, 1874-04-12
And the Great Misfortune Which
Befei Him.
Doing the Trapeze for d Fifty
Cent Bet.
+ Glimpse at the Minstrels.

CtA~~10QA 4
theatrical manager gaye his verdict upon tht
.imcs rs follows, day or two ago: " OF courat
The house is light. Here's one OF tho stronges
stars in the country-an admirable actress witt
IN excellent repertoire. Bu. can't introduce
the beer and cigar element into my theatre, ant
au6t look on and sec those who can pockoting
tho money"
And what are you going to do about it?
"Do?' quoth he, ''wny keep on as have
done-keep on playing the legitimate and pay
expenses. It'll blow over in few months, End
public taste will be satisfied. It's not the first
time in my experience that the public have
pitched acting to t1o dogs and taken up with this
Eort OF variety business. Do you remember the
Canterbury Hall basement Of few years ago? It
lived and doutishod, and the people got all they
wanted, and after awhile sickened. Then they
returned TO the old standby, and the legitimate
looked up again."
q" And you expect the Eame reaction againf"
"Ccrtain1y do. It must come, and he whose
purse holds out long enough, will find he has lost
little or nothing in the long run''
" And you would not think of switching off and
trying to compete
"of course net. I'll hold to the business we
are H. ahe popular gale will blow from another
quarter time enough
DECLINE OF LEG1TIMACT.
To recognize the fsct that tho popular favor is
to-day blowing from quarter never before con-
templated shows an honest and manly desire to
look things straight in tho face. The decline Of
Edwin Booths superb temple Of dramatic art
and lta leaee 10 Messrs. Jarrett l. Palmer, the
present stewards Of the public, is not without
meaning Tho forces OF tho drama arc expended
Tor season. The legitimate ia tucked away be-
meath the Sheets to rest aud recuperate. There
are evidences Of its weaziness everywhere, and it
is only candid to admit that it elunbers for
awhile
And what has taken its place, during that
e1umber? Something that will arnuse, without
effort to the mind something that tickles tho
senses without disturbing the tranquility Of the
Intelligence, e,-amusement without instruction.
In short, the "yariety business" 1t iB not the
pnrport Of this article to dilate upon the pailo-
sophlca aspects Of the situation is it its in-
tention TO Say that tho intorregnum in the suc-
cession of art is good or bad feature of tho
seasou, merely 10 set forth III pleasant way
. Eome of the facts which arc apparent to every
hody who has had an opportunity to dive behind
tho scenes, but facts which are not as familiar
10 the theatre-goere as to the critic whose bus-
ness 1t Is to peer into every nook and Granny OF
he drama as it is exhibited here.
TIE yAR1ETG-DUsISEss.
Briefly, then, what lB the aim Of the variety
business OF tho best kind-for with anything but
the best this sketch has nothing to do, what is
ttB object, what its scope? In . word to amuse,
to furnish series OF exhibitions OF every possi
Die variety, as illustrated By performers who can
display their special e1celences at tue best. II
hms to embrace tho whole field OF the legitimate
IN its lighter branches, leaving out, Of course,
lite massive beauties Of the higher works OF art
tragedy, cid comedy, mud classical works in
music and the drama. 1t aims to condenee, into
ane evening. the best features Of a number OF
exhibitions. It draws upon the legitimate stage
for farces and broad comedies, interruptiug the
st1eam OF broad merriment With an occasional
oit Of pathos, to offset tho sunshine of Life
terve the .purpoae; it draws upon the
lyric stage for the melodies which, il not the
gems Of modern composition, are at any rate
nearer the comprehension Of the masses !; it
rakes in the telling features Of the negro min
strel stage for its tolios, T" and j" bprnt-cork
acts," selecting from that broad platform the
most popular acts; it even waylays the circus
md calls upon the athletes, the gladiators OF
modern days, whose life hangs by as slender q
thread as in the days Of Nero and Titus, to ahow
the people something which shall entertain and
puzzle them, while at the same time it adds to
the exhibition ,., frinsing Of fear which
lofty tragedies. The variety business at its
best seeks to skim the cream from every pan,
and to serve It up IN one vessel The eescnce Of
It is essentially vasioty,-an harmonious blend
arrangement, giving novelty at every turn OF
the instrument. Tho changes must be neatly
made Everything must be short, sharp, and
decisive. The cream must be cream, for your
variety audience, though not highly intellect
ual body, is sharp to detect skim-milk. especial
II when it ls = little sour. This is the essence
OF the variety eutertainmeut-ehange and rapid
ity IN change.
THT IT GAINS FAVOR.
There exists an opinion that the variety-busi-
ness owes its success to sensualisrn-to the legs
Of ballet the foam OF beor, the smoke OF to-
bacco.
*.Utte7.y wrong, replied notably-succcssful
varie:E-nanage7. to the writer, who suggested
this thought. II can tell you, you are utterly
wrong Our receipts would show but tritling
dlm1nuton II the free -and-easJ system were
only played business occasionally. IN COM
petition with other legs. Not ut all. The best
PAYING, though not the best, variety -houso in
!hs n country is the Howard AthenGum
IN bohton, where the fzec-anl-easy system is
no: allowed It does not weigh little bit
~ teu you my idea Of the thing. The legitimate
ofama Is the relic Of d fine old educational gss-
ten' t " wnen me purity Of language and tho educa-
s1ou q Inc 1nhs6es were conserved By the stage.
Inc tremendous daily press has rendered educa-
non S1a tne orena superduity. Your daily
papers teach more in III Issue than month Of
the legitimate. Shakespeare is for the stntlr
Too much intellectual strain will not do. The
people go to the theatre nowadays to bo amused
pot to learn There is no sense in holdine to Il
HSs.t guse sne oay o1 TIE drama is gone. Booths
1heatre is let to the foremost cateretp to nnh1io
amusement IN the country. There ia an eritome
aa.;e M zoe Whole Increment Let me call your at-
Efs}H he went to sec Macbeth played. and then
FenlarEes upon the wonderful perfo1mance Of =
fope,dAncer. And It is the same to-day. Tbs
people want to be amused to-day-not thoupner.
ten Do you know where the best orchestrs Waa
- be found short time ago2 At the An,ambra,
In London. Thomas never drearnt OF such Al
organization. Popular prices, popular amuse-
nents, there is the ecczct Ct success"
INTRODUCTION N AMERICA
The variety business atss came into this coun-
Try through the Gcr1nans, and it's principal fea-
lure WAS musical. it. as-',-.5ed III easements
Ind er,sl'.s'1o- .,, =. sA. --s. .