Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-10
COMMUNICATED.
THE ATHENEUM CONTROVERSY
OUR SIDE,

The "Friend of the Manager feels that he
is required to say but little additional, in reply
| to the last charge from the blandcrbuss of the
editor of the Democrat Yet, lest wrong i'm
preston should be produced by that last, blank
cartridge, very brief response may not be in
appropriate. if only to show the editor that his
artful lodges are fully appreciated.
lie charges ne with having attacked him
! personally. He will excuse me for refreshing
his memory. and reminding him that he stepped
aside from the matter in controversy, to make
a personal attack on me. l had no other mo-
| tive, in retaating than to show him that it is
| dangerous for those who dwell in glass houses
| TO be too handy in propelling their missiles
| against others. If he merely intended the i'm
! putation of mercenary motives, as joke, he
should have done us the artist did who appre-
| hended his picture of a horse might be mista-
| ken for some other quadruped 10 saddle him
! with a similar compliment must be admitted to
| AVE been justifiabe; and he lamely attempts
rel eve Inns If from the dilemma, while adj
| hitting that h; holds TWO POSITIONS by insisting
| nat ''the Ty biographical Union claims no au-
thority over the editors of papers, by which
it is to be understood he receives full salary as
| foreman of the Democrat, and the Fraction. of
lie editors salary | do not desire to pursue
| this matter, bee; MS it is none OF my business,
| md The uplect having been accomplished, as
TAI it has any connection with the contro~
| versy, it is turned over to those whom 1t does
| concern.
| It would be we'll for the editor Of the Demo-
! ,rdt to remember how the controversy COM
,nenced. In alluding to the lecture of Mr..
SAKE, he diverged from the usual mode of invi-
| ling the community to make up large audience
, for the lecture room, by rude and uncalled for
! attack on the Atheneum, which he had been
accustomed to frequent through the courtesy
OF the manager to the press | thought the
! reference to tne Atheneum unjust, and might
| have said it sprung from malice or resentment.
because the theatre printing had been with
| drawn from the DenlOc10t and transferred to
the TIMES. Prior to the transfer, not an I'M
! kind word had been said of the Atheneum, or
| its management. in the columns of the Demo-
crdt nor did the editor feel it incumbent on
him to express his dislike Of AR. Bailey and
his management, although as fully advised on
all material points as he has been since. l
made no allusion to this, although l might be-
cause l dld not deem 1t necessary to the contro-
| versy, which, as far as | was concerned, or
thought proper to say anything, | wished to
! render as brief and pointed as possible, hav-
| ing little time and no leisure to devote to 1T.
Besides: it was fresh in the memories OF the
readers of the Democrat, that not an issue OF
that paper appeared, up to the transfer of the
printing, or very recent period, that was not
full of kindness and praise. But let that pass.
The editor Of the Democrat says: 1.-The only
difference between the Friend OF the Manager
and ourself is: he believes Mr.. Bailey capable
of beconinq a successful theatre manager, and
! we DON'T
There is an old maxim, which this assertion
! pointedly illustrates: There are none so blind
as those who Will not see" There is at least
is difference between ns-the editor of the
| Democrat is determined not to do Mr.. Bailey
Justice and | have sought to do nothing else.
| | have not, as the editor of the Democrat char
ges, insulted HIM In resentment tor his attack
on Mr.. Bailey, but purely personal to myself,
| which, he commencing personal reflections,
| should have been ready to receive as we'll
as give.
With his personal reflections on Mr.. Bailey,
l certainly have nothing to do. When, or
should, they become hbelous, he has the alter
native of seeking redress as he may elect 1t
is possible the polite invitation of the editor of
the Democrat might be accepted, or if more
peacefully inclined, he could have recourse to
law to do him Justice. The editor of the DEM
ocrat deprecates that l should any further OBJ
| trude myself in the quarrel he contenplates
| with Mr.. Baey. With what is really personal be-
tween them, have nothing 10 do. What have
done, has merely been TO apprse the public of
the unceasng efforts Mr. Bailey is making to
procure suitable actors 10 produce any play
that can be performed in any theatre, in style
commensurate with the capacity Of the Ath-
eneum. He is not parsimonious or rather
'penurious," as charged by the editor Of the
Democrat, but is man of business. who must
study his own interest well the qualification
of the public. It is to his own tcrest to have a
competent company, and he IS determined if
the thing is practicable at all, to have one
l shall await with becoming patience the on
slaught on Mr.. Bailey and the Atheneum,
promised by the editor of the Denaocrat who
having demolished Stanton and Seward. and
shown 10 President Johnson the way he should
60, finds leisure amid his multfarious duties to
engage in asthetical controversy, and regard
less Of the experience ofDon Quixotte, is orac-
ing himself for an encounter with the Ath-
eneum. Although expressly instructed to
- clear the track must once more be per-
mtted to sign myself
FRIEND OF THE MANAGER