The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-20

From Our 0rn Correspondent
NEW YORK, Aug 10, 1870
Quite Too Complimentary.

Illustrated in the dissatisfaction which Mr..
Wells, Commissioner of the Emigration Depart
ment, Castle Garden, has given to Mr. Richard
OGorman, President of the Commission of Emf
grafton. Mr.. Wells went to Wallack's Theatre
and saw Mr.. Emmet perform there the part of
Fritz" in Otr Cousin German. Thereupon
Mr. Wells wrote to his friend MIR. Gayler the
dramatic carpenter who glued the play
together, a note which highly praised Mr.. EN-
NETS performance, and which expressed the
praise in exceedingly unique syntax. Mr.. Gayler
affrms that this notew was written In simple good
ness of heart Git was scarcely written in goodness
of grammar), and that Mr.. Wells had no idea
that Mr.. Gayler intended to use it as public
advertisement. However, Mr.. Gayler did that
same" He printed the note as a theatrical
adv ertisement in all the newspapers, and con-
graduated himself upon having performed an
exceedingly business-like feat. A certain Sun
day newspaper, however, whose dramatic editor
probably pretends to write better English than
most theatrical critics, pounced upon Mr..
Wells published note and mercilessly criticized
the terms in which it was couched. This pro-
ceeding evoked an excited visit from Mr.. Gay
ler,who said, with feeling, that he was supremey
Indifferent to whatever the newspapers saw fit
to say about his play, but that he thought it was
shabby affair to criticize in public a private
note written by one gentleman to another. And
OuflcI WOulu nave UG0u pIOudUly TlBuI
but for a triling incoDgruity, which was
that, by publishing Mr. Wells note, he not only
had made it cease to be private, but had implied
also that he published it with Mr.. Wells con-
sent since il is incredible that one gentleman
would publish private note written to him by
another gentleman, without having first OBJ
tanned that other gentleman's consent. How
ever, it seems that the publication of Mr.. Wells
innocent and awkward little note threatens to
be productive OF worse consequences to him
than those implied in passing newspaper criti-
cism. Mr.. O'Gorman is said to have in strong
terms denounced to the Board Mr.. Wells COM
munication and the matter has been referred to
the Wards Island Committee for it to decide
whether the writing of such a note does not
warrant Mr.. Wells dismissal from office. If
this report be strictly true, it is NJ. O'Gorman
and not Mr.. Wells who is placed in a ridiculous
light. The question is altogether too trivial to
deserve such prominency. Mr.. Wells probably
wrote the note inconsiderately, and therefore
worded it rather awkwardly; but at least he
wrote it out of pure good nature, and simply to
oblige his friend Gayler. On the other hand
Gqyler and Emmett Care we not all wur-rums,
with an eye to business y were intent on using
every lawful means to render the season sue
cessful. Hence the publication of the letter, and
all the subsequent scandal.
StubWak SpecuIuttOu hgHtns
For the present the sidewalk spectators are
defeated. In deciding the question which they
and the managers have been fighting over
great deal of niceness is required. That the
ticket-speculators are a nuisance no one will
DENY except perhaps those rare beings who
always neglect to sc cure seats and do not object
to pay two or three times the price that is asked
for them at the box office. Neither is it to be
denied that, during the first three nights of the
present season they behaved so outrageousy as
to forfeit all the sympathy that the public might
otherwise have felt for them. They made our
country cousins their peculiar prey, and when
the wretched dupes returned to the sidewalk
boiling with rage over their unsuccessful
attempts to pass the ticket-taker, the specula-
tors goated over them and advised them to sue the
theatre as the only means of obtaining satisfac-
ton. On the other hand it is well known that
in former days some of the theatres used to en-
ploy lust such men as these for the express
purpose of selling tickets on the sidewalk and
at the entrance to the theatre. The object, of
course, was to put factitious value upon
the seats and to create a Fictitious interest in
the performance. At that time, however, Booths
Theatre was not in existence, and Niblo's was
in hands different from those in which it now is.
1t is possible, therefore, that the proprietors of
neither of these places have ever abetted the
practice which they are now seeking to destroy.
In favor of the ticket-speculators it may like
wise be urged that man has right to do what
he pleases with ticket which he has paid for,
even to sell it in public on the sidewalk if he is
so disposed. These and various other points
will have to be weighed and decided
when the question shall come before court
Meanwhile public sympathy goes with the
theatrical managers. The annoyance of being
obliged to apply at the box-ofice at an early
hour and at an early date in order to secure
good seats is compensated for by the feeling of
security and perfect satisfaction which such an
arrangement gives and an appreciation of this
fact may be quite sufficient to destroy at least
for the time the business of sidewalk ticket
speculation.
Free-Wnl and Necessity among the Police.
1t has been suggested that one reason why so
many criminals are not arrested is that the
present system of metropolitan police rules
reduces every police officer to machine and
takes away from him all liberty of action. For
instance, there is long set of tedious rules
which every policeman is presumed to be ac-
quainted with, and to obey to the letter without
regard to the dictates of his own discretion. II
/ read the spirit of these rules Alright, he is as
sumed to possess no judgment, no common
sense, no intelligent imagination, and the rules
are intended to serve his turn instead of the pro
cesses OF reasoning The system Of fines il
severe, and is vigorously adhered to. Will
much truth ii is said by one who has had many
years experience in the police department o
this city that New York police officer is com