The New York herald., 1872-11-24
FREE LANCE HAS 4 TILT With HIS
CRITICS.


Last Sunday was perhaps the proudest day OF my
life, for then had such Immortality thrust upon
me as never entered into my widest dreams. Two
of your correspondents hkened me unto "tnc
youth that fired the Ephesian DOME" and what
two such impartial writer's say must be true.
accept my easily acquired notoriety with be-
coming modesty, and, for the sake ofgolng down to
posterity beside the youth Of Ephesus, am willing
to be associated with 1.-THE man who nearly burned
down York Minister" with ''the ostraciser OF Aris-
tides" with "Mephistopheles.n How clever ! am
to be made in the likeness OF not one but all
these historical characters Having found my
peers 'viator" goes to work to guess at myself
He discovers that am "a disappointed musical
professor, without the money to pay for a seat
at the opera; neglected genius, ignored by the
world at large, though perfectly well known to a
small clique, and anxious to achieve Importance
among them tout priI, or he may not.' On the
whole think may not. l am not disappointed
not even in "viator," who, evidently being inter-
ested pecuniarily in the success OF the present
opera troupe. will be delighted to hear that
/ pay for my tickets and heartily dsapprove
of dead heads How can be neglected" when
am HERALD-ed to the extent OF three columns by
the combined pens Of .Musicus' and his alter
ego, "viator9n How can be "anxious to achieve
Importance" when, to my own surprise 1t can be
accomplished merely by daring to disagree with
the disinterested friends OF second rate opera
companyP I am also "a kind OF musical Captain
Dalgetty whose cuts and thrusts at the service
OF anybody" No, not exactly. 1 am not at the
service of .Muscus," or "viator," or anybody else
who tries to make the worse appear the better
cause. ''Perhaps am an Inspiration" Really,
begin to feel as l were candidate for the
Presidency, so plentully am showered with pet
names. Neither Grant Greeley were called
ian Inspiration and SO think must be. The
phrase is beautifully indefinite, leaving the
fancy to wander from Ephesus to Washington,
and shall not deny the 'soft impeachment
Truth is so much stranger than fction Mr.. Editor,
that really think it was IAN inspiration in me
to undertake to tell IL. 1t is strange as
to have excited such anger and vitupera-
ton as / only supposed emanated from
hungry politicians in quest OF office. In fact
the critical mouse mas brought forth so big
mountain as to make me question whether
the attack upon "Free Lance" Is not means Of
keeping up controversy for the sake or calling
attention to what people are inclined TO let alone.
There are various ways OF advertising, Mr.. Editor,
as you well know, and to occupy four columns OF
the Sunday HERALD without paving for IL strikes
me as a singularly shrewd device. with this sus-
picion haunting my conscientious soul hesitate
TO lend myself to welpayed game; game; but, but az % "Free
Luccas Cherubno Is untruthful to nature must
take up the glove, else / shall next be told
that have been crushed into silence by the blows
OF an invincible opponent i shall endeavor TO
reply in plain English, leaving elegant extracts
sMuscusr and "viator.n might refer to Cesar's
Commentaries and make graceful illusions in
Greek to Apollo, but refrain. j shall not even
quote DR.. Johnson, though as every one is aware,
no better Judge OF music and no more nnprejudiced
critic OF everything under the sun ever lived II
this be not virtue, II this be not regard Tor
the value OF space In the HERALD, what ISL
.viator" accuses me OF .'making abrntal attack
upon Madame Lucca which proved nothing beyond
mx," Ignorant maevoence." Now let us see In
what INV brutal attack OF Madame Lucca consists
| said that this prima donna had "a beautiful voice
in the medium register; that 1t was clear, full and
even.n ] repeat the accusation, emphasizing 1t by
saying that the voice IL so remarkable as 10
delight, in spite OF bad school. said that
that at times produces fine momentary
efects.n l repeat the accusation, and cite
as an instance OF such efIect the scene In the
fourth act OF "Gn Ugon0tt, (which excites genuine
enthusiasm, which both In action and singing de-
serves great praise. The music makes few de-
mands TO which Lucca cannot respond, and the
intensely sympathetic and dramatic situation ex-
cite that instinct tor which give her credit. Were
IL backed by thought and c0nsummate art Lucca
would be the great artist "viator, and aMuscusr
assert she is. said that Lucca was 'magnetic, has
fine eye and taking presence l repeat the ac-
cuSation and state further that Lucca 10 personally
so attractive as in consequence TO deude the ma
jority OF people into thinking her great In her art.
"CreSt ndgnittqtte nsdts ce NEST pas h gxe7Teu
Pardon me for dropping into foreign tongue, but
the force OF example carries me away from good
ing. I said that Luccas method OF singing was
had. that in ,s(IherubnOu her manner of attacking