History teaches us that the stage, as an institution dates back so far that we cannot be sure of its origin. The Greeks perhaps gave it its dignity. Their pattern for writing, the drama still holds, and the best plays are no doubt modelled after it. We are slow in departing from old forms. Humanity is timid best, that is why an original thinker looks so conspicuous among us.
The stage is a great power for good or evil—almost as important as the church. I should say qn a! rough guess that more people attend it. The actress can arouse} the loftiest aspirations, excite the} purest emotions, or use a perverted instrument and minister to vitiated tastes. One who is not too familiar with the stage cannot realiza how a popular actor can sway a mass of people by some dramatic, statement. I have known revolutions (in a small way of course) to develop from some striking sentiment uttered by some stage! favourite.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.