The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-15


things than ever. By and by q country lawyer,
something like the present Postmaster General, is
appointed to the head Of the department, and he
undertakes 10 reform It when he sees the public
viii submit to abuse no longer. He goes with pub
lie opinion, and drafts what he facetiously terms
cheap postage law. That law is passed by Con-
gress and the result is, that not only is the depart
msnt thrown into greater confusion than ever, but
bungling tariff of postage is saddlsd the people,
which q dozen Philadelphia lawyers cannet make
rather than q benefit to it.
Much has been said about the necessity Of
postage reform in the United States; bat there il
but one way Of edecting it. The Post Office De-
partnent in Washington must be turned inside
out, and thoroughly cleansed. Hercules had to
turn the river Pelus into the Augean stables be-
fore he could thoroughly cleanse them, and it is
necessary almost literally to divert the Potomac
into present Post Office Department, to cleanse
it of the Augean pile Of filth and corruption that
overwhelms it. The Post OAce Department
must be reformed in its internal policy and machi-
merry before We can have cheap postage, or any
proper administration of that department Of the
government. We must have perfect, cheap and
economical system, such az prevails in France and
England, and IN entire change of the present cor
rupt contract system. II is in the contract system,
and in making the Post Office Department politi-
csl engine, that the principal leaks are. 1t is in
these branches that reforms are most needed.
We hope, therefore, that this Important matter
will be taken in hand at early day, by Congress.
Postage reform is necessary, and Is demanded.
But we can have no reform until the Post Office
Department. in its internal affairs, Is thoroughly
clearsed, purified, and reformed. Many attempts
have been made at postage reform in this country;
but the reforms have always commenced at the
wrong end. These have been failures Now let US
try and begin at the right one.
THEATRIcAL DEsuTs- have already alluded
to several theatrical and musical debas, Of some
importance in the circles of amusement, which
approaching, In this metropolis One Of the first of
these novelties viii take place this evening-the
dttSt of Gustavus Victorious Brooke in the charac
ter Of Othello.
This artist has been preceded BY multiplicity
OF notices in the newspaper-notces not only full Of
the highest praise, but sometimes bordering on in.
cipient putting. This Is, at best, bat bad prac-
tice. 1t has been INDUCED in by the press Of this
city, to too great extent, for . number Of years
past. If an artist possesses real merit, and can
hibit undoubted genius, avalanche Of preliminary
putting, instead Of benefstng his prospects is cal
culated to injure him with the judicious and right
thinking critical public. This foolish practice has
grown amazingly, Of late years, withou. receiving
the public condemnation which 1t deserved until the
appearance Of BArnum in the public arena, with his
organized ootuis Of buffers, who carried 1t to
tent running into farce and folly. 1t /, now time
a In n,oa H. of
musical and theatrical criticism and there have
been, recently, symptoms Of q healthy return to
sound criticism and com sense in several walks
Of the opera and the drama.
With respect TO the new artist, Mr.. Brooke, the
public has been informed, once and again, that he
stands at the highest pinnacle Of his profession in the
old country-higher, even, than Macready or the
living Kean-in fact, that be occupies the niche
formerly held BY the elder Kean, and the great
Cock, or Kemble. All sorts Of encomiums,
taken from English journals Of all classes, have
been showtred on the public, exhibiting his
talents in the highest lights, and pronounc-
ing his genius a. something beyond that Of
any Of his ootemporaries in either hemisphere. lie
has been on the stage, as the elder Kean was, since
he was boy. He is therefore no novice; and II he
possesses genius, he has had ample time, opportu
nifty, and means Of study, 10 bring 1t 10 its highest
stsss Of perfection. We shall give him fair hear
ing, and pronounce an honest verdict after having
heard him or twice in his principal characters
For The opinions OF the London press, from the
hghes. 10 the lowest, we do not care one iota Our
public audiences as able 10 judge Of high genius
and cultivated tnlent a. any audience in England,
or In the old country. Indeed, We not sure but
chat the G1dsnosf Of this city are capable Of
fleming more correct and discriminating judg-
meat tn stheal talent than those which usually,
in tese days, GIL the theatres Of London for IL is
fact, that du<ing the las. few years, the English
drama has been In o great measure abandoned by
the saEcated ssd fashonsble classes Of that coun-
try, in order 10 crafty thci, facttou, taste for
opera, nnsic, and foreig, art, sometimes Of the
neanest and poorss. dcscriyt ton.
Let NJ, therefore give the atbraant fair hearing
and q just judgment.
r. n a..