The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-17
FREE LANCE.
Critics Critic 1se4-Italian and Eth h0psAn

TINS ~ queer world, and people are the queerest
things IN IT. II ever committed 80 grave an
offence against society should make pun and
declare that people were cOttieur df CUR 70 the
querist. Some OF the queerest entertain extraOr-
binary ideas concerning critics. They seem to
think that the critic who neither praises
sures for best known 20 his friends
aud enemies must be hend in human
form, who goes about seeking whom he
may devour from pure hatred OF his kind.
That there such monsters is possible, for 80
long as critics. like the rest OF creation sub
ject to malice liver complaints and the agonies OF
dyspepsia, so long Will certain percentage deal
In the virus OF spleen; but that truth-telling
should be sugmatized as abuse Is rather more
than honesty cares TO tolerate. No critic worthy
the name delights to condemn, but, loving truth
better than Plato and Plat0s country, better
than Dante and Dante's country, better than
Shakespeare and Shakspeare's country, better than
hawthorne and Hawih0rDes country" he tells
what his conscience dictates, regardless OF conse-
quences. For daring to be brave he Is cordially
hated. Who likes TO be hatedf Now, what
does criticism mean' Appreciation. What does
appreciation meanS Just estimation. II, in esti-
mating JUSTLY censurc becomes necessary what
right has the critic to dip his pen in honey because
OF kindly feelings towards the artists 1t is this per-
BIASED judgement in this country. Tom Is good
felow-makes himself very agreeable 1t the club,
has large family, you know, and how can one pro-
test against his last effort? Miss Jones is charm
ing girl and really 1t would be too bad to tell her
that she can't act. Thus art Is killed; for II an
actor or singer painter finds that good, bad
and Indifferent are treated alike, that putting
goes by favor, and that what is really well
done receives no greater praise than which is
badly done, do you suppose average human nature
sufficiently strong TO resist demOralizng infu-
ences Many a time have heard artists bitterly
exclaim, "what is the use of trying to DO wena Is
there any reward Not one word OF praise In the
right place, and insult is added to injury by COM
mending what know to be bad" There is no use
as long as personality regulates criticism. Tort
night ago, IN speaking of lie Centenaire," said
that in one act Jacques complains OF his
eyes. stating that even with double specJa-
cles he cannot read letters distinctly; in
another act, contrary to the business OF
promissory note written IN pencil seventy.
seven years before, and quickly reads 1t without
wsr = an sven ri a no.
rary asserts that "Frec Lanceis given to speaking
without due consideration Of subject y tina! II
! Mark does NO such thing in every instance note
! is read aloud and then handed to him, but he
hardly chances at 1t. 1t is shame to stultify
IN this fashion an actor who has always had credit
| for fair amount OF common sense" Now, In
70 e Of
! which three witnesses besides myself are ready
to stand sponsors. am ansi not given to
subject, and to intimate that my aim
is stultlica.lon Of an admirable actor tor
action referred TO rejoiced; It proves that Mr..
smith not only possesses the lair amount OF COM
hut ali that common sense that never doubted to
be his-a common sense that cannot be ascrlbed to
partsans whose blind admiration OF an artist leads
them to denounce critics who dare to discover i'm
perfectiOns.
And this reminds me how, in November last
| was roundly vilifed in your columns, Mr.. Editor,
ior having q mind OF my own regarding Nine.
Lucca. OWNED at the time the impartial source
of this denuncation but little dreamed that Mr..
Max MaretzeK would himself inform Q curious
public how operate agents seek to suborn the
press. There Is nothing that ventiates facts so
S%sSess s Or risnSshp The pubic is made wiser
If not better by consequent revelations. II may
entertain you, Mr.. Editor, to know that bulr of
exoommunication was launched against me by
.rae yator, was not to be allowed T%;s behind
q terrible blow to my feelings seeing that had
never had any desire 80 roam among the beauties
OF the chorus. II was alse intimated that should
not enter the front OF the house, but rs pay for
my tickets this threat could not well be enforced,
and now viator Sams at the mouth and con-
is from one point Of view. If Satan were to pass
day in heaven he would detest It. because it would
be antipathetic Birds of feather flock together
America is not miserable to have been the
birthplace Of "viator.' and Tor being spared this
blessing we ought TO sing hymns OF praise
Well the opera has returned and once more We
go to hear two prime doAne, no men, poor chorus
and an Indifferent orchestra a OF all the operas
ting aside Goethe's idea-which Is not that of
Thomas-the music is pretty and sympathetic, and
makes few demands that Mr.. Maretzeks troupe
cannot fiji. Nine. Lucca's beautiful voice is heard
to great advantage. Her numbers suit her; her
acting is natural and earnest. Miss KelOgg's pure
method and beautiful execution shine out in the
polacca, proving that 1t IS not necessary for Ameri
cans t. study in Europe TO sing in mastery man,
finer school than Miss Kellogg. This Is
encouraging and when Gnnss, wealthy New
which society no y talks other ellOggs will ARISE
to demonstrate the absurdity of paying thousands
sfdolars for foreign artists when hundreds will
secure native ability OF equal power. If we were
not the veriest art 1unkies IN the world we would
20 to work Immediately and establish our operate
independence. SO long, however, we are over
awed by the opinions OF Kaisers, Emperors,
Princes OF Wales London Illnesses and equally i'm
maculate authorities so long will we eXpend
msney for our imported prma donna and no
ensemble. The consequence Will be that when the
schultz we shall assist at just such mutated per-
f0rmances as have been presented the past week.
% spss Ta sSaea
Instrumentation indnerenty executed! Think
of the concerted music iimping and hating
No, don't think Of 1t, because the thought is
father to groan, and groans are unwhOesome.
Nine. Lucca seemed to excite genuine enthusiasm
In the scena and aria or the second act yet to me,
the rendering unsatisfactory. Beauty OF voice
was there, and in the second movement great en-
ergy, but Nine. Lucca's defects in accent and
phrasng were such to dIsplease musicians.
The Italian spoken by the German prima donna
was never more faulty than In der FreschutZ,"
while the pumping process by which she frequently
brings out notes was never more apparent. Nine.
Lucca's respiration Is singuarly lnartistic. TO
take breath between the sylables Of u word Is in
excusable. In the short word 'sristorO,n in the
longer OF "eterndD,ente," Nine. Lucca
breathed twice, and altogether took sach
liberties with the almost classic music Of
Weber. as to make me wish that had
not heard her in II. How AgataS great scena
ought to be sung Nine. Parepa-Rosa has often
shown us. For the rest Nine. Lucca has little to
do and does not try to make the most Of IL. AZ
usual, she Is very badly dressed. The charming
music Of Annchen was entrusted to Miss Clara
Dora, who did her best, but that best IL not half
good enough Ter Weber The Max Oh aignor
ViZzani did not delight, did the Caspar OF
Signor Janet make me long for mere" | think
was most impressed by the 1end Lamel.