The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-24

labored poetic imagery, nor strain to make his
writings merely the medium for rejecting his
own accomplishments as a writer. Since Mr..
Fechter's appearancein in this country he has been
one of his most deyout champions, warmly bat
Ting the assaults of the Tribune. He is not an
extremely young man.. II he were he could not
write so dispassionatey and with such acumen
as he does.
Perhaps 1 shall be laughed at for mentioning
the theatrical criticisms of the Herald, for
every one is aware how notoriously deficient
that newspaper is in the commodity. Having
achieved the triumph of winning back again
the silly theatrical managers who few seasons
ago boastingly asserted that they did ''not ad-
vertse in the New York Herald" it maintains
its old habit of indiscrimiuately putting except
where it happens to have personal spite. The
dramatic columns are presumably in charge
of a gentleman named, but the notices are
written by half-a-dozen different people. The
Herald is so afraid of dramatic critics making
use of his position for venal purposes, that it
obstinately refuses to engage any one man to
take supreme charge of that department
Hence it distributes its force amongst half
a-dozen ''critics," who very seldom
evince the culture and analytical
power essential to the position. Thus it was one
of the Herdlds critics who, refer ing recently to
Mrs. Waller in the play of Fdz5O, mentioned
that the drama was a new adaptation from the
French, and bade fair to become success. This
was akin to a criticism on Carlotta Patti in the
New York Sunday Mercury wherein that lady's
voice was made elaborate mention of as
mezzo-soprano. Neither of these papers could
afford to lose critic of such knowledge and
discernment. One good thing, however, obtains
about the present management of the dramatic
affairs in the Herald-no critic is able to pro-
mise positively that any particular notice of
any particular performance shall take place at
any particular time, for no one knows from
day to day what he is going to attend to. This
precludes all opportunity for venality, which is
the great bugbear of the Herald'S proprietor.
1t is curious sometimes to watch the manou-
vres between the theatres and the newspapers
in New York One of the principal theatres in
the city maintains most accomplished hanger
on, with the express understanding that he shall
foster pleasant relations between it and the
press. This gentleman is well educated, a good
writer, a facile conversationalist, is well ira
yelled, has seen the world, and has the exterior
and manners of a gentleman. There is not a
managing editor in the city who is not acces-
sble to him, and whom he flatters himself he
cannot contrive to talk over to his view of
footlight subject. With this fact before ones
blatant managers do-that they don't care
straw what the newspapers say Theatres
always do care, and they always must;
/ for, although no newspaper may have
the power to fill a theatre which
presents poor performance, or to prevent the
| public from attending a place of amusement
which gives good one, yet it has the power of
entering the sanctuary of thousand homes and
| of propagating among cultivated minds opinions
| to which great weight is attached and it is the
| ambition of respectable managers not only to
| draw paying audiences but to secure favorable
| CritiqueS which shall win them the esteem of
even that class that contribute but little to the
| support of theatre.
1t is a mistake to imagine that, in proportion
| to the number of journals and journalists, more
! tickets distributed to the press of New York
| than to that of Philadelphia There are about
| fifty-fve dailies and weeklies in New York.
| Upon the first night of new play or of q new
appearance two seats are sent to the dramatic
editor of every paper in which the theatre in
question advertises. These are all the tickets
that are sent Neither the cashier, nor the
managing editor, nor any one of the other edi-
tors is recognized. Everything in the ticket
line goes to the dramatic critic, and If any other
editor wishes to attend place of amusement he
with the means Of course, where there is both
dramatic and a musical editor upon the same
paper, the tickets are SO addressed that each
editor receives those of his department, and
mention this fact because the rule is observed
in New York with much more scrupulousnes
than in any other city of the Union.
Some of the New York theatres contribute
good deal to the comfort and convenience of tn,
dramatic editors and furnish rooms and writing
materials, where criticisms may be written be
tween the acts At Booths Theatre there is
handsome saloon opening out of the lobby upol
the second floor. 1t is light and pleasan
apartment, furnished with plain elegance, an,
here Mr. Booth and some of the principal dra
matte editors of the city may occasionally b
seen of an evening. The relations between
Booths Theatre and most Of the newspapers il
New York are especially pleasant. The entir
management of that vast establishment is cha
racterzed by liberality and delicacy which ar
very rare, and which find their keynote in tn
good and pure instincts of Mr.. Booth himself.
have only mentioned four newspapers, bu
they are the four which contribute most to
wards the formation of public opinion. Th
Standard is deyoting a good deal c
attention to dramatic and musical matters
The Sun seldom has anyshing resembling
criticism. rhe Express and the Post criticism
( are written by yhard-worked gentlemen who hav
, myriad of other duties to attend to- and VIII
} consequently do not always express themselve
] as lucidly as they might. None of the othe
daily papers amount to anything and the weel
lias dO NOT come within the soona af tho nrasa