The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-01

principles OF economy, prudence, and Withal, OF
liberal and wisely directed system Of public
and private charities. The unemployed and
the destitute must be relieved through the win
ter. There should be no famine in our midst,
while we are exporting breadstuffs and provi-
siOns abroad.
Meantime, while short crops with us, on the
one hand, and the blockade OF Russia on the
other, have cut off the main supplies Of the rest
of the world for grain, -four, beef and pork, to
meet their local deficiencies, what is our mani
fest policy in an agricultural view? Plainly
that our farmers, with the return Of spring,
should appropriate as much land as possible to
wheat and corn. They viii thus open their
fields of inviting labor to thousands of unem-
pioyed, but willing and able workingmen. In
his view our farmers might do much even now
to diminish the number of willing hands with
nothing to do. Peace or continued war, good
prices for breadstuifs and provisions may be re-
lied upon, however large our crops of the pre-
sent year. Let our farmers act accordingly.
There may he an abatement of the evils of the
existing depression with the return of spring;
bat there can be no established and general re.
lief to our commerce or our manufactures short
OF abundant crops of breadstuffs and provisions
for the year 1855 In view Of this achievement
we wish our farmers and the whole American
people Happy New Year
THE New YORK THEATREs-BusINEss FOR THE
PAST YEAR FUTURE PRosPEcrs.-As we have
eight regular theatres in this city, with An oc-
caEonal sprlnkling of opera and concerts-as
thousands OF persons are directly or indirectly
supported by these establishments, and as they
receive and dsburse not less than fifty thou
sand dollars per month"; seems proper that
they should be thought Of in making up the &C
counts for the year.
On New Years day, 1854, we had seven
theatres and three concert rooms open, viz
The Broadway, Burton's, Wallack's, NiblV8'
the Bowery, the Chatham, and the Museum.
The season up 10 that time had been brilliant
one, and all the managers had handsome bal
snces on the right side OF their cash books.
At the Broadway two spectacles had proved
very successful and the theatre closed on the
9th July after profitable season. 1t was
again opened on the 21st Of August, and since
stars-Mr. Forrest, Miss Davenport, Mr.. Da-
veDport, and others. The Pyne and Harrison
English opera troupe has played two very sue
cessful engagements.
Burton's theatre, after season which had
been signalized by the production Of two
Shaksperean comedies, the Tempest" and
"a Midsummer Nights Dream" closed on the
goth May, and was re-opened on the 4th Sep
tember, since which time the business has been
good.
Wallsck's theatre closed on the 10th June
and opened on the 7th September. The mana
ger has played an engagement Of thirty or
forty nights this season. 10 the great delight of
his admirers, Old and youag.
We have had two opera seasons this year.
Mr.. Maretzek arrived from Europe and opened
at Castle Garden on the 30th Of June, with an
Italian company, selected abroad. The season
was not profitable one, and it was closed on
the Plat OF August. The second was the Grisi
ana Mario season, which commenced at Castle
Garden on the 4th Of September, was continued
NJ the new Academy of Music, and has Just
ended The history Of Italian opera here, this
year, is a history of failures.
Julien gave bic last concert at Castle Garden
on the Sd OF June, and soon after sailed for
Europe. Madame Anna Thillon commenced
her farewell engagement at Nblo's on the 9th
July, and few weeks afterwards returned to
Europe. The Ravels were at Niblo's through
out the summer, and were as successful as
usual. On the 18th July Mr.. E. P. Christy
closed his hall, Az Broadway, where he had
given negro CONCERTS for thirteen years, aud
netted over one hundred and ifty thousand
dollars. The National theatre closed on
the 9Th Of July, and opened on the
2lst Of August. But "Uncle Toms Cabin,
had killed of this theatre, and the bust
ness Was ruinous throu ghout the season. Mr..
Pnrdy has retired from the management. The
Bowery theatre was not closed during the sea
son. A new and very neat theatre has lately
been built in the Bowery, near Bayard street,
and opened for German plays. It is called the
Stadt theatre, and Is we'll patronized
On the 18th Of September, the new Metro
poiitan theatre, one Of the finest buildings OF
the kind ia the world, was opened. The season
az THE as Vell a. At all the other theatres COM
msuced well enough, nut there mas been an
alarming falling Oft lately. For the past three
or our weeks, (upless on some first night Of a
new piece the audiences have been thin, cold,
and unsympathet,c. This state Of things has
not been brought about all at once. The thea
tres on the east side of the city are chiefly
Supported by mechanics, and they began TO
snier two months ago. Extra attraction
vas brought in-the "glories If the am
phitheatre were added to the attractions Of the
regular drama Females made wonderful as
cents On tight ropes splendid spectacles were
produced, and every effort was made to induce
the people to come to the theatre. But they