The New York herald., 1866-05-17

We publish this morning the criticisms Of
the various daily and weekly papers of this city
upon the Opera company of Manager Grau. In
these criticisms the attentive reader will dis
cover various contradictions and discrepancies
The very papers which once pronounced the
artists of Grau's troupe the most lamentable
and ridiculous failures now praise them as ex-
traordnarily excellent What the HERALD
said of them months ago, when they were sing
ing at Chicago, is now justified by the unanimous
praises of the very journals which were then
engaged in denouncing and deriding them.
From this fact the public may learn how unre-
liable the Bohemian critics are, and how little
confidence can be placed in the utterances OF
those who, as was proven in the Daily -Bateman
case, can be bought up with drink or an
oyster stew. The whole batch Of extracts, IN
cluding the exposures of the Bohemian tactics
by some OF the other critics, is well worth Q
careful reading.
When Max Maretzek, who had been trading
for long time upon the reputation we had
made for him, prepared to open the Opera sea-
son last year be announced several new sing
ers of whom nobody had ever heard before.
We consequently inquired who these artists
were, and Maretzek conscious of an intention
to humbug the public, at once imagined that
we had discovered his scheme and knew
the kind of artists he was about to
impose upon us. Enraged at this idea,
and fully aware that we should expose
his third rate singers 80 soon as they
appeared in public, Maretzek thought that his
best policy was to get up quarrel with the
HERALD, secure by this means the sup )ort OF
the Bohemians of the other papers, and blunt
the edge of our candid criticisms by represent
ing himself as the victim of persecution.
To this he was also instigated by the
friends of Miss Kellogg, who was then
puffed by the Bohemians and smarting
under our just structures; but who has now
been deserted, since Boschetti has appeared,
even by the Bohemans themselves. The
trick was that of thorough charlatan, and
many silly persons were deluded by it. Tbs
other papers, always jealous of our success,
were glad to publish Mare'zek's hbellous
attacks upon us and to eulogize his artists as
incompatible. Thus the very defects Of hia
troupe were made to serve as an advertisement
for it. Maretzek's establishment, therefore, did
not advertise In the HERALD, and, like the fox
that had lost its TAIL he desired that all tho
other managers should withdraw from the
HERALD also. This was the first act in this little
drama.
The elder Wallack, very capable actor,
now deceased, had organized Managers'
Association for the purpose of regulating the
internal affairs Of the theatres. Maretzek,
assisted by another charlatan, named Barnum,
inveigled the other members of the assOcia-
ton into his quarrel, and committee was
appointed to wait upon US and dictate
to us how we should conduct our business.
The dreadful penalty which was expected 70
awe us into immediate submission was the
withdrawal of the theatrical advertisements.
Some of the members Of the association were
dragooned into this movement Others went
into it in the belief that we would be compelled
to notice their establishments more favorably.
large number protested against it in the
most decided terms. But Barnum and Ms-
retzek carried their point through the Stiffness
of the other members; the committee called
upon us, and of course we refused to allow
them to edit the HERALD, or to interfere with
its management in any manner whatsoever.
The ridiculous appearance OF Mr.. Stuart and
Mr.. Wallack, who had the reputation of
being gentlemen of sense and talent, fall
ing into the schemes Of such fellows -
Barnum, with his woolly horse, and Mareizek,
with his schwetzer-kase, surprised US greatly.
AS for their advertisements, we laughed at the
idea of allowing that consideration to influence
us. We frequently expend for single item OF
news more money than the managers would
pay us for their advertisements in month.
People advertise with us because IL Is their in
terest to do 80, the HERALD having q circulation
greater than that of all the other papers com
bned. When the committee retired, completely
disappointed, and reported the result Of their
conference, the curtain fell upon the second
act Of this play.
The third act has been crowded with Incl
dents; but it is not yet ended. Maretzek and
Barnum, who were not allowed 10 advertise In
the HERALD, had the satisfaction of shutting ths
other members Of the association out in tho
cold with them. These other members did not
know whether to stay out or come back again.
The other papers, hoping to get the theatrical
advertisements, as jackals feed upon whatever
the lion leaves, encouraged the managers 70
withdraw; empty benches and a depleted trca-
sury warned them TO return. Finally, we set
tied the question by shutting the door in their
faces, and we are determined TO keep II shut
until they have fully repented Of their folly,
thoroughly understand the little game OF Ma
retzek and Barnum, and are ready to come 70
US in proper state Of mind. The logic Of poor
houses is doing It's work Of grace in their
hearts, and their houses deserve to be
poor, because their performers not being care
fully criticized act very indifferently. Several
Of the members of the association have been