The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-21

Buchsnans recent performances are commented
upon in a proper spirit Of criticism. The opinions
OF the press upon matters apperaining to exalted
art are always sufficiently curious but il anything
were wanting to show how difficult il is to obtain
an estimate OF the powers Of any artist, the records
of the past week would indicate it. The daily
press, generally, put their strength out upon the
commercial or political departments-and they are
poor enough At that. II is seldom that an attempt
Is made to give an opinion upon the drama, or upon
any new object IN art. They are wholly Deepen
dent upon the chance communications of some
lover OF art, or the little paragraphs which emanate
from managers themselves. Hence, the public can
learn nothing from the Wall street journals, or the
socialist organ-whch latter paper confines itself to
the art OF knocking" or TO some other spiritual
transaction in the same category of fruitful fancies
IL anything were required to show how depen-
dent the press of this city is upon these columns
for opinions, the treatment Of Mr. Buchanan would
be enough. The daily press has been silent, and
the Sunday press has ladghably construed such
marked silence into implied oensure. and has
poured its peculiar popgun artillery upon the
tragedian, exhibiting all the petty spite Of little
theatrical oliques and bar.room profundity, mea-
sured out by the glass. The fumes of Windust's
fobinets color and perfume every opinion. The
old clo' man thinks he is too taJl-and others stick
TO it that he is an amateur-defying gods or men
TO find out what they mean, or If they mean any
thing at all For the last few years, the Sunday
press has reveled in this species of profound in
vesigation into ALPHABETICALLY the art dramatic.
All their admiration is absorbed by the small fry
Of the theatres, on whom they lavish aduation
enough to make hundreds of queens and kings, if
they had any influence Unfortunately, how
ever, the objects of their laudation never
ascend much above cellar in Park Row,
or beyond a plate of oysters at Broadway
saloon, where the dgnified representatives
of the drama "drop down." daily and nightly,
for this peculiar exataton in the dramatic
art. In these reunions of literature and the fine
arts, the candidates for the daily press assemble
the reporters of the "fourth estate'-and, over
mug of ale, suddenly become impressed with
valuable thought about some hero of the sock or
buskin. Wo be to him who cannot mount to fame
by the cellar stepsthe way in which all the Slime
actors" arrive at emnence. He Immediately be-
comes the victim of an inordnate ambition, and is
written down not one Of the right sort. In this
way Forrest, Buchanan, Murdoch, and even Char
lotte Cushman-for ladies are not spared-hsve to
undergo the ordeal of cellar criticism, which is
measured out week after week, with yards of beef
steak and glasses of ale nine inches deep. ALI
great performers who have toiled and studied in
their professionals all professional men have to
toll, who arrive at any positive eminence-are
slant subjects for and attack; and the
public are numerically rated for perceivlng any
thing good in any who does not eat oysters and
drink ale in the glorious company of dramatic
spirits whose genius ought to light the world with
smiles and blister every hand with reiterated
plaudits. 1t is wonderful that the public cannot
perceive the real bullion from the tinsel, particular
ly when such wonderful prophets are abroad to pre-
dict success and failure in the theatrical world.
We believe that great actors have to endure
much before they are acknowledged by the public.
The history of the art shows this; but well directed
labor for few years, is better than lifetime passed
in attempts TO obtain the mere fattery of words
which mean nothing. No person ever was exalted |
by putting down another The history of our great
performers, and of the small fry, who are constant
ly pulled IN the Sunday press, shows this Dstrac-
ton Of those who worthily engaged to exalt the
dramatic art only tends exat the assailed parties
Forrest, Murdoch, Buchanan, Charlotte Cushman,
and other meritorous performers only raised by
these blasts from the cellar, which are sometimes |
fsceticusly called criticism. They are assisted by |
such silly means The public fully aware how |
W holly unreliable opinions are which emanate from
envy. spleen and disappointed ambition. more encag
ed in pulling others down than in raising themselves.
Were il not for the careful students-some Of them
even in humble ranks-the drama would cease to |
public attention. except for its dep0rable
weakness. True talent and genius should always
be cherished. II is far better TO encou rage a |
worthy ambition than to damp its ardor by detrac-
ton.