, 1873-01-19
a cnse Of Patriotic R0sks .

The Ereninq journal OF this city insists that
!. the theatre-going public Of Chicago should stay
layay from McVickers Theatre during tho en-
eaeement of Mr.. Boucicau1t and his wife, De-
cause. italeres. Mr. Boucicau}t was Rebel GYM
|Apathizer dpring the War OF the Rebellion. Mr'
Bouoicault was evidently inclined to treat TINS
effort to inju1e his engagement with silent
|! diadain or, tmore probably, with secret amuee-
rnent at itsabsurdity; but he has been duly In
terriewed, tand the punp-handle process sue
ceeded IN getting very sensible treatment OF
the matterIat his hands. Mr. Douclcauis denies
the right of anybody to gauge his literary at-
tainmcnts,or artistic attractions by his personal
politica, DOW or in the past. He takes the only
dicni6ed position which an actor, an author, or
an artist:should assume, e,-namely, that ne docs
not live Upon public favor; that he
works, and works hArd, for tho money
he earns that audiences are large or sfna!'
remuneratize or unproatablo, according 70 then
preferences or whims; and that neither mm3cn
nor h;a profession can bo reasonably called upon
to s,ape personal or political convictions 10 sul1
| the nnblic, The idea that actors OF singers are
| rnha;c sorr.nts is true only to the extent that
| thew are required to conform to public morality
| IN tiseir pertormancea, md to present to the
! 1nhrio uhat thoy promise as nearly us they can,
i Tins, giving what tho people have paid to hear
or ace. Having done this much, tho actor is not
rasnonsible to tho political whins OF any partlc-
i n1ar enoch. country, or temporary excitement.
j Tho fact OF Mr. Douciceult's sympathlzing
il With the Rebels does not seem to be well es-
il +ah,;ahed. He recalls the circumstance that he
1rrota the play OF "The Octoroon" in 1859. This
Il drama has been ranked with Mrs. Stoves novel
o,uTJncle TOMS Cabin i" In tho work OF popu-
! 1ar;zinc the movement for abolishing slavery.
It il probable that 1Ir. Boucicault seized
unon the subject as one fuH OF
nopular interest and susceptible Of pathetic
treatment. But he- Immediately received
warning from the South. as did Mr.. Jefferson
who plsyed the part OF Salem 6cudde" in the
idrama, that they must not show their faces II
| that mart of the country. Mr. Boucicault was
acting in I.ondo1. during the War OF the Rebel
;.l lion. and produc ID the "Octoroon" among other
nieces, The Am erican flag and the English tae
4 we're flying toge her over the theatre, anu the
] manager fixed Confederate flag over picture
/ Of the "Octoroon" in the lobby. So far froH
(tcratifying the IIebel sympathizers in London
they took oenc. atthis disposition OF their color
|4though it is now made pretext in this country
L for decrying Mr. Boucicau]t as q Rebel-sympa
fitbizer. This is the gentlemnn's own version o
tho nnat.er. rs, conceive, however, that it ha:
tnothing to do with IT, patronage which tho pub
r Is1jc ahoud or should not sestow upon Mr. Bouci
: cault's performance, whether he sympathlzet
: with tic Rebels or not. As IN Irishman, and
resident Of Loadon, he had perfect right tt
bestow his abstract sympathies where he pleased
: Coming to this country as IN actor and author
I he il commercially in the poaition Of 3 man VII
has ares to sell, and the people will buy, OF re
D. fnzo to buy, according to the quality Of til
al 1rarea IT Mr.. :3oucicault has powers to pleas
= tba public, he will and should attract good audl
ences. 80 long aa he does not obtrude any often
siyc personal sympathies upon the public ]
5 1o does not poeness these qualities, ho would Ia
,. to secure attention in spite Of the most asadu
IS ous display Of patriotism We fancy that tn
J. .tUnion Spy" with Ill the real and moe
hero1em displayed in the me1o-dra1na an
the l.dy who performed the heroins's character
r ras patriotic enough to suit tho most exacting
o vat ne believe tho 'Union Spy" never attaine
l. fame or fortune
Discussions ot this nature are not novel; ant
> in the hea. OF public excitement, there hay
been instances in which great injustice has bee
done to artists Of merit on account OF the
I'd no]itical sfnnities or associations. But d
+ -tsnpts to vorl: up opposition on account
n. old prcjud;ces arc rarely successful, and a
~ vavs absurd. Mr. Boucicault may posslo
= have favored the election Of 3fr. Greeit
=. during the late campaign, though it
~ probable that, Us m actor and literary mAn,
lie thought very little about it ono ovay or the othe
as II III. Bouc!cault did favor Mr. dreeley'e ele
/ v$xr AMS1 anal NN1