The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-13

The BEST JOKE OF THE SEAsON.-Au of our
readers will remember that a short time since
Strakosch, the late manager of the Opera at the
Academy, succeeded ia kickingup one of the most
extraordinary newspaper rows ever known In this
belligerentlocality. Mr.. Strakoech announced pub
licly that he should confne the Opera advertise
ments to the leading journals of the city French
and German paper. The indignation and an
hoyarce Of the excluded journals were delicious.
Even the heavy Courier joined in the attack, al
though it commenced, as usual, about four weeks
after Mr.. Strakosch had retired from manage
ment. All the minor journals succeeded in
making Themselves absurd, while the Sunday
papers showed that there was still deeper
depth of indecency than that to which they
had before descended. The editors OF the rag bag
E1pyess were particularly wroth, and rallied at
Strakosch in the very worst English they could
invent They print paper on the outskirts of
journalism, and they were terribly afraid that
they would lose their free admission, which they
had by courtesy. Another evening paper, which
aspires to the position of fashionable gazette,
was likewise savage against the manager, the
fashionable editor desiring the Opera advertise
ment to give hun place in society. Even with
all the attractions of manly beauty, charming
oEatory, an easy flow OF small talk and a sort of
overpowering Pecksnifian ensemble, he would not
dare TO enter drawing room and be unable to
say what Opera was to be given on the next
evening. SO the war com nenced In earnest, aud
continued during two months, causing Infinite
amusement to metropolitan readers who under
stood the joke, and making Strakosch great
hero in the provinces His tmeute with the Jour
nails made him as much notoriety out Of New
York as was achieved by the parties 10 the
great murder, or the amorous coachman
who stole the heart Of the LIQUOR deal
er's daughter. As he has in hand a grand
concert enterprise, with Thalberg, this notoriety
is exceedingly valuable, and II has given him an
amount OF era'uitous advertising which he could
not have obtained for any amount OF money
Our people Ike what is called pluck better than
any other manly virtue, and Strakosch Is viewed
as The nero who dared to stand up and defy a
dozen hostile newspapers, which, as Napoleon
said, are popularity believed to be more terrible
IL sharp enough to turn this to account and IL has
aIro ady put great many dollars in his pocket
Now II the journals which assailed Strakoech
bad remembered the injunction OF Doctor Watts,
and not allowed their angry passions to rise, they
would have shown more philosophy aud far
greater amount Of good sense. The truth of the
matter is, that Strakoech really spent about the
same amount ofmoney in advertising rs Maretzek
or any of the other managers They, however,
did their business quietly, while be made a fuss
about it, for the express purpose of being sssaied
and thereby creating an adventitious excitement,
which was Infinitely relished by the public. The
amour Prorre Of the minor press wa wounded, and
The editors jumped into the trap, those of the
least importance making the greatest noise.
They were completely bumbueged, and made
hero Of The manager whom they hoped to crush.
II is 10 he hoped, bu, not expected that they will
learn wisdom by experience