disgrace their profession, and sometimes end in destroying themselves-no display of impudent vice before the stage, or of immoral precept upon it. A theatre, so supported and conducted, must exhibit plays not less attractive for the purpose of mere amusement, and not less popular, but like the novels of Walter Scott, and James Fenimore Cooper, incomparably more fascinating, as well as instructive, than much of the trash of the stage or the circulating library of former days. Actors, however witty, would not be indulged in extemporary effusions or expletives, but speak" that which is set down for them."

When we speak of a theatre supported by the state, or by a powerful association, we do not mean that the state should prohibit others, or discourage others, any further than such a theatre must have a preference over any that cannot rival it by the exhibition of talent in plays and performers. When plays are not submitted to the decision of the ignorant or the interested, they may be written by the first in the land, and the best in the land will attend their representation. When the director is paid by the state, he will not be a manager who has debts to liquidate or coffers to fill, and actors may be well remunerated. The stage-manager should always be an actor, relieved from the duties of acting, and the prompter should be an intelligent gentleman. This would be a kind of theatrical millennium-we hope the scheme is not altogether Utopian. What has been done, may be done; and again we refer to France and Germany.

The enemies of the drama have misrepresented it; they have stigmatized the theatre, and cast every term

of reproach upon it, through successive ages; and if good name is taken from man he may become reckless of his conduct when "the immediate jewel of his soul is filched from him." If the profession were considered honourable, as in justice it ought to be, persons would be educated for it as for other honourable professions, and as they are for the French theatre. Of course the evil of youth abandoning their homes and their parents would cease-or, if theatres were conducted as we have suggested, no youth would be permitted to tread the stage without the parents'

sanction.

By those who have considered the actor's calling a good and reputable one, children have been trained to it, and are among the best and worthiest, as artists and members of society.

If the theatre is represented as the scene of licentiousness, the licentious will seek it. And if, as now in most theatres, they see a display of the votaries and victims of vice in one part of the house, and the allurements to inebriation in another, they may have just grounds to believe that they are indeed in the palace of Circe, instead of the temple of the Muses. The frail or the vicious must be admitted to every temple, but not when they are openly marked and arrayed as such. If not known, their power of evil is abridged, and the disposition to it may be changed. We advocate no abuse, but earnestly wish reform:that that, which is in itself good, may be the means of good. It was the triumph of learning over her barbarous foes that reared the stage; let us not aid those barbarous foes in their attempts to destroy it.

APPENDIX.

REGULATIONS OF THE THEATRE FRANCAIS,

ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

A

ONE hundred thousand francs per year is allowed by the government for the support of the Theatre Français. franc is about 183 cents.

SUPERINTENDENT.-An officer of government has the direction of the theatre, and his orders are transmitted to the actors by another officer, called a commissioner, who is to superintend the administration, and the financial concerns. This commissioner must personally give all orders, and is personally responsible for the carrying into effect the same. In case of violation of the rules, it is the duty of the commissioner to report to the superintendent. His other duties will be mentioned below.

ASSOCIATES.-The ACTORS are united in a society. The associates employ salaried actors.

SHARES. The receipts of all exhibitions, after deducting expenses, are divided into twenty-four shares: one share for contingencies; but if not called for, (or any surplus remaining,) it is divided at the end of the year among the associates.

A half-share is appropriated to augment the pension-fund; and another half-share is appropriated to repairs, scenery, wardrobe, and properties.

The twenty-two remaining shares are divided among the associate actors, from the eighth of a share to a whole

share.

Every associate contracts an engagement to perform twenty years; and, after twenty years of uninterrupted service, is at liberty to retire, unless the superintendent thinks it advisable that he or she should be retained. The associate so retiring has a right-first, to a pension for life of 2,000 francs, from the appropriation of 100,000 francs made by government ;— and, secondly, to a like sum from the funds of the society, which are supplied by the half-share mentioned above, and other sources. Thus, the actor retires upon a pension for life of 4,000 francs per year. Here permanency and respectability are secured.

If the superintendent prolongs the service of an associate beyond the twenty years, there is added, whenever he or she retires, 100 francs more for each year of added service from each of the above funds; that is, 200 francs is added to the pension of 4,000, on retiring, for each year of service beyond the twenty originally contracted for.

If an associate should be compelled by any accident arising immediately from the service of the theatre, to retire before the end of the twenty years, he or she shall receive the full pension of 4,000 francs. (About 750 dollars.)

In case of incapacity to serve, resulting from any other cause, the associate may retire upon a pension of 200 francs for each year he or she may have served, if amounting to ten years, provided such associate held a whole share; or 150 if only three-fourths of a share, and so on in proportion to the share held by the associate in the profits of the society. [I do not find in what manner the shares and parts of shares are divided among the associates: we must conjecture that it is according to the talents of the individual.]

If the associate has served less than ten years, the superintendent shall propose to the government such pension as he may deem just.

For the payment of these pensions, the government, as above

said, provides 100,000 francs per year, and 50,000 francs per year are drawn by monthly drafts from the receipts, and placed in safe keeping at interest. No associate can transfer or mortgage his or her contribution to the funds of this income. On the retirement or the death of an associate, the reimbursement of the capital of this reservation is made to such associate, or his or her heirs, proportionably to the amount of his or her contribution. Thus, the actor retires not only on the pension above mentioned, but on an immediate payment of the money he or she has loaned to the fund.

Any associate who shall quit the theatre without permission from the superintendent forfeits all claims upon the fund, either for pension or repayment of money contributed.

Should there be any balance remaining after the annual payment of the pensions, it is disposed of for the benefit of the society, under the sanction of the superintendent.

SALARIED ACTORS.-Besides the associates, the theatre may have salaried actors; and in case such salaried actor shall serve twenty years, or only ten years if accident in service prevents further service, a pension may be given by the government's superintendent, from the above fund, not exceeding half the income the actor may have received during the three last years of his or her service. The same rule extends to the commissioner on his retiring, only that his pension must be solely taken from the fund supplied by the government.

COMMITTEE OF ADMINISTRATION.-We have said the commissioner is to superintend the administration of the society. It is provided that a committee of six male associates, presided over by the commissioner, and having a secretary, shall be the administrators. They shall be appointed by the commissioner yearly three of these six are charged with the execution of the resolutions of the committee.

The duties of this committee are, to make out each year an estimate of the presumed expenses; to give orders for purchases and drafts for payments; to inspect every department of the establishment, as well the audience part of the house as the work-rooms, and the treasury, with the payment of pen