Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-14

New York is credited with the possession OF as
close iRing' in Dramatic and Musical eriti-
cism as il formerly had in politics. We see it
constantly asserted that the writer's for the
journals OF that city have mutual understand
ings upon matters relating to their specially,
deciding thereby what public entertainments
shall go "up" and what "down." Unworthy con-
siderations connected with these decisions are
more than limited at. The rights Of the matter
are hard to reach. 1t is difficult to understand
how proprietors can allow employees to use their
columns for personal or selfish purposes, and
vet the facts seem sufficiently proved. Take
for example the vigorous effort made by these
critics to convince the country that Mr.. John
Mccullough is great actor. Mr.. Mccullough has
never appeared in Wilmington, but we have seen
estimates of his ability in the press OF other
cities which in no way bear out the evidently set
and manufactured opinion of New York. The
governing principle seems to be that " metro
politan verdict is sufficient to carry performer
or play through the provinces" whether good
bad or Indifferent. This is a delusion, az Mr.
Mccullough has discovered, but it has not as yet
been entirely exploded. Authors, players and
singers still assail the New York critics AZ # they
and not the public constitute the court OF last
appeal. We are unwilling to believe the stories
current OF corrupt influences, brought to bear
upon tile New York iournals-for one reason,
because it can be understood how tue
system may have been elaborated in
another manner. 1t is known that
| the clubs play an important part in New York
| lfe Certain of these clubs-"The Lotus in
particuar-are the headquarters OF artists and
| journalists. II has become the mod for n por-
| former who wishes to impress the rural popua-
| ton 10 make himself at Home in these resorts
| to give entertainments and in various ways to
enlist the personal interest of the cities. Good
will is gained-pledges virtually giyen-beiore
| an appearance is made. The artist becomes
| Zone Of them and esprit de corps finishes the
business We hold this sort of going behind the
scenes az every way injurious to art, aud believe
that the improper conjunction cannot
continue if fairness and impartiaty
both to artists and to the public
is to be the rule. We have been led to thes'
remarks by noticing the remarkable difference
in the estimate put upon the acting Of Mr.
Toole, the English Gommedian, by New lorl
and Philadelphia critics. After Mr.. Tooe ar
rived in the United States but before he ha'
appeared in public the New York journals con
tanned daily aduatory reports of his talent an
the most nnsuspicious person must hav
felt that an effort was making t.
work him up lie appeared, am
although lie excited very little public attention
constant and highly favorable notices OF his act
ing were published He arrived IN Philadelphi
and the general opinion is that the subject
this manufactured reputation is as the Bulleii
puts it, "a tolerably good" actor, aud no more
The Philadelphia critics are fully as competen
to pass judgment in such matters as Their Ne'
: York brethren, and what are we therefore to con
clude Evidently, that the New York system is
{ pernicons one, opposed TO the true inererts o
A popular entertainments