The New York herald., 1874-04-17


ings, issued from Washington, would b,
worth, annually, ten times the total cost
Our World OF Amuscm onts.
The theatrical season is now ripening to 8
close It has been an eventful season, full d
incident and enterprise, and refecting grea.
credit not only upon our own people as al
amusement and art loving race, but also upo1
the taste and experience Of our managers
There is general, but at the same time quit
erroneous, impression that the dramatic an
can only flourish with the encouragement d
great States; that the opera is an exotic
and needs royal and imperial sunshines
that we cannot have theatre like thu
Theatre Francais because we have no system
Of government subventons, no aristocracy
among other things to patronize and en-
courage the players Furthermore, it has beer
said again and again that the absence of
titled society in America is seen in lowering
Of tone in our amusements, and that they
lack art and taste and finish.
This would be a natural result under on
dinary circumstances. But the truth is that in
New York we have amusements on as compleh
scale as in any city Of the world Take thu
London Times of the latest files, and, under tht
amusement head we find eighteen different en-
tertainments, sixteen theatres and two operas
In the HERALD columns we have nineteeI
amusements, including the opera, which nov
comes to an end, only to appear again
after a season of unusual splendor and
success. Mr.. Strakosch deserves especia
honor for his achievements as o mana
ger of the opera Not only have we had thu
old works, the inspirations Of renowned mas
ters, who may be said to have filed the worlt
with new harmony, but we have had
unique and unusual success in the presenta
ton of sLohengrin." This opera, as ou
readers know, represents new school, wha
has been called the emusic Of the FUTURE" il
a strain Of contemptuous irony. Founded b
the genius Of Wagner in utter violation
of the cherished and traditional laws q
music, sLohengrin' has always been af
experiment, and so delicate an experiment thai
nance of monarch like the King Of Bavarii
to introduce it to the German people. But
New York gave Wagner more than royal
reception. Crowded houses listened to ths
loves of Elsa and the passionate, pathetic
VOWS of the unknown knight The legend q
the Holy Grail, SO mysterious in Germany
was welcomed and comprehended by listen
ing thousands We do not venture to giW
Wagner his real place in art, nor to antici
pate any verdict which posterity will bestov
upon his fame. But his success in demo
cratic America, where his music came un
heralded, unattended and without roya
patronage is ON evidence of the highest task
for art and harmony.
We observe also in the London Times Lis
that our English cousins are satisfied with in
different entertainments. We note 'sSchool"
and "The Rivals as the only classical or
more correctly perhaps, standard plays. w.
observe many waltzes and burlesques, transla,
tions into English of French opera boufe We
look down the HERALD list, and we have
standard actors playing in standard parts. Al
Booths Miss Nelson announces ''Romeo and
Juliet" while in Mr.. Stuart's new theatre wl
have that highly. skilled and most admirable
actor, Mr. Fechter-a school in himself, and
worthy OF the most careful study. Mr.. Stuart
is not only great manager, to whose appreci-
ative genius we owe the marvellous success Of
Booth, but critic and o scholar ikewise-in-
stinctive in his love of art and sparing no
pains to make his new theatre gem Of
art and taste. In addition we have
E. L. Davenport, one of the finest Of the old
school tragedians, in his time the supporter Of
Macready and the rival of Forrest who con.
tinues the triumphs he has won on the stages
of two hemispheres. In oil respects we
have range and variety Of amusement not
equalled in Paris or London. But we see how
much higher our taste has become when wa
look at our own Theatre Francais, the in
comparable Wallack's, whose name is house
hold word and whose theatre has become one
of the institutions Of our country We speak
of q "Wallack audience" as the highest type OF
culture and taste. This supreme honor Mr..
Wallack has gained through long series Of
years, by conscientious devotion to art and
successful resolution to present the highest
works of dramatic art in the most thorough
and expressive manner. Mr.. DAILY, in his
new theatre, also deserves great praise ''Mon-
sieur Alphonse," which his admirable COM
pany now presents, is fine work Of art and
adds another to the long list Of triumphs
achieved by this young and persistent man
ager.
SUPREME COURT CALENDAR.