The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-10
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1859.

The recent Operatic entertainments that have
been given in our city by 'clever Mr.. HUMANS
troupe of singers, from the New York Academy of
Music must have demonstrated to the entire salts
faction of the large number of persons who attend
ed them the utter want of comfort and convenience
which distinguishes the auditorium of the Holiday
Street Theatre. Forty years ago, when Baltimore
had population only equal to about one-fourth of
that which it now contains, this building was,
doubtless, quite large enough to accommodate the
play-goers Of that day, and, in point of elegance
and style, we are told that it was, then, unsur-
passed by any other theatre in the country But,
in the progress of time, the city has grown to its
present respectable size, and is supposed to have,
at least, quarter of million of inhabitants and,
as yet, no commensurate provision whatever has
been made for the public amusement of its people
and of the thousands of strangers who continually
come within its gates. We are not willing to adj
nit that there is any lack of refined musical and
dramatic taste among US, and are therefore COM
PEELED to attribute this neglect to the absence of
proper spirit of enterprise and enlightened libera-
ty among our wealthy and influential men. We
claim for Baltimore the rank of the third city in
the Union, and we should certainly spare neither
money nor pains to possess it of all the
advantages and attractions which the maintenance
of that rank very justly requires. 1t is not
merely that our own citizens, with their wives and
daughters, may be seated in cushioned chairs,
when PICcoLoMINI, LABoRDE, CHARLOTTE CusHMAN,
FORREST, or some other great singer, or player,
shall chance to come this way, that we
urge the necessity of erecting new and comforta-
BILE theatre. 1t is because such building is abso-
lutely essential in view of the commercial and
business competition which our merchants and
tradesmen would hold with their rivals in other
cities, that we regard the subject one of vast
importance If we would have country merchants
come here 10 buy their goods of US, we must not be
contented with selling them fabrics as cheaply as
they can buy the same articles in Philadelphia or
New York; we must also do all in our power to
render Baltimore attractive and agreeable place
of sojourn. IF we would have our s'country
cousins who have plenty of money to spend,
and whose only object in visiting town is to see
the world and be amused-tarry with us and give
us the benefit of their extravaganza, we must try
10 convince them that we have every thing here
their hearts desire. Private hospitality how
ever profuse and greetings and cvilites the most
cordial, will never answer the purpose. If we
would make Baltimore really great city, we
must no longer adhere to the miserable village
ways, which were very good ways half
century ago, but which are altogether
inconsistent with the spirit of the age in which we
live.
Manager FORD, who is certainly entitled to the
thanks of the whole community, forhs indefatigable
off last 60 I'll uol
day Street Theatre agreeable place of resort as
it is capable of being made in communication
which we published on Saturday last, proposes a
subscription of stock to the amount of sixty thou
sand dollars to be applied to the purchase and en-
tire remodeling of that building. He contends that
it is susceptible of such improvements as will rem
der it comfortable, and enable it to accommo-
date nearly two thousand persons. He
also makes certain representations which 90
to show that the investment will pay a six per
cent. interest TO the stockholders Now we do
not by any means, desire to discourage the needed
improvement of the Holiday Street Theatre, but
we do insist that this scheme if carried out to its
fullest extent, will not supply the want which is
so apparent among US, nor will it at all relieve
our capitalists from the stigma of not doing what it
is clearly their duty to do. Apart from the mechan-
cal difficulties which suggest themselves always
in reference to the reconstruction of old buildings
there are other considerations which seem
to us imperatively to demand the erection of an
entirely new and handsome edifce, that shall COM
pare favorably, both in respect to external style
and interior convenience, with the new theatres in
our sister cities. Some suitable lot on our prin-
cipal thoroughfare should be selected as the SITE
where the building itself would be perpetual adj
vertisement to strangers, during the day, of the
place at which they may seek their evenings en-
tertainment. The question of tangible remuneration
TO the contributors for the money thus expended for
the general advantage of the city, is one which no
really intelligent or liberal minded merchant
would entertain for moment. There will be
no difficulty whatever, persuaded, in raising
the money necessary for this purpose, if the right
men will only set themselves about it, and view it
in the light of their true interests. But, if we
temporize with half way measures, we will not
supply the present public necessity, and may in
crease the difficulty of accomplishing the ultimate
object.