THE THEATRES,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 210, 11 August 1862, Page 6

THE THEATRES,

(To the Editor of the Colonist.)

Sin, —Will you be so kind us to inform me, and others' equally ignorant, and equally desirous for information, what benefits or blessing -Dunedin is likely to derive from the Theatres, which you and your brother Editor highly prize, and so loudly praise ? I have exhausted my powers of thought to discover or even conjecture some possible good, but in vain ; not one benefit, not one advantage have I been able to. discover, as likely to accrue from these places of amusement ; but being taught that tbe great object of the press is to lead men's minds to what is right, it is evident that you will'be at no loss to enlighten.us on the subject. I therefore earnestly entreat you to state in simple, plain, and clear language, what those benefits and blessings are, which Dunedin may expect to derive from her Theatres.

In order, however, the better toenableyou to understand what is wanted, I shall endeavour to indicate the exteut of the information already possessed. Personal experience has taught tne that attendance on the Theatre invariably 'dissipates the mind, and leads it away 'from' God, the source of trfl good. The excitement of the Theatre produces a kind of intoxication worse in its permanent efu'cts than that produced by'ulcoholic drinks. The one affects the mind- only through .the body, and hence the mi::d protects against the slavish subjection of its powers, to the hist of the flesh ; but the other is a Just of the mind itself, intoxicating it, and laying it open to' the influence of other vile passions. Who ever expects to see good fruits of love to .God, and ge-uuimj love to man spring from :he Theutreloviuj.c heart ? lam no apologist fur alcohol, but I may be allowed to compare its claims with those of the Theatre. Alcohol often elevates the feelings and beauts in the mind while under its influence, a warmth of kindue.v> i-nd friendship, which is in itself truly s;dinirabk\ it often .stirs uj) the,.soul to deeds of kindue^-. inspires the muses, and inflames love. Often ha* it c<-mu;ted tho.^o who fur a time were lUieiiatcd, dispelled delusions which .separated frien.is, and put an end to disputes atid dilieromx-s which would have weil replenished the lawyer's pocket-, lint the Theatre, what does it do.- It enacts sct'iifs which are not real, it accustoms the- mind to dwell with a kind nf'delijrht on tictiiuuH representation* till it ce.i-e; to hate a lie, at least, it the lie is well painted, ft kindle-; a iah<; lire :it tie recital <if tr.i.^.'dy ;v!i<l comedy, till it causes the mind to oxj/i-nd its foru: in i!u- region of roman-e, to tilt; ;;"ieat injury of it.'! powers to t-ii^i^e i:i thy sober reilitie;; ot' rc.il iii'■•. k paints vi.v with a thin veil, excites lust, and exaggerates and caricatures certain virtues to Mich, v decree as to lower tin; whole morul to sic of the soul, it «iiacts scenes Vv.iifh art- not n-1! pr..>dn(v.i n,» iH-riiKim-ut yood. does not clesaie"u >in«rle HSlection of the s!>ui, but in a tnerisurc unlits it to grapple with sober reality. No doitltt alcolio! ttikcn Id lxc.:.v« renders men bias's or lienjirf, but t!»t: Thentre like «lov." prison et}i.''tM its tl«'p!on«i>J«'a tranf->r-m;tt'n«n of the; inoraJ nututv of ninn. Alcohol nuiy be compared to t!;e tliunderiny cannun which j devastuu-s with a loud rt-jort. giving warnii.j,' ufj the diiUjjer it creat«.-.-: but the Theatre'i.> a sapper i and miii'T. which «rr'<lui<lly \vwr!:s it« | way under the walls of tin* fortress of iimn'.+ i -on:, uud c.i.ust.s it lo bir.if foitti into w.nn vh-o, I or .siiik.-s it into mural d> a'!n':ss." Tho hoi-terous ! noiw ami raiihtiuht revelry of t!m ThtTiin- di.s-! turbs the nei^hi A>v\v.u>ii as wi'il as the blustering S iat tho l.oLi-1 bar. l)^v> not lijt* attendant on the I j'Jnim-sbop spend'b*> tint-; ar.-l hi^ mou<'-y to thr ! j injury .md u--:''-;!:t «-t" >■!•* t':::'i;y, k'-fph:;; 1 ,te ! i liours, .'ltl'l UUJitih;,',' b"i!i!.-f.f U>v JHtniiV iit:tii.-i- ; S I add what better J-. tlie 'H■••:;!tre iVv-iue.-Aer?" He ■ ■ SciM;p;i lull- hour*, !'.''jflwit.s ;iu-J iiifapi-.citatc-d him- .• {selffol* fiimiiy dntiosj >i-iY occasionally tin rntv ! j take hi-; tatnily v.--"tti hlui Us teach them niuu- j U-Mcftually and t'oruc^h'y to \hr t :vt l.ivd. Cut 1 ! j muht drop the cou;p u*;->'si!, li-hs :i'C draiH-dtiukcr i I and the; dnim-si'ller be t-iic-i')Ura'f«-.il. ■ ;

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QntE ro.t Scam. —As the time approaches w-'-cn the new .Scab Act will come info operation, if. U inportant that tii'* owners of dirty .sheep should not Wiiste their liiuo in adopting otlicr than th« mot (■•ilii;ai:;otii mean iof ext.erminiting the di«:nso. Our attention has-boon called to a paragraph noiv goiu-x the round of U.»; papers to the ell Wet that washiutr with soda and sulphur in a mini f.ir "scab. Tiiil, wVhave been assured by compirtfiut jinl^.-i, ii altogether (UToneotis, Th'-se two articles have been frequently tried, but never with success.- Sulphur anil m- It, combine.!, with tobacco, an;-very elhVaciuus, but t!i ■ two former invfi jim action by thciiiselves. .Extcn-ivc flocks have been cured by tobaci::* and sulpimr alone, a quavter of a pound ol"e:u''i to the g.vHoa. Tise only use of the soda is in cle«aing iu:l softening'the v/ 001. Our iufonnant took the-professional opinion of Dr. Mnund as to tlie chemical properties of the three substances when used together, and ho testified to the absence of an nutn^ouisttc action, and announced his belief that th^y might hf: employed witli advantage. — Qtelotuj Adve.rthsv,r.

Tib; Execution ok an Ixihas Muki>khbk.— Mogul Be;.;, a sepoy, who took a conspicuous part in the Ifetiii i'alaeo muivlei-3 oi'the 11th of _ May, 1857, has been executed. lie was Feen by six witnesses cutting down aii'l kiliius ?.Ir. Frascr. He was saon, with hia s'.vorl cjvured froiu point to hiit with blood, standing over the corpses of the youn# la'lii'H. He was proved to have g»no, in company with others, to ask a reward from th« king for jxtrfonning Kuch deeds. He wiu an.l .heard giving order« how and wheji the plate and other plundered property of those- wht> ha.-l bt:;n amirdorc 1 kliouKl be rumovvtf. lie exiiltingly displayed in public the pistol which had belonged to Cuptaiu Douglas, whom he hud killed after he was seriously hurt by his fall into the moat. Altogether, judicial proof- in such a caae could not have been iaova perfect. An eye-\vitne*s of the execution writes:—" On the morning of tilt; lltli March, at day break, the prisoner slowly mounted the scaffold, which was guarded by a body of mounted and i'oot police. 110 was a large, powerful man, with a .sinister countenance, aged 35. In a few word.-* lie called upon the Mahometans who were congregated in front of him to boiv liim hi remoiabnwee. Tho.x'fipe and cap wore iuljußtc<l, and ortlur was given, tliu-di'np fell, and the prisont'r'H fate was Mealed. H'ih body hung for un'hour, with heavy fetters ou the legs and the arms pinioned." The above facts are narrated in no vindictive spirit, and ia the sincere hope that they may not harrass the feelings of any surviving friends of those lamented ones who fell early victims in the rebellion. The moral effect of this protracted and finally successful track of the mufderer, extending over very nearly five years, has been considerable.