The New York herald., 1869-05-16
Musical and Theatrical Notes.


New York city, all the year round, spends, on an
average $l30OOO per week for musical and theatrical
entertainments 1t boasts at present Of less than
nineteen different places Of legitimate amusement.
oil in full blast, besides three establishments OF
similar character in Brooklyn. 1t Is estimated that
at least 25, 600 persons nightly patronze these differ
ent theatres and opera houses, making a to-
tai OF 100000 per week. which, there is
good reason for believing, is considerably
less than the actual number, and which
does not include the many thousands who fire.
quent the concert and music halls and who
md amusement In side shows Of various descrip-
tons, from an itinerant circus down 10 q tricky
prestidigitateur' or an artistic daub dgnihed with
the name Of ''pahorama." These facts, coupled as
they with nexaggerated figures must stamp us at
once In the estimation or the world exceedingly
appreclave and liberal theatrical people. The mu.
steal and dramatic record Of New York city Will GER
tanly compare favorably, In point OF population,
with that OF any other city In the world II 1t does
not actually excel some few OF the great capitals OF
Europe in this respect 1t Is at least fully equal to the
which 1t extends to the dramatic and the lyric
stage and in in, the number Of Its commo. IN,-
diOus and well appointed theatres, which
Tor architectural beauty Will bear favorable COM
parson with any similar structures the civilized
world. Its native histrionic talent, male and fe-
male, In all the various walks OF the drama, Is on
par with the same article produced In Europe and
Is certainly Of as good cabre. As for Its pr1e don1e,
they succeeded years ago In wrestling the laures from
the brows Of the proudest and most popular song
stress In the Old World, and have ever since re-
tained their hard-earned triumphs-even in foreign
lands-wtth credit TO themselves and honor to their
country.
In speaking Of American artists abroad we may,
perhaps be here permitted to remark that
foreign artists who have made their first
bow before an American audience in this
city, whether they belonged to the lyric
hearty and generous welcome TO our shores, irre-
spectlye Of the country from which they hailed, and
II they really possessed merit the endorsement which
they received In the metropolis has generally carried
them safely over the entAe American Continent.
Some few there have been VINO were totally incom-
specially engaged but who were tolerated and even
nattered by our citizens simply because In their
good-hatured way they were desrous Of acting gen.
erously towards strangers. But these same cnlval-
strangers. as has recently happened IN several
instances neither relishing the "lack of apprecia
toni " on the part Of the generous Gothamites, or
else having been spoiled by the too kind indulgence
which they received at the hands OF the American
people have on their return to their native land
where It !. 70 be hoped, their fellow countrymen
rushed impetuously into print decrying Americans
In general and New Workers In particular, with q
unanimty which. II not absolutely astonishing at
least positively alarming not to say refreshing As
this sort of thing appears these errant knights
OF the sock and buskin in no small degree and as 1t
amounts to nothing but the natural ebultion OF
their chagrn at the failure they made IN supposing
us nought but herd OF barbarians or ignoramuses
for whom ANYTHING was good enough; and not be-
cause New Workers or Americans cannot apprect
ate genuine talent" do we smile at their petty sp ties
and pass them by with the contempt they deserve.
The complimentary benefit to John Brougham Is
to come OF on Wednesday next, the 10th inst II
will be d0uble-barreled arrangement and will con-
sist Of two separate performances at two different
theatres. The day performance will be given at
Niblo's and the evening performance at the French
theatre, but the nature OF the entertainments have
not yet been made public. Representatives from
eyery theatrical company will assist and one per-
formance will scarcely be over before the other will
| commence. The "genial Johnn contempaies start
Ing for California ABOUT the LIST Of Juns. aud ~ be