The New York herald., 1867-03-24

Another Landmark Gone,
The destruction OF the Winter Garden by
fire sweeps away another Of the establishments
which served TO mark ths progress Of our city
1t was associated with the recolisctions-
pleasant and indifferent-of most OF the present
generation Of theatre goers. In some respects
its erasure from the list OF our places OF amuse-
ments win be loss, in others it will be posi-
tive gain. In its original construction it was
failure, and it was not improved by the altera-
tions effected in 1t under the direction Of Mr..
BOurcicault As regards Its acoustic proper
ties and means Of egress in case Of accident,
there was certainly no worse built theatre in
the metropolis
In this country the excellencies Of build
ing Of this kind are but too often matter of
chance. In European cities Q supervisory
power is usually exercised by the government
over the construction Of places Of amuse-
ment, and 30 far ss the convenience and safety
Of audiences are concerned the regulations
are extremely strict In Paris the Emperor
takes special interest In all such matters, and
the new opera house will serve as monn-
ment to his taste and regard for the public in
terests 1t is true that his will il law in every
thing that concerns the ornamentatiOn Of the
capital, and that he pulls down and builds up
without any one caring to question his motives
Here we have no Emperor 10 aid us in getting
rid of nuisances or in beautifying our city;
but we have potentate as arbitrary, although
not quite 80 regular in his action, who
does something in both these regards
If it were not for the Fire King
our metropolis would make but little archtec-
tural progress. He rids us of eyesores in the
shape Of ugly buildings, and purifes our at
mosphere by the destruction Of nests Of infec-
ton. There is not a quarter of the city, in
fact, which may not be said to owe its improve
ment to his interference.
There was, until within the last year or two,
no class of buildings which more needed recon-
struction than our theatres. With but one or
two exceptions they were bulls in manner
that led people to conclude that the object
which the architects hal in view was to offer all
possible distractions TO sight and sound, and
to endanger as far as it was practicable, the
safety Of audiences The old Academy of Music
was notable example Of the ingenuity exer-
cised to render place that should be attrac-
tive unsighty and disagrceable. A rickety,
cheeress, barn-like construction, it caused
more deaths by chiils and destroyed more
voices by straining than any building Of its
kind that has, perhaps, ever been erected. Its
destruction was blessing; for the ediiice which
has replaced it is devoid Of the mos. serious OF
these objections, though, so far as its circus
like interior and poverty stricken decora-
tions are concerned, it might be improved.
Another great benefit was the removal Of the
Museum at the corner Of Ann street. where the
exhibition Of stuffed m0okeys, the beating Of
tomtoms and the footing Of horns from the
BALCONIES used to frighten the horses and be-
wilder the passengers. In its place has arisen
q building Of whose architectural merits and
10 Broadway we prefer leaving
others to speak. Certainly the confagrations
which made way tor these improvements are in
no sense to be regretted; for the city might
have waited long enough before the Legisla-
ture would lave in any way contributed to
them.
AS TO the construction of theatres within the
enceinte of hotels, il is not for US to say how
far the practices rs TO be deprecated. There is,
however, in the injury done to the Southern
Hotel by the Gre at the Winter Garden, aud in
the occurrence Of several similar accidents at
Niblos, sufficient TO justify US in insisting upon
precautions being adopted to prevent the ex-
tension of fire to the crowded establishments
in their ncighborhood. In Paris, for instance,
no theatre is allowed to give performances
without sufficient force of pompiers Qiremen)
being in attendance. They are paid by the
managers and are on duty night and day. As
a consequence fires Of a serious character but
rarely take place in them, the first alarm
bringing prompt assistance for their suppress
sion. The same precaution should be rigiily
enforced here, and, furthermore. means should
be provided Of flooding the stage from tanks
placed on the roof and easily accessible. If
these simple safeguards were adopted we
would guarantee full immunity from the acci
dents which are proving SO disastrous TO our
theatres and other places Of amusement