New-York tribune., 1874-10-28
DRAMATIC WRITES AND CRITICS.

PARTIAL AND IMPERsOyAL IA COMPILATION Oh
EPIrHErs
70 the Edttor Of The Trtbxns.
SIR: In a generous spirit of editorial courtesy
you have allowed the Of your columns to toner
such res ponse may wish TO the very severe sfrc
lures recently made In dramatic columns upon my
comedy entitled Moorcroft, or The Double wedding
produced last Saturday evening at the Fiftn-ave.
Theater. will not take advantage OF the opportunity
thus kindly afforded to call In question your critical
Judgment We probably differ in some points, as to the
merits Of that play but my opiuion on the subject
would not be Of much interest TO yourself your read
ers simply wish ask question concerning mat
ter which been forced upon my attention very re
auently since I have been before the public a.
dramatic writer and with more emphasis than Dy
the article Moorcrof IN issue OF Monday 'ast
Oct 49, there. is there not any courtesy, Kindness
mr. gentlemauly consider ration due from d dramatic
critic TO dramatic authori Is drastlst In Americs
such parah and outcast among other gentlemen tna'
the critic Is at full liberty to exhaust the Eugsn IAN
guage the Of contempuous and insulting termsn
discussing the work OF his pen In word, to para
phrase xpression, has the dramatic author
n this country rights which the dramatic critic
bound, as o gentleman, to respects
1t will certainly amuse you aud probably surprise
you to read collected FORM some of tue expressions
which have been used concerning myself my comedies
and charscers by the press OF ana some
other Cities during four can the Inst
fail to entertain your readers American humor, n 10
said, consists principally In exageeratou; what snail
we say American criticism when our eritessrve by
every possible combination OF words 10 outdo
in the use Of opprobriOus ephets This too wnen they
are supposed giving their carefully weighed op'n-
ions of the works presented for their consideration AZ
understand true CRITICISM" defining the word accord
ing to the highest standard acknowledged BON In tnn
country and Europe involves something more thar
brilliantly written, sarcastic, and amusing aru
cles. 1t involves q calmness OF Judgment Ct
serly inconsistent with epigrammatic violence OIL
expression. It involves, SO far as possible
nae Of such Language as is indicative Of no undue
warmth of feeling against the object or person
criticised. In criticism Of printed literature we ITO
aueuy reach very highest ideal OF the art ana no.
where more unvaryingy than In your own columns. !
have never seen literary notice in The TRIBUNE wnlci
did not convey q full conviction OF the fact tnat us
writer was expressing his sincere opinions In the sm
pest possible words without the least evidence OF pas
sion or irritation To show how far below TINS stand
ard that of dramatic criticism has fallen III thls COUNTY,
will give few of the terms, phrases ana seheenccs
chosen by Of various journals to describe my own
comedies their dramatis perso or their author, from
the production Of " Saratoga" in December, lo'1 "
that Of "Moorcroft" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on
Saturday night last.
From The Nec. York Herald.
Sentimental twaddle dashed WIN slang.
Harmless explanatory twaddle
Presumptuous and prepOsterous
Nothing but a side-show.
Little more artistic than q circus.
Inc dreafe'' fHSDis FROM ne Ner. York World.
The characters scuttle around
PurpOseess and insincere scramble.
to,sov,ity HoiSw, ins'affns; of imcesittty. aad '
Jibes OF fashionable puppies
Language OF the demi-m0nde -
An animated congeries OF aDsurdities.
The Misunderstanding of Niger minstrel
kind OF leap-fr0g business
Inherent weakness aud paltriness.
An empty horde Of women.
Frisky stupidity.
Like an iridescent dustbin
thousand Dinnies night content to ggge at 10
Cotemporaneous tomfoolery.
merry runpus and rigmaroIe
| Tawdruess and holiowness.
| Mr. Howard Is of no account whatever.
NISCEILANEOUS-IN NEW YORK..
| Comedy OF the minstrel stage.
Snowy m0ustTOsltles
One Of Bronson Howard's imbecle dramas.
Ike % grinnins through horsecollar.
Feeble stuff
An almost ultimate condition OF dullness.
Excessively tame aud positively stupid.
Conspicuous for nothing but sheer stupidity.
shOekDgly vulgar and repulsiye.
The trdsnIest or all trash.
Not single witticsm in It, (5aratogaI
This tone Of criticism Is not confined to this city.
select from my collection vigorous expressions from
Boston Journals. find the following in The Boston Ad
reTtiser:
A weak wsshy, everlasting food Of twaddle.
Simply stupid.
A good natured idiot.
A libel, and a stupid libel, on human nature.
IntOlerably dull. lSaratoga.l
The plattudes OF idocy or the rawlings OF insanity.
A collection Of puerites.
From The Boston 7,areer have been favored as fol.
lows:
A dramatic bantling
vulgar caricature
The pueriities OF the author.
Positively repuislVe
The Boston Bulletin is even more emphatic:
spouters OF words BARRIERS blocks for wigs and tou
pees, tailor's and millner's dummies.
Dead sea fruit and damaged meat.
Five acts OF feebleness.
As utterly without individuality as a medum-sized
Our gorge rises at the thought. lSaratogal
The Boston Courier has contened itself with deserb-
ing the dialogue OF my comedies the efdsions Of
lunatic." In Phiadelpbis. am charged with nothing
more henous than "Inane dialogue. occasional drear
ness and bad taste" unless the charge that take my
| characters from the dime novels" may DO con.
sidered 50.
Iu conclusion allow me to quote the following eIpres
sions found articles of The TRIBUNE
Flppant inanities.
stuffed with odds aud ends OF old farces
TIE personages are borcs.
Protracted baobling.
Coarsely indelicate.
SickeDng puerllity.
Cailow attempts to write American comedy.
schoo:boy invention and schoolgirl pratlis.
A banibox OF artificial flowers.
fresh package OF fancy soap.
Pucrility quite tndescribable.
Lukewarm water.
A mess Of trivality and farce.
A farag0
Inane dialogue.
Like an inflated cauin0wer.
Trickling puerilty.
After reading all that am in confusion ne "a
the disposition which should be made Of me by the
proper authorities. II all that the critics have said 10
true, ought to be consigned to insane asylum
idiot asylum. to the penitentary Icerainly should
be allowed to at large There Is telling what
form my tendency TO do something outrageous mi gh,
take at any moment. Seriously, though. do you really