled to blush herself, and to see her child's cheek suffused with shame, at what is uttered or transacted on the stage. It is not surprising that women of delicate and religious minds, who have even but once experienced this mortification, should afterwards shun the scene of it, and communicate their disgust to others. The apology usually offered for such irregularities is, that a portion of the public, of gross habits and tastes, require these, to be amused; and that, without consulting their gratification, the theatre cannot be supported. We question whether the presence of the vulgar and dissolute could not be obtained upon more creditable terms-quite as easily by broad humour divested of profaneness and lewdness; and we are sure that more persons are now lost to the pit and boxes, by the license and equivocal reputation of the theatre, than would desert the galleries, if a reformation were effected. Reduce to its true essence the argument of all who contend for the necessity of admitting public prostitutes and licensing the exercise of their arts of enticement, and the intrigues of which they are the objects, in the theatre, and it is this “We must have them in order to draw young men, and debauchees of whatever age, and thus assure larger receipts at the door." The reasoning is similar as to the retention of those indecent repartees, which occur in some of the farces. We must confess that we see no real difference between such pleas, and those which might be urged by the keepers of establishments more directly favourable to the nutrition and diffusion of vice. There would be no ground of complaint, if the reply should be "you persist in maintaining a positive nuisance-there are very many of us who cannot be reconciled to this admixture of acknowledged evil with good-we must therefore abstain from passing your threshold, and deter others if we can, that they may not be exposed to danger, or give countenance to the mischief." We trust that the discipline of the projected theatre will be, as we sincerely think it may be rendered, irreproachable. Theatrical exhibition might be made even more beneficial than it is in its best common forms; and it is not to be condemned entirely for a few defects or inordinacies. We One consideration, moreover, is all-powerful with us. The theatre will subsist and flourish, in spite of all reasoning levelled at its morality. It is connected with the habits of civilized society, and has, indeed, prevailed at all times, and in all nations not absolutely barbarous. know of but one republic from which it was excludedthe imaginary one of Plato. Since it cannot be eradicated or banished, the true course with regard to it, is to endeavour to effect its complete reformation. That it is capable of salutary uses, no one, we think, can doubt. We would no more argue from abuse in this case, than in that of any other institution. All persons conscientiously scrupulous, may abstain from frequenting the theatre, or encouraging it in any manner. PERSONAL CHARACTER OF ACTORS.-The doctrine which is proclaimed,-that the personal conduct of an actor ought not to be considered in connexion with his public exhibitions, nor affect him at all professionally-implies the lowest degradation of the whole theatrical corps, and snatches all dignity and honour from the stage. Managers and players should be the last to admit it in theory; or to act as if they deemed it admissible. In common life, there is no labourer, no artisan, no member of the higher professions, who can commit a heinous violation of duty and morality, without feeling the loss of his character, in his business :-individuals of moral sensibility, who wish to assist the cause of virtue and social order in general, will have nothing to do with others that have rendered themselves personally and notoriously infamous. An inquisition is not, and should not be, established into private conduct, in ordinary cases; but in almost every instance, even in the humblest callings, where there is detected and flagrant turpitude, custom, as well as consideration, is withdrawn more or less from the offender; he is more or less shunned and frowned upon in every capacity. This, we might say, must happen among a truly moral people; and the practice is most beneficial, as it tends to repress bad example, and brings a powerful influence to operate upon iniquities and disorders which the law cannot reach; -it will therefore, be thought obligatory by a good citizen. Public opinion may be more efficient than the penal code, and should be kept active, and even fastidious, if possible, to be turned to due account. Now, is the occupation of the player to be excluded |