The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-20

Il
An article in TIE NEWS, of Thursday, signed
"obserrer,n would, in all probability, lead the.
public to suppose that we are trying to save the
| expense or an orchestra. This is not the case,
as Mr.. O'Resrdon, the gentleman who plays the
| piano. receives from me salary OF one hundred
| dollars per week and his travelling expenses,
which, together with thirty dollars for the use of
the piano, and ten dollars for moving 1t to and
fro, Is really more than an orchestra would cost.
Secondly, we are compelled t. this course as 1t
would be utterly impossible for any orchestra We
could engage outside OF the larger cities, to play
lhe music OF "Llttle Faust,a "Prima Donna" &C.,
&C., with one rehearsal only, and, as we are
obliged to change the bill every night, it would
be impossible tohsve more than one rehearsal for
each.
In New York, on the original production OF
"Little Faust, It was rehearse'l land at the soil
citation OF the musicians themselVes) SIX or seven
times, as the music WIS OF 80 difficult charac.
ter. The same may be said OF the "Prima Donna
Of Night;m and again, In Boston and Phiadel.
phia, the music was rehearsed repeatedly to en-
able them fthe best Of musical talent TO FENDER 1t
satisfactorily. zsa .r,.
In Buffalo, Albany and other Eastern cities, we
used the piano alone, and never failed to give en-
tire satisfaction.
Thirdly, with regard to the instrument used
here, it is the very best my agent could procure
In the city. although he offered any price, and
It was tuned on Tuesday last, at cost OF ten
dollars.
Fourshly, don't think 1t is really the public
OF Charleston, or, at least, those OF them VINO
patronize aud support my company, that are
| the fauItnnders; nor Is It those who prefer har'
mony to dIseord. lam satisfied thai they VINO
CRY out about an orchestra would be quite con.
tent II there were six lay figures holding instru-
menss, though they did not produce q note.
In conclusion, this card is not intended as
rejection upon the critics Of either Of the city
papers, ,ss 1t Is their right and duty to Keep the
citizens apprlzed Of what Is going on in their
midst, but protest, as every manager In the
country you'd, against such an unusual occur
renee as any person not connected with news-
paper having the ternerity to publish an article,
claiming that article to be the opinion of the pub
lie, when that journal is provided with critic
more competent and undoubtedly better &C.
uuaInted with public opinion than private lndt.
vidual could possibly be.
A theatre Is like hotel, which offers Its bill OF
fare to the public; II acceptable, 1t will be sup.
ported; II not, there is an end to che concern.
Now one word to "Observer,' and have done.
think the old legend Of the man becoming rich
BY attending to his own business is applicable In
| this case 1t Is the business Of the manager to
provide entertainment worthy OF the audience
which patronlzes him; to,elegatc as much as pos
slble the style Of such entertainment. This
have made 1t study to strictly attend to, never
| interfering with another mans style OF doing
| business, or having the impudence TO teach him
I how to manage his own affairs BY so DOING l
may safely say have acquired little fortune.
1t is the business OF the critic Of q newspaper
| TO witness the entertainment, and TO speak hon.
estly and fairly OF It. Just criticism, no matter
| how severe Il may be, so that personalities are
avoided, Is always acceptable TO manager OF
| sense, as it serves as stimulus to his company,
and keeps their energies from tagging. 1t is the
province of the public to see the entertainment,
! II they are 30 inclined, and as the Charleston
1 public has honored me this season with three OF
I the largest, most fashionable audiences my COM
pany have ever played before in this country,
take this opportunity Of thanking them on be.
half Of myself and wife, and assuring them that,
with anything else but the piano and the accom-
panist whom we have with us, and who has been
in my employ for two years, 1t would be impossi-
BILE for us to give the same satisfaction There 10
bpt .one city in the South where we uss an or
chestra, viz: New Orleans where ne play Tor
three weeks-one piece each week, thereby Civ
Ing the musicians six rehearsals Of each piece;
and am convinced in my own mind that, II the
musicians OF Charleston were Afforded the same
facilities, they would perform the music equally
well .....
have been thus explicit to show the Charles
t,u public thatI am acting In the only manner
that would secure to them An entertainment
worthy OF their support.
49,. i am, .resrectflly, the puhlic's
Obedlent servant,
/ JAa a OATES