The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-03


Now that the Washington Investigating Commit
tee has wound up its labors, and two or three
members, with itching palms, have retired from
the service Of an ungrateful country, the atten-
ton of the public has been directed to similar
matters in the world of art. Mrs. Mcmahon has
made another speech q. Boston of the same tenor
as two which have preceded it from the same
person. She reiterates the statement that she
might have been pulled in the papers if she had
seen fit to pay for it-not being disposed to sub
sidize the Puritan critics, she was unequivocalIy
damned. She, however, states that she intends
to initiate the glorious example OF Mr.. Brown,
the perseveriDg hero Of one Of the gems of the
colored opera, and never give it up So.
Along with this statement Of Mrs. Nc
Mabon's, we have another from the Hon.
BOBBY Brooks, who says in the Erpress
that the agents of Miss Matilda Heron suo-
sidized the press Of this city at the expense
of some three thousand dollars The matter
has been still further complicated by the com
mencemen! Of libel suit by one of the critics
against one Of the managers The manager pub
lishes bulletin containing his bills and puts OF
the performances which have been made little
more piquant by personal attacks on the offend
ing critic. He has been denounced as incompe.
tent and venal; accused OF seeking to break do Sn
one theatre in order to build up another. Toe
manager will have an opportunity to justify his
statements; if he does 80 there is no libel about
the matter.
In the case of Mrs. Mcmahon we have her own
word that she mighthave had good notices by pay.
ing for them In the case Of Miss Heron we see her
suddenly inundated by an avalanche Of unqualified
praise, which astonishes the editors of the provin
cial papers, who never before knew that they had
enjoyed during several years great theatrical
luxury, from which the New York public was
debarred. We see one Wall street journal abso-
lutely forgetting stocks and codfsh, and giving
to this newly discovered high priestess in the
'.mple of Melpomene an extra, with two loaded
columns half mile long. The little ours of the
Sunday press whine gently. making a sweet fa''
setto to the profound bass OF the big dogs of the
dailes What is the cause Of this charming una
nimiy? The Hon. BOBBY Brooks, whose expo
rience in all such operations is something won
deiiul says it is three thousand dollars Brooks
ought to know.
On the other side it is held tina. the accusations
are grouLdlets, and that the HERALD Is venal in
its criticisms of public anusements because bills
and posters announcing concerts, operas heatri
cal entertain ments, &c, are printed in our ofice
In regard TO this it must IL apparent that COZ
tract tor job printing is ior labor actually per
foimed. IL is exactly the same as advertising
for which the iull value OF the money ? aid is re
turned in the publicity given. There is no more
veDaliiy about printing the bills than there is in
printing the advertise ments, and whether W.
pint their bills or not makes no difference la ouc
opinions AZ 70 the merits or d.merits OF a,y actor,
actress, singer or manager.
The public expects and should receive IRON
the press fair nd unbiased reports Of every mat
ter Of general interest The public amuse.
ments Of greet city axe matteis of general in.
tertst. IC the public has reason to believe t1st
the criticisms upon plays and players are die
tateG by Influences apart from truth, canior and
fairness to all parties. the public then must lose
all confidence in the journals IL appears, from
The testimony of the Hon. Booty Brooks who
occupies the position of States evidence, aud o.
Mrs NcAiahon, who says she has been a victim
that there is reason 10 believe that some outside
influences bave been brought to bear upon the 50.
called theatrical criticisms il is important that
these matters should be properly Investigated
Let US have a committee, and let every poor ac-
tor, actress, singer or manager BE- summoned to
tell whether they have paid anything for good
notices how much they have paid, IN what way
it was paid, and to whom it was paid. We mu.t
have all these matters cleared up. Perhaps the
great libel case-critic against manager do
il. II not let us have the investigating com.
mittee.
STOCK GAMBLING JoURNAIIsg-It will be seen
NV nnr rcports elsowhnre that Wo.lo, A. ~ A.