The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-29

| BARRY's LECTURE ON THE SrAGE.-We perceive
that Mr. Barry repeats his lecture on the "Myste-
ries of the Stage" at the Park Theatre, tomorrow
(Friday) evening. As an appendix to the lecture,
we really hope that Mr.. Barry will enter into some
of the mysteries of the cement OF the Bowery,
Park, and other theatres with which he has been
connected during the last years of his residence in
this country.
In his lecture, Mr.. Barry took the liberty Of re-
proving with good deal Of severity, the action OF
the press. as tending to the decline of theatricas.
He accused the critics of disregard OF justice
and manlness in exposing the foiblss Of the stage,
or IN encouraging young genius In that line OF art
Now, If Mr.. Barry would tell the whole truth, we
believe he could give picture Of the management
OF certain theatres which would throw great deal
of light on the decline which the legitimate drama
has encountered in this city. If we go back a few
years and examine the peculiar management OF the
Park theatre we will find it the first to resort
to the employment of regular paid pufier, critic,
Peter Funk, or whatever you please to call him
that this new appendage to theatre was solely en-
gagged to write miserable puffs every evening and
hand them round the different newspaper Offices
The Courier e. Enquirer was the chief vehicle OF
this kind of puffery, and thus commenced the IL
legitimate and ruinous connection between the
press and the stage What was the result! Step by
step, from that moment, the Park theatre declined
in reputation-in management-in popularty-in
everything, until it has been eventually shut up,
driven absolutely out of existence by the superior
management OF new man, who has established
the Italian Opera amid the most brilliant success.
Mr.. Barry might say great deal to good purpose
on this fact And he might also add similar ex-
ample in the history of the like ruinous connection
between the Courier f. Enquirer and the Bowery
Theatre. few years ago the Bowery was popu-
lar, well managed and well patronized. But the
Park having instituted the new system of putting in
connexon with the press which destroyed all just
and useful criticism, the Bowery must do the same;
and certain set of critics, forsooth, were allowed
the run of the green-room and the pufis written by
them were published in the Courier & Enquirer as
in the case of the Park. And what was the result, ?
The Bowery 1'heatre-once the classic temple,
where Forrest commenced his distinguished career,
and Mabran entranced thousands, has sunk to the
lowest ebb, is turned into shilling theatre, and is
filled with the very lowest remnants OF society.
These are examples of the Encouragement of
theatres which Mr.. Barry might enlarge upon and
give great many anecdotes and incidents. But do
not let him say that it Is the independent press-that
the press mas uohe tlis. IL Originated WIFI He
management themselves-with the actors They
have produced it. And as forcbe illustration Of
this, look at little Mr. Palmo, who, almost without
the aid ola single paper in this clty-with nothing
to assist him, but little common sense-has esta-
bshed an Italian opera, more fashionable and more
popular than 1t in any other theatre in this
city. And this he has done without the press and
in defiance of the press. This is example of the
true and legitimate management.