The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-12

subscription to the Opera, but, when they want to
visit IT, TO 90 and buy tickets and take the worth
of their money, night by night, as they want.
ARisToCRACY IN THEATRICAL LIFE 1t might be
imagined that liberty and equality prevailed upon
the stage, and among the persons composing the
theatrical profession, for they all mimlcs at
much a head. But 1t would be a mistake TO think
that equality and fraternity existed In theatres at
all. During the late engagement OF Mr. Forr est, at
The Broadway, he carried eff about two-thlrds OF
the spells. HIS share OF the receipts amounting
to almost nine thousand dollars, while the smallest
amount was left TO all the ether adjuncts OF the
stage, from the manager down to the lamp-lie hter
Thus, Mir. Forrest got the hons share He builds
his splendid castle on the Hudson, and lives like
prince, while hundreds of the persons IN the other
de pariments Of the drama, without whose aid he
could not do any thing at all, have bare pittance,
and many Of them are absolutely starving.
The same remarks apply to the position and ca
reer of Mr.. Macready, who is now engaged at the
Astor Place Theatre. He has been secured to that
house by the payment OF at least halt the receipts,
if not more. Many Of those persons who play the
lnienor characters, and who contribute to fill up
the mimic scene in which MIR. Macready Is the
important figure, perform their parts with much
accuracy and intelligence as he himself does. Yet
they are put off with a few dollars week as quite
abundant for those who occupy the inferior parts of
the scene.
Now these general facts are curious instances
of the difficulty to introduce liberty, equality, and
fraternity into any department OF practical life
business. Forrest and Macready en- the stage
occupy the position of great teudal cheitans,
naughty, saucy, proud, inpudent, severe to the
world around them, but generous polite, WELL
bred attentive, benignant, kind, pous, TO the little
circle in which they move The fsudal system is
certainly strong among our theatrical circles we
have dispensed with it IN social life; even in
Europe 1t has been partially got rid Of but perhaps
,t.exists to a much greater extent in theatrical,
musical, and social life in this country than In any
other. What strange contradiction human ma
ture presents in the different stages of society and
ages of the world
GAMBII Nc IN New YoRk-We hear from va
rous quarters that the increase of gambling in this
metropolis, has been very remarkable during the
last two or three years. Houses of this description
multiply in all the fashionable streets and quarters
of the city. Even in Broadway, they have lncreas-
ed much during the last two or three years on
every side OF that magnificent avenue, down town,
and up town. These hou ses are fitted up luxurl-
ously, and are calculated by all sorts of tempta-
tons to lead away the sons OF wealthy persons,
and make them, as too many turn out to be, msera-
bic, reckless wor ,hless scamps, which many
OF them become. The persons TO whose efforts
this increase Of gamb ling and OF gambling houses
Is due, are generally accomplished people, from
different parts of the country, who may have been
ruined by an early init alton into similar habits,
or who possess natural aptitude for such pursuits
and such practices. Is there nothing that can be
done in the way of diminishing this terrible social
vice, which ruins so many young men OF fortune
in New York?
But the gambling to which We allude, Is not all.
There KISS as much gambling in Wall street a
species of egallzed and tolerated gambling
stocks, as well as by cards and dice. Wall street
gambling inveiges old merchants, hoary -headed
dealers, members Of congregations, and elders OF
churches. Fashionable gambling is carried on
with cards and dice in the upper part of the city,
or IN the cross streets, and allures the young gid
DIV, and ihouehtless, who may have had lttle
money lett them by pious parents and nIggardly
uncles but we are not SURE that Wall street gam
bling does not contribute to rum, and destroy as
much happiness, as faro banks and fashionable
playing.
FIRE IN HUBsoN.-The extensive paper hanging