The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30

loran, q fascinating character, on the make" and
divers others, on "tho worry "the square,"
"the growln "the beat" "the grab." "the
quiet" and "the tramp" The unrnannerIy
creatures whose "manners" are woven
into the startling plot are plcked
up in and around the Fifth Avenue Hotel and
other prominent and promlscuous localities OF
that great hOt-bed of vice commonly known as
New York. That there are just such people 10
the metropolis is probably the case, although
we confess that we have not a. yet encountered
the prototypes Of all OF them, and do not regret
ourinexperience In the lottery of life. Vanity
Fair 10 a very tame affair in comparison, and If
both Cherry Hill and Sing-Sng were turned
inside out, we very much doubt II they would
furnish appropriate material for casting tho
play according to nature.
Andyet such eager and enthusiastic crowds
attend tne performance OF this sensation as are
never present when any OF the old classical
tragedies, or more moderate modern sensations
arc rendered by the most accomplished men
and women on the stage. And II John
Brougham himself were to vary his present
engagement with a single personation of his
charming character of "Dr. Savage" the re-
ceipts of the house would doubtless be pulled
down from $500 to $500. The fact is q lament
able one which all true lovers of the dramatic
art must join in regretting. Butwhat can be
done? Let the press assail IL, and drive IL OIL
the stage says one. But our Indignant friend
we'll knows that nothing of the kind can be
accomplished. The newspaper critic who
should deliberately go to work to demo
lsh The Lstte,y Of Life, would fairly
earn free admission to the theatre for the re-
malnder of his natural existence, the privilege
to descend 10 his heirs to the end of all time'
The truth of the matter lies just where Mr..
Brougham has himself placed 1.-THE people
want trash, and when the opportunity is pre-
sented they will have 1t, at the risk OF broken
bones and the slow torture of suffocation. Nor
do we think that the management are partlcu-
larly TO blame. 1--WE strive to please is their
motto, as It is the motto of every business man
who desires to replenish his purse. And when
we assail the wretched farce, and the managers
for placing IL on their stage, and the unfortu .
nate actors for noipteferring bare-picked bones
and mouldy crusts in a garret, our only success
is in adding fuel to the flame of popular enthu-
siasm, thousands being thereby induced TO re-
the execTable thing.
We are quite sure that Mr.. Brougham would
prefer to write genteel comedies, even though
the should partake OF the sensational to some
degree; and we are equally certain that the best
Of our actors and actresses would prefer to ape
the manners of men and women who are not
fully prepared for the Devil and his angels
Thus the matter stands, and the public can rest
assured that so long as they desire to behold
such hybrids as 1He Lottery of Life, in prefer
ence to the legitimate drama, the managers,
actors and playwrights, all of whom desire to
earn livelihood like the rest OF us, will be
forced TO carry out their simple motto of "striv-
ing to please"