, 1875-12-26
HARD TINES At THE THEATRES.

The managers say the times are hard. They
| tell us 1.-THE bottom has fallen out OF emuse-
| ments." The reason why tho bottom has fallen
out they explain to be- that the people are econ-
| omlzing. It ia true that the attendance at some
theatres has been srns'lar this year than usual.
Good performances have been given at 1osa.
Mr. BARRY SULLIVAN, one OF the best tragedians
| living, filed an unsatisfactory engagement at
McVickers Theatre, though his peraonation OF
Richard III. vas far superior to any that has
been seen on the American boards for years. Mr..
T. A. HAIL. who opened the New Chicago Theatre
with good ss6:kscoupany. wss obliged to seek in
Southern cities the appreciation he could not
find here. Col. WooD's Museum has not OBJ
tanned bounteous returns from exhi ibitiops OF
Living curiosit1as Is in theatrical performances.
The finest stock company ever seen in Philadel-
phis has barely held it's Own. Mr.. DAILY, OF New
York, has net been able to make both ends
meet In London and Paris theatricals have
been, 1T come places, unusually dull. These
facts, at first sight. seem to make firm foun-
datiou tor the statement OF the managers that
1.-The bottom has fallen out" But an examiua-
ton will dispense the generalization. Every city
in Europe and America has some theatres that
are doing well. Those that are doing the best
have tbs highest reputation for liberal manage
meut Alt the theatres in Boston are prosper
ing. The Union Square, the Park, and Wallack's,
in New York, and the Walnut, in Philadelphia,
hare been making money. The theatrical income
in Paris has been larger this year than ever before
Even in Chicago the hard times do not extend
to all the theatres. The negro-minstrel COM
pany nov performing 1t Rooley's Theatre
whose SUCCESS We should almost regret II it we're
not 50 honestly won-hAa no cause to complain
OF popular neglect.
Tho truth is, that the hard timea are felt most
neverely 1t the least deserving places Of amuse-
ment. The people economic in thei. auause-
ments by cutting of the poorest ones. They do
not patronsze bad or Indifferent entertainments
They caunot afford to do so the times are too
hard. There is nothing they sacrifice easier
than the luxury OF looking at bad actors in bad
play; OF, WORE still. the torture OF seein.
good play mur7ered by Bottom the Weaper. Snoet
the Tinker. ara Flute the BeAo.os-M Merder. No
wonder tho bottom il out when such perform
ances are given. It ought to have been out long
ago. The longar 1t keeps cut. the better for the
interests OF dramatic art eye1ywhere-
What the people Of Chicago want Ia good
dramatic company under an intelligent manage
mept. Such an organization they will support,
er again. ne believe be satisfied With anything |
less. Chicago il struggling ont a. and above her ]
provincial existence. The provicons for the ar- |
tistio tastes OF her people that we're once suhi-
cient are now totally inadequate. Permutahons [
and combinations OF sticks and stars, stars and
aticke, will no longer b. found remupetative. |
Hard times are NO justification of bad actors aud
cheap performances. No careful merchant pEo-
Fr~ hr4aSr Ar, t4A /
ing the quality Of his stock and keep
ing his prices at the old standard; and
no theatrical manager who adopts this policy
deserves sucoess or will have it, In the saason
following the fire OF 1871, when the city was full
II money and strangers, some OF the managers
made fortunea Because they can no longer do
Is we'll. they blame the people and the times.
They have no reason to do SO. The times de-
nand vigorous action and = generous policy or
etiremens from business The people insist
lpon having the worth Of their money upon
,ard-money basis Until their demands ate sat-
SIZED, they will tolerate nothing Rt ali. Their
~ il: Good amusemenss OF mona"
Yale has challenged Harvard to row IN eight
ared, four-mie race, With co1awains, and the
ha1lenge has bean accepted. Thereat num-
OF OF papers have hastily imagined that this
ctiou involved the withdrawal Of both from the
ollege Rowing Association. This may not be
,, Both universities were represented ut the
leeting in Hartford not long ago, to arrange the
ret1minaries Of the intercollegiate regAtta, and
9TH expected, 1t the time. to be represented in
le final meeting 1t New York next month. It
ould be \ bad blunder for either to Withdraw
ON the Association At this time. There have been
7e intercollegiate 1egattaa. Harvard has rowed =
all OF them and won none. Yale has rowed in !
ur aud won one. This 10 not record which I
ould make the retirement Of either very Dig .
fed proceeding. At the same tune, 1t must be I
that such matters are settled By
AIRY mobs Of boys who act without much re-
ction and have = remarkable capacity for q
Aking fools Of themselves in haste And repent &
Z in leiaura 10 that the Withdrawal may eome q