The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-09-23

TO inaugurate a new system OF dramatic critl-
cism. Up 10 that time our theatrical criticisms
like those OF the other papers, had been In
trusted to gentlemen specially detailed for that
department These gentlemen did their work
WELL committed no serious blunders, and in
volved us In none of those disgraceful difli-
culiics that have injured other journals. With
them we had no fault 10 find but still II was
impossible to he satisfied with the system which
threw the entire responsibility Of our theatrical
and opcratic criticisms upon one or two
attaches. These critics were obliged to go to
places Of amusement constantly, and the per-
formances BEGAN, TO them bore instead Of
pleasure They grew personally acquainted
with managers, actors and actresses, on and
off the stage, and II was impossible for them
not to have their likes and dislkes, their at
fractions and their prejudicea. Unconsciously
to themselves those things affected their crid-
cisms Our experienced observation detected
their enn,,i, even when they endeavored to be
most spirited and although we knew that they
were candid and tried to be impartial, we often
smiled to see how their acquaintance with mana
gers and actors affected what they wrote. All
this was human nature, and we could not blame
our critics for not being more than human but
we endeavored to devise some plan by which
more exact justice could DO meted out to the
public, the performers and the managers.
The plan which we finally adopted was to
engage no special dramatic or musical critic,
but to treat every performance as an event Of
the day, to be recorded by some member Of
our staff selected for that occasion. Under
this system, the gentleman chosen to criticise
play was not aware of the fact until few
hours before the theatre opened. Ho went
perfectly unfatigued, unprejudiced and indie
pendent, and told the public precisely what
they desired to know about tho entertainment.
/ sufficiently acquainted with tho run Of the
atrical business TO comai i. no eTroFs he had no
favorites to lot down gently, and was only as
euloglstic or as severe as strict Justice de-
mandcd. BY this arrangement we did the
| public service in giving them impartial criti-
cisms; the actors were benefited by having
their faults pointed out and their merits
brought into notice, and we soon found our
selves In possession Of a corps Of excellent
critics, available for numerous places OF amusc-
ment on the same evening, instead OF the
whole labor being thrown upon one person, as
before. The managers, however, did not hap
pen to be pleased with this innovation. They
had formed themselves into an association, and
| their companionship with certain Snowman
ideas of high art which once inspired theatri-
cal directors they sought to convert their es-
Establishments into mere shows, conducted upon
The false principles that the more they could
humhug the public and the cheaper the enter
tanment they furnished, the more money they
would realize. Our new system Of criticism
did not suit them. They could not bear to
have the plain truth told by critics fresh from
the people and sympathizing altogether with
the people. They wanted the old regime re-
stored, so that they could appeal to our critics
| friendship or persuade him to overlook present
deficiencies by promising better things for the
future. Unable to reach our attaches-since
they never knew who was to be sent to criticize
them-they attempted to dictate to us how we
should conduct our business, and were, OF
course, politely but firmly repulsed. Hence
originated the disagreement between the
HERALD and the associated managers, which ut
last led to tho withdrawal of their advertise
ments, and that induced the closing up Of sev-
eral OF their theatres.
Working In the interests Of the public we
cared nothing for the loss of fcw advertise
ments, the places Of which were speedily sup
piled by others. But as our new system was
II An
were somewhat astonished that the other
papers, instead Of adopting II, ~ they had
donewith our previous reforms, should side with
the associated managers. We are hardly able 10
believe that the few dollars received from theat-
rical advertising could have Influenced some
ofour contemporaries for . moments consid-
Grafton would have convinced them that they
had only to act In concert with us and the
managers would yield. We prefer. therefore,
10 believe that the editors Of other journals left
this matter in charge Of their critics. whose in
terest 1t was 10 abuse the HERALD, because, In
the FIRST place, they were moro or less under
the managers CONTROL and, in the second place.
their occupations, like Othello's, would be gone
IL our reform succeeded. From this source,
then, have come those reiterated and often
scandalous attacks which have amused us and
increased our circulation during the past few
months. We had heard so much from these
persons about their own acumen that, when
Ristori appeared. We determined to give them
On opportunity TO convince US OF ourmis take
five had made one. We reflected that II would
be doing Ristori the amplest Justice to subject
her 10 the criticisms OF four individuals uncon-
nscted with our ONCE, especially as we had
previously expressed our own opinions Of her
genius formed from Witnessing her perform
ances in Europe. Besides this, the agree
ments or contradictions Of tho four