New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-18
DRAMATIC STRAWS.
SHALL WE sUBsIDIZE A TIIHATHRi

TO the EdtfOr OF the tribune.
| SIR: That straws show which way the wind blows
is as true, believe, as though it were an AXIOM IN
Euclid, instead of an old, old proverb. Being true,
do not feel it rash to point moral in the direction
of many straws whose course have marked within
the last few months. II the literature of the day
the interest Of the day, then the Drama IL in
fair way 10 recover its prestige, for within
! my recollection has 80 much been written in so
| short a time the subject Of actors and acting.
Pirst comes Macready's "reminiscences in two thick
volumes, edited by Sir Frederick Pollock book
which many read and all journals quote. Then
Tennyson poet laureate, writes play unrornantic
Bloody Mary" which Tho london Times balls ~
the next best thing to Shakespeare, which ulster
critics hail less enthusiastically, which TennysOn
himself is arranging for representation, and which
Mrs Bateman promises TO produce at the Lyceum
Thcatcr. Poet is followed by philosopher, and
George H. Lewes, one of the most brilliant Of En-
glishmen, repubshes in book form a series Of
dramatic criticisms because he states IN his dedi-
cation to Anthony Trollope, "a change seems coming
over the state of the stage and there signs Of
revival of tie once splendid AIT of the actor" The
last of the noble family Of the Kembles announces
an autobiography which editorial comments arc
already being made Wherever go in society, Ibearof
Irving's Hamlet and Salvini's Otbeo. Mr. Glad
stone makes the round of the theaters preparatory.
perhaps, to wrttng tract entitled " Is the Stage
Worth Savings" and smiles most approvngly at
Marie Wilton's admirable production Of Lord Lyt-
tons Money" Catching the popular fever, weekly
periodicals air their opinions on the drama. and
scarcely monthly a quarterly appears but
solemnly takes mp the fashionable subject.
MAG,zlNE AND REVIEW ESSAYS.
The CenNeman's Magazine for August returns
TO it no less than three times. The Cow
den Clarkes chat about the Kenbles;
temporary actors are discussed In Table Talk;
and a prominent article appears, apropos Of
Great Players and their Art" In The 81.
James Maga-inc for July Hamlet appears among
the " Ola Podrida" and Charles l.. Gruneison dis
cusses the Lyric Drama, Past and Present" VOWS
that Opera Boufe is dying out in Paris as fast as
possible, and that operate matters sever in
hopeful state now. Lady Pollock appears IN
the July number of Temple Bar az critic of Poet
and Stage" the last Quarterly RereT devotes pages
10 the Theatre Francais," Robert Buchanan tho
poet, turns dramatic critic in The Neu Quarterly
Rerier, and Mtmilon's Dogasfne for July makes
way for I. H. s. Escott, who takes up the gauntlet
in defense of the modern stage.
Twenty five years ago" he writes, There YES no
Of our English churches than the stage The Puritan an.
nosity against the theater the temple VI the devu
reasons these datribes heard with much ess re-
Quency now tr more c'nprehen,i'e ana roo ,h
objections which quarter OF century S1nce might nave
been adyance not without nlu,tioe I" the iiai9rany
not have decreased but the venue o. vice has been
Ev ou ir rofc s teachers Of religion and morality
recognized the truth that nothing is gained by OBJ
least here and that II the art Of the play
wright or the novelist be the representation Of human
nature, sin and misery, crime and sorrow come within
the legitimate sphere OF literary or dramatic treatment"
Do not these many straws denote that the wind ia
blowing very steadily in one dieotoni The good
old times Were they so very goodf Was the inn
mortal bard of Avon 80 profoundly respected
is an evidence Of The force Of great trassdan
sisting in great part Of literary men. mad
protest against his balbarous dealings with our great
bors. Satisfied with the passion he reused, they did
NOT question the instruments he used His des-
an cxagecrated growth Of his period, and Johnson tho
oracle of that has left us many criticisms to laugh
And how did Garrck and even join Kemble dress
their parts Macready, as many know, and as Lady
Pollock AYERS.
Restored the true text Of Shakespeare TO AL the plays
His fine critical judgment strong support to his
powcr rs tra gic actor many Distinguished authors
forward for his sake to wife for the stage Lord
Sheridan Knowles all produced plays which are sill
freshly remembered, and some pieces OF great merit but
OF less intrinsic dramatic power which died with tie
asedian, were inspired by his presence
NO DECADENCE OF Tug STAGE
Il il only twenty-three years since Nacready g.
tired from the stage. Is he not to be claimed By the
present agef
"Tbe decadence OF the drama delnson and spape"
says Robert Buchanan. Tie drama is vital all its
forces living though soue OF them are suspended
Lot vulgar managers be dscountenanced even though
hoy scatter THEN orders thick leaves In Vsilambrsa
let honest drsmass be encoulased even II they do not
show nstaaneosy the poetry Of Webster or me WI ~
Sheridan; let modest actors b. praised nmodcst stars
taught their responsibility to subordinate eharcers Ia
word 1T genuine critical interest in dramatic ars
be manifested, and the modern stage may re
the Dae p'i t S P SSss ~ mem sna G Tho
finest productions do draw, whenever played
an vs erSr clever per"rmer Of the od school VINO
succeeds 80 wonderfully that - Barry sullivan house
chequer get 5r. sulllvans repertoire consists chiefly Of
shakcspearc. The late Mr. Chas Keau, though by
no means frs:-cla-s actor made fortune by shakes
rryiycl Of dull pay Henry w. Mr. Calvert Of Manches-
has achieved great successes both IN our provinces
AID IN Newly ors."
IL is pleasant to have confirmed in an English
quarterly by an English poet, statements made by
me i've months ago regarding the condition of the
stage. Robert Buchanan takes no halfway ground.
lie maintains rightly enough that
Tie dramatic lyeswill live as long passions
stir in mems hearts long as thoussnts delight IN The
mimic stage. 1t is simply absurd for poets and piloso.
halowed by the granest achievements Of the human IN
tecct and gorihed by sodike names; and 4 is equally
insn 10 Law the blame mode and the modern
public when the real fault lies with the intellectual bar
renness of this generation Let great diamatlst ARISE
and he will hnd great actors. ana perhaps great man
agcr.
Tcnnyson however delightful poet is not likely
TO be- the great dramatst," but the slIrest way of
obtaining great manager is for America to fol-
low in the footsteps of the Theatre FrancaS which
is subsidized by the French Government, and which
Therefore is Independent Of popular caprice. Lady
Pollock thinks:
Some such support needed for the establishment
In England Of poctica drama Offering To The pe-
pie hi Ii subjects of interest ard m entertainment Which
rUuses and eXats the imagination
We Of America ask nothing OF Washington, but we
do ask mucb of ourselves When citizen after eiti.