The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-30

a line of oceanic steamers with the same pro-
priety When the Bostonians get the lower
light tbawed out, we hope they'll make ne ac-
suainted with the fact.
THEATRICAL CRIT1csM-MRs. MCMAHON AND
MISS MATILDA HERON.-As We remarked the
other day, the learned pundits who sit in judg-
ment upon plays and players, always afford us
an immense amount Of amusement. Your pro-
fessiona joke makers are the greatest bOres in the
world; but your really funny man is the heavy
animal, who thinks he is eDunciating ponderous
arguments when he is really making himself
ridiculous There is only one match for the self
importance of most professional critics; that
parallel is found in the selfconceit of most ar
lists Instances Of the last named amusing
idiosyncracy are thicker than backberries; but
it requires something out Of the way to bring
out your heavy critic in all his glory. Such
combination of circumstances has lately been
evolved in the almost simultaneous appearance
of two actresses new to the metropolitan boards
The first Mrs. Mcmahon made her debut at the
Academy on Saturday week, and is now acting
on her own hook, as the Marblehead fishe-m.n
say, at the Chambers street theatre. The second
ives speak chronologically-M Matilda Heron
commenced an engagement at Wallack's theatre
Thursday week, and has been playing there ever
since. The doctors Of the arts, who sat in iudg
ment upon the efforts of these actresses, gave to
the world several Of the most remarkable articles
that we have ever seen; SO remarkable that We
have heard that celebrated bibliopole has Offer
ed reward for proof Of the identity of one of
the doctors aforesaid.
The most amusing feature in the articles was
the contrast between those in relation to Mrs
Mcmahon and those referring to Miss Heron. On
one hand it was stated that Mrs. Mcmahon had
"tbrown away her time aud study" that she
commenced badly, went on worse, and closed
worse than all: that she failed utterly and mise
rably; and many more things equally severe. 1t
was evidently the intention to crush her out" to
use favorite expression OF the Attorney Gene
raj of the United States. On the other hand, the
critics strained the language to find compliment
tary expressions to shower upon Miss Heron
Hear them: She had "a sweeping success" a
towering triumph she has " transcendent
genius;" 'she exuded the electricity OF genius"
she chad halo Of individuality" whatever that
is); "a brilliancy Of vitality" (good gracious
that everybody who knew anything was aware
that "the FACILITATING actuality Of perceptive
genius = GRACIOUS goodness y - was before
them; This critic says she has big heart"-
that she "surpasses Rachel" that he was
''humble and dim, but proud in the conscious
ness that he was privileged to place leaf of
bay on the brow of genius Miss Heron" says
the dim critic, "is superb drtise, who holds the
traditions of the stage in her hand aud strangles
them" she is "the greatest actress on the ST &c,
not even excepting Rachel''-snd he de- res
everybody to open the generous fountains OF
sympathy in their natures on Miss Heron's &c
count. That is about the the amount Of 1t all.
Miss Heron Is only little lower than the angels
Mrs. Mcmahon is cast into outer darkness
among the devils.
Now, ii is apparent TO every unprecedented man
that the critics are in error on both sides. Mrs
Mcmahon is not so bad as she is represented, or
she would not have remained on the stage; and
Miss Heron is certainly not entitled to the ava
lanche Of puffs with which she has been saluted.
Miss Heron is very good actress; she produces
great effects: but her performance lacks artistic
finish. This being settled the next question is,
what motives induced the journals to
write Mrs. Mcmahon down aud puff
Miss Heron! II is a delicate matter
TO Judge a. to motives but AZ several HYPOTHESIS
are raised, we give them for what they are worth.
wallack's theatre is now leased by an aydcle Of
the Tsmes-a clever fellow, who understands all
kinds of human nature and, il is said, has heard
something of the oysser house style Of criticism
so much in vogue in nc days Of the old A.t'r
Place Opera Houss. II is also said that Wesley II
Co, the stock gamblers in Wall street, who own
the Times, are pastners in the theatre, which AZ
counts for a large quantity Of the milk in the
cocoanut The Tribune philosophers are very
easily led by the nose and by oysters-so the
clever manager had no difficulty with them
Mrs. Mcmahon did nothing in the oyster way
had no personal friends in the journals-so she
was slashed up with az little remorse as is shown
by a medical student who carves dead niger
over bad pipe and pint Of porter. In such a
state of things, the best way for the public is to
see and Judge for themselves. In the meantime,
we trust that the articles about the theatres will
always be as amusing as they are now. They
are among the most valuable contributions TO the
comic literature Of the day, aud they are all the
funnier because they are intended 10 be serious
Csroner's Inquest.
Tns LArs FArI ARRAY OuvrR STREET -Corouer
Counsvv Thursday afternoon iuouest uroo