New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-30

be done and the formation of tie society OF
out-Of- town managers denotes an appreciation
of this necessity and an endeavOr to meet IL.
That it will be met by even the most success
full measures for bringing, upon better terms
for the managers, such attractions as ought
not to be brought upon any terms at all, seems
a particularly idle assumption.
1t would be oficious and absurd for jour-
nal to offer suggestions as to the proper
method of conducting the private business
affairs of theaters. The public interest
always matter of vital consequence to the
public press-is, to be sure, indirectly involved
in the meshes of all private enterprise that
directs great educational and artistic institu-
lions, like the stage. Good cannot come OUT
of evil. Those, accordingly, who wish the
welfare of the stage may well desire that the
internal administration of theatrical affairs
should be marked by wisdom, honor, and Vir-
tue and, with this feeling and to this extent,
such observers cannot remain Indifferent and
need not always forbear reference, even to
trade movements within the theater. The
visible aspects of the drama, however, are, In
general, the mole proper subjects OF press
comment; and it is with particular reference
to these that we express the opinion that tue
trouble which now infects the stage lies
deeper than a question of terms with star
actor. Tie theater languishes because the
public is Indifferent to it, and the public Is
Indifferent to it, partly because the times are
hard but far more because 1t has been
satiated with sensations and because Its better
Judgment and taste are not, in general, adj
dressed in the right way.
During the last fifteen years all sorts OF ex-
periments have been tried in this city, by all
sorts of managers. From the sensation
drama-which was invented and named by
MIR. Boucicault, and which worked well enough
till it got out of his hands, and pumped in
among the inspired carpenters-we have passed,
by stages that were no less free than easy,
through the spectacle, the burlesque, the bare
legged, the more bare-legged, the most bare
legged, the opera bouffe, the transformation
scene, and all possible forms of the variety.
Mr.. Wheatley blessed us with "The Black
Crook" Mr.. Bateman lowered us with the
French opera. Mr.. DAILY dosed us with French
morals. Mr.. Fisk, jr., cavOorted before us In
his own improper person. And after these has
deployed a small army Of aQuiline, fat, and
dusly individuals, with large bosom-pins and
small shows. 1t is no great wonder that the
public taste has tired till not the most
broad chested and crooked of black capitals
can elbow itself into notice, and even Mr. Bar
mum, when he adorns the suburbs with por-
traits of his own benignant countenance and adj
iacent instructions to "hold the fort, for | am
coming" woos the populace in vain.
All the way through this saturnalia of the
onacuIation tho rnotiye of greed has
predominated, and it has been perfectly trans
parent. Touching that, we touch the root OF
the mischief. plenty of thought has been
given to the money that was to be earned;
no thought at all to the incidental results OF
the means that were to be employed to earn
il. All the while that paint and putty and
folly and filth and calcium lights have held
the stage, its real business-except here and
there, under the sway OF such managers as
Lester Wallack and Edwin BOoth-has been
neglected. Young actors have had little or no
school in which to learn. Pretty faces have
have had the chance, and have improved 1t,
TO thrust themselves into prominence, and
foist themselves off as dramatic talent Ladies
of society have dropped their back hair and
emerged as Lady Macbeth. The general lack
of earnest and thoughtful administration of
acting as great art has generated,
first apathy toward it and then contempt-till
it comes to pass that the title of actor is APP
piled with equal indifference to the speckled
acrobat who swings on the trapeze, the two
ounce Drained BOBBY who blacks his face and
strums banjo, aud the hard student and
gentleman who tries to interpret the great
creations of Shakespeare. Nothing could be
more natural than the consequences which
have come, and nothing could be more obvious
than the pathway out of them. Trade trick
cry has done the harm, and trade tric!lely Is
the thing to be dropped. Most unions have
notices. The one we should suggest for the
managers is hOmely, but it ought to be writ
ten up in letters of gold: Don't put any
"more sand in your sugar."
Two truths contain the moral that we would
urge Whenever, in this city, the stage has
been conscientiously, sincerely, wisely, and
ably devoted to the art of acting-which is
its only sure basis, and its everlasting justiti
cation--it has succeeded. Mr.. Wallack, with
a good stock company and good plays, has
never dropped from the front rank. Edwin
Booths Theater under Edwin Booths man
agement, was,-as we now know,-a sue
cess the people, of New-York did not
neglect that noble enterprise. and its author
would be at the head of it to-day, if his
affairs had, from the first, been intrusted to
the right hands. Messrs. Shook and Palmer,
relying on this one eement-dramatic ability
have had steady tide of goOd-fortune.
Mr.. Days company has always been his
strong card. When this prop comes again to
be generally trusted, when, in every direction,
genuine success is deserved by genuine
merit the stare will come again into