Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-13

WASHINGTON CITY;
fONDAY April I3, 1874
Actors. Publishers. and Charity En-.
terfli0mcnes,

Newspaper people, not less than actors, on ght
70 thank Miss CuSbmsn for the very clear and
f0rcible manner in she has recently defined tae
proper rel4tiops between the dramatic profess
- and the public in the IN alter Of Gu srity aud
entertainments for charitable purposes. For
every word she says on the subject applies with
equal cogency TO the newspaper business. or
all classes, none are taxed this way 10 often
nor 20 out Of proportion to their means ss actors
and publishers To their great credit it can be
trsthfully said that nobody responds more
freely to all demands on their time and pockets
tan they do; but because they happen to have
chosen or been forced by circumstances into
their respective calliDgs is surely no reason why
they should be called upon TO stand and deliver
or be put under a sort OF professional and bust
nsss ban by every self constituted committee
or organisation that chooses to set on foot any
hind OF a money making scheme for the benefit
of this or that charity. No matter what
tie nature or object of these schemes
may be, leyies are at once laid in some
form uIOn the exchequer of newspaper
ard theatrical people by ind,v.du AIS and COM
rii;tees Who would never think OF asking a ead-
Irs lawyer 10 aid them by a three-h hour argu-
hsnt before a court, nor for a moment expect q
dealer IN jeSelry to help them by contributing
gold watch Ut pair of diamond earrings.
iet there Is just as much reason in one case as
tie other, and none in either. The dramatic
Profession and Journalism bear precisely the
sane relations 10 society that are borne by any
Ctfer legitimate and res spectacle pursuit In life
Their Obligations are no greater and no less.
Actors and publishers should, like other people.
lie paid a proper compensation in money for
what they do, whether for the public or for phi
vEte individuals; and they should only be ex-
Iecttd to contribute voluntarily, like other
people, what they feel they can afford, in
money, and to such objects as are specially
commebded by peculiar merits or necessities.
Ard this leads az TO say that it is about time
10 break up the whole system of badgeriny
people into giving to every needy Institution,
whether they can really afford il or not or
whether its management or objects are such as
TO commend IL to general favor not. All per-
suns ought TO be allowed to judge for them
selves a. 70 the manner, extent and purpose of
their benefactions, without dictatiln, or whs.
amounts 10 the same thng,-dOwnright begging
from sny quarter. Voluntary contributions
slore cor stitute true charity. Collections IN sde
10y ne cTsgOoning process 50 commonly resorted
10, and under spT rehension of social or business
CstIscism by selfcons;ituted assessors are little
better than a mild form of black mail and peo-
lie WHO have pluck enough to resist them aud
stand by their own convictions Of duty and pro-
Inety IN their benefactiOns, are to be com
nended rather than censlred. 10 writing her
admirable letter, Miss Cushman spoke for a
much wider circle than her mere professional
associates