New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-26
VTyTER AMUSEMEETS.

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his part. 1t might seem fortunate If all the laughing
was done of the stage leaving the worlds distresses
only to be acted. But, not to put too fine point on
it, there is dreadful ragi-comedy between the we'll
dressed people who go to the theater, and the
wreched folk who wander TO the poor-housei
between Union.square, which hears its opera
and the Five Points which finds 1t is hard enough to
understand its rags. In the economy Of things both
these sensitive classes, who thrilled in almost
equal degree by frost aud music, must be cherished
and entertained; and il ID well for the harmony OF the
world that it is 40 Benevolent minds would regard
II good turn of things il the worlds poor cOnd ap-
preciate night at the opera, and the worlds rich
could take sentimental visi, TO the poor-house. But
all things follow law Of nature and those who sens
IDLY contrast the Winter mseres Of great city with
its pleasures must be content TO observe that tho
theaer in its way, il not unimporant educator OF
mems charities.
We do not popularity make beneYolence high art,
or subject il ordinarily to the urgent canons OF emo
tonal crilicism; but, on the other hand the common
run of theatcas is not to be considered as very high
or very fine art while audiences and sght-seers
proverbaly generous TO bad actors aud bad painters
Too kind the sudence-at-large, especially New
York audience sometimes is to its real villains,
and by consequence too hard on its nu'
merous ta1.aiIlicted unfortunates. But theater-
goers, as class, represent much Of the SYM
pathes Of the world; for when the heart is thawed
under the stage-light that reflects the story of the
worlds misfortune, let us trust that philanthropy
opens is blessed pores that when heaters have their
good time, charity should have its season. We have
ended our sermon. What shall We do TO be amused'
London is even now thinking Of lie Winter.feast OF
pantomimes-mArvelS Of regardless expense and un'
paraelod spendor, yery cheap, and 20 be enjoyed by
the million from a shilling upward. Managers OF tho
worlds show are planning new changes OF tho
puppet.strings which, somehow or other, witch
alike at the heart and pocket OF man,
and light up the faces Of youth and age. Since
Charles Dickens took the children Of his brain to
see the Chrsimaspieee and authors ofburlesque ex-
trayagan7a and pantomme adapted their humors to
the largest market Of genial spendthrts the vision OF
the Christmas holidays has had new enthusiasm
for multitude of tho worlds humble-pie people
and their festive Juniors. Our own managers coutent
with plethora of houses" may not be dreaming
tho Christmas vision over again; but il would be in
bad taste, and dismally luckless to those whose
eyes hunger for tie bright mysteries of the
HOLIDAYS, If they should be denied fair
share Of the expected wonders Unless some
brilliant revival among managers entices ont the
boarded magnfcence kept dark from holiday eyes,
we foresee that multitude Of theatergoers will be
stranded on the siren and suspected shores of 1.-The
Black Crook" very remarkable sensation is this
same tortuous wonder-a sea OF water-nymphs,
maze Of scenery, wilderness of legs, about which
there is much said on both sides Of the question-a
controversy which We refrain from entering leaving
to the pure all things that are pure and eyes that are
chas,e TO gaze chastely. Other managers beside him
of the Crook are doing well, if not newly. Barnum
is prosperous among Gagged terrors and unternlied
stufings Stuart like a strong jugger, who handles
cannonballs, Is alternating Booth and Dawson in
tragedy thanks to the generous rivalry OF the former
Wallack easily pleases with modern comedies and Is
content to saunter through fashionable nights.
1.-THE Long Strike which is Mrs Gaskells
noble story not too ceverly Boucieaulted, rules at
| the Olympic, Charles Dillon accommodates to new
style Of tragedy, in which genteness and manliness
are the features The Boweres continue their ap
Mailing combats With artificial excitements OF dag
gers which are blunted and swords which are lost
sight of in tho fury of three-up and one-down, while
the Circus reyolutionizes anatomy, and scandal
has snug neghborhood of its own, and delights with
q viyaoity TO which our is almost stranger; tho
Philippians still hold successfully their province Of
rude humor and rattle barbarian bOnes and the mu-
sic halls and saloons entertain best intelligence
with the classics of art Our managers II will be seen,
have do comparatively little "doweil financially
What with the running of extinct sensations for
months cheap success has become habit hrst-elass
stock companies are almost unknown; aud art and
clever novelty are lost in tho TreaSurer's Office An
indulgent public mindful of its coming holidays may
reasonably ask for more.
Opera comes at last with Mr.. Max Maretzek to
meet sensuous and intellectual longing which the
theaters fail to satisfy It's place among US should
be always certain and its growth assured for to the
operate stage even more than TO tho theater az 1t
generally Is, We must look for our purest source
of social relreshment and our most graceful
and cultivated examples Of dramatic beauty
The place Of music IN our society has,
with every year, become moro highly estao-
lished and the public whose mission 1t has been 10
cultivate and refine trust to its progress as one Of our
most gentle and spiritual of ciyzers. The return Of
one of the most earnest inpressarOs with an actor
and manager Of the power and skill OF Ronconi Is an
event TO be welcomed. We shall hear, let us hope,
not too many of those pet brd-cages OF song winch
every manager has brought us; the childhood Of the
land whislled ont Of vogue, and the hand'organs
made painfully familiar. On the contrary with sueh