New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-07

Nearly every reputable newspaper has at one time
another denounced the abuse of encOrcs at must
cal entertainments; and however agreeable they may
DO occasionally we never met with anybody who
defended them on general principles. In three cases
out of four thoy are a gross imposition upon the
patience not Of the artist but of the audience. A
handful of personal friends Of the performer helped
by few Understanding listeners, can easily get
up q recall" against tho wishes of the majority.
and the majority will DO too good naured to protest
The Philharmonic Society has been generally com
mended for announcing on all It's programmes tnls
season that "encOres cannot be permitted : ana
though the rule has twice been broken, there mas
been effort to enforce it, and 1t Is still the rue
An unpleasant incident in connection with IL last
Saturday evening has excited 80 much remark
that we cannot pass it in silence Miss henogg
sang on that occasion at the fourth concert Oh the
season. She expected an encore, and a. there was
no piano on the stage Doth hor selections being rom
dored with orchestral accompaniment, she sent ono
TO the Academy beforehand. and was prepared WIN
q song and gentleman to play the accompaniment
So at least the story is told by those who profess to
know oil about il. The encore was demanded u
course but at this point the officers OF the Society
made stand, and refused TO have tho piano pro-
duced. Miss Kellogg did not wish 10 repeat the
CaNauna OF hOSSlll WHICH bile Juob give" "''"
the orchestra and so she bowed herself gracefully
away. The result was little uproar; applause and
Kisses struggled for the mastery and the conductor
at last taught the audience lesson in poteness by
standing bolt upright at hisdesk until the house was
hushcd into perfect stiffness. 1t is unfor-
tunate that this occurrence should have been
interpreted as an aflront TO Miss Kellogg
but wo think the officers Of the Philharmonic
Society were entirely in the right. To turn the
orchestra ont of their seats and drag piano forward
from the wings and then produce an accompanied
ready with his music, would have been public
declaration that they were prepared beforehand TO
break their own printed rule-unless they could
have persuaded the public that they just happened
TO find piano out by the back door and Mr. Coioy'
in dress-cOat, sitting at it. After such prepOs-
terous proceeding they could never have objected to
an encore again. The affair of Saturday night VIII
have done good if it render them strcter hereafter
Let us have rigorous enforcement of the good rule,
mo encores allowed" In Miss Kelloggs case the
demand for rehearng happened to be genuine
compliment by the audience at large to her excellent
performance; but an encore generally ID sham.
And while we are speaking Of the Philhar-
monte Society, lot US say a word about
the charge of discourtesy" whereof we have
lately heard 80 much in connection with
this important organization. When tho new regu-
laton of reserving seats went into force no places
were saved for the journalists who had been accus-
toned to receive complimentary tickets. This Is the
whole extent OF the "discOurtesy," "illiberalty,"
and "narrowness" Of which the managers have been
accused Pray, gentlemen. do you think the public
cares whether you get good seats or mott Is it dig
niGed to go about scOlding and crying because you
arc treated like other citizens, no better and no
worse What right have you to privileges that are
not enjoyed by the rest of mankind' 1t would be
fine thing for the profession of journalism if mana
ger never saw a critics face. and offered him
q ticket. There is discOurtesy in sending critic
TO the free seats in the amphitheater-wh many
good musician and connosseur is glad to be admit
ted-and even if there were. why on earth should
you ask for the ccmmiseratiOn of public which
cares nothing about you' We ashamed to con-
TESS it, but all the daily papers except two have lost
their temper over the Philharmonic Society.