The chief reason why no Christian should attend the theatre is the
character of a large majority of plays put on the stage.
Listen to what the play-writers and actors themselves say:
M. Dumas, a French writer of plays, wrote: "Never take your daughter to
the theatre; it is not merely the work that is immoral, it is the
place."
W. C. Macready, the great actor, said: "None of my children shall ever,
with my consent, enter a theatre, or have any visiting connection with
actors or actresses."
Edwin Booth, the great tragedian, wrote: "My knowledge of the modern
theatre is so very meagre that I never permit my wife or daughter to
witness a play without previously ascertaining its character. The
theatre is permitted to be a mere shop for gain, open to every huckster
of immoral adventures,--jimcracks."
Fanny Kemble, the actress, confessed that life on the stage was
unhealthy to morals, and said: "I never presented myself before an
audience without a shirking feeling of reluctance, or without thinking
the excitement I had undergone unhealthy, and the personal exhibition
odious."
--_Southern Churchman._
1902
An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.
1903
Everything that has a beginning comes to an end.
1904
Do little things now; so shall big things come to thee by and by asking
to be done.
--_Persian Proverb._
1905
Don't despise a slight wound, or a poor relative.
1906
Never despise small things, for we were all infants before we became
men, and pupils, ere we became teachers.
1907
_Thought._--How often must we repeat it?--rules the world.
--_Carlyle._
1908
At a dinner when Daniel Webster was Secretary of State, after a period
of silence which fell upon the company of some twenty gentlemen who were
present, one of the guests said, "Mr. Webster, will you tell us what was
the most important thought that ever occupied your mind?" Webster slowly
passed his hand over his forehead, and in a low tone enquired of one
near him, "Is there any one here who does not know me?" "No; all are
your friends." "The most important thought that ever occupied my mind,"
said Webster, "was that of my individual responsibility to God." And
after speaking on this subject in the most solemn strain for fully ten
minutes, he silently rose from the table and retired to his room. This
incident serves to illustrate the attitude of great minds towards
eternal things. Great men are not scoffers. The men of flippant jeers
and godless jests are invariably men of small calibre and shallow
intellect.
1909
First thoughts are not always the best.
--_Alfieri._
1910
In matters of conscience, first thoughts are best; in matters of
prudence last thoughts are the best.
--_Rev. Robert Hall._
1911
To be without evil thoughts is God's best gift.
--_Aeschylus._
1912
It is said, the thumb is stronger than all the other fingers together.
1913