The New York herald., 1876-08-17
"SARDANAPAIUS."
Boorn's THEATRE, Nsw YonK, August 10, 1910
To rHE EpIToR OF TIE HERALD:-

BoorH's THEArRE NBw YORK, August 10, Ae'"
To TIM EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
In free and great country ike this no man can D
condemned unheard therefore ask you to do me
justice by inserting this rciutation OF the grave and
groundcss charges brought against by the nIppaus
and unscrupuous wriler of the composition offered 70
tho public yesterday criticism OF "Sardarapaius"
II we admit that tho higher function Of tho press 10
put all things clearly before tho public, exposing
imposture and fostering all that Is good and true-n
we admit this and suppose that all mon do say
that never yet did know critic unexcusably un-
fsir false the true chvalry OF his order as the
of the string OF accusations brought against
yesterday. In article intended, sup
pose, 10 be facetous, ho distorts everything No
saw and with sorry gbes and maiadroit r.
bsldry holds up to contempt and rid'cus
the strong efforts the conscientious labor Of inte
gent men, the honest and well directed enterprise OF
two managers put before the public OF New York In
this all important centennial year production that
should be perfect could make 1t, that shoud
appeal to scholar arch9oiogst by its accuracy.
that should be VOID OF offence the most sensitive,
that should bc beautiful and enjoyable as tns
cognate arts Of the theatre acting music, singing.
painting, dancing hArmoniously sfought toge'noF'
could make IL
He charges u.s. for best known tn himself and
wisely concealed with prosttutng Byron's Sard..
pauaus" to the 'irameWork OF another Black Crook,
and with The funny hulnor gentleman who has
dned we'll wastes hall column in silly Jokes ~ tne
legs and agility oil the dancera ne says Cavers has
cursed Byron's ..Sardanapslus." Well be Is welcome
To that little coarseness havc many reasons ior IN
difference to his opinion What have done is IN prius
ana sold In the theatre, and the pubic and press
can judge for themselves, dare say without TIE ara
OF TINS open-moutbed ''Sir Oracle" HIS assertion
that ' Is crime against art, land made the Frame
work Of another Black Crock" most emphatically
deny. The charge IS as untrue as II Is wicked ana
malicious The intention and is to make all sub
serve the play OF ''Sardanapaus and It's supreme 10
teres ana so all truly does your critic could Under
stand what he saw 1t is essential absolutely impera.
tive, that there should be dancing, and revery ana
orgies ''Ihe bright gems OF tho gitterng girls, he
ascivous tpklings OF luling Instruments" the mid
night festival, the dancing girls that surround he
elicminae thing bat governs are Byron's intro
duclions-uot introduced by us. Byron so places the
festival that the assassination may take place in the
midst OF IL Warned by Salcmenes and urged by
Myrrha the King deers the revel and orders II 10 be
prepared in the Hall OF NimrodL" In all
this, tnat your critic pretcnds 70 regard az
helnous, we follow nothing but tho story
given and described by the author. The play de-
Palmer have snncd IN giving good one; for, though
certainly the best l ever saw It has no UNIQUE
prominence, and performed IS is before tho ssciv.
ious King, 1t is in its place and serves the play. II
would seem hat your critic had eyes for the oallee
only-tha their legs and agility werc to him 30 alb
sorbing that he nothing else on the occasion, or
how could he pcnned such a sentence as this
''rhe play was no more representation OF Assyran
lie as ia supposed TO have been IN the time of Sar-
danapaus than the Jardin Maoe or Moody and
Sankey's prayer meetings" In the face OF what II
seen ovcry night at this theatre. what can bo more
carefully studied REPRODUCTION from Iayard's MIN
cvch by OF the first artists OF cur time. The cos
tunes OF the King, his court the characters,
the soldiers, the standard bearers, literai
faithful copies the Ninsveh Tablets
now in the British Museum The amphor1, the
rhytons the thrones, the couches weapons are also
exact reproductions The embems Of Deity and braxen
standards, the quaint regala the minutest ornament
TO the earrings, have all been made expressly
from tracings, at a cost almost unwarrantablc rho
whole mounting OF the play from beginning to end
deserves, recognition the most perfectly
studied and accurately produced representation
presented in this country any other.
II Is certainly from such frivolous writer's can
hope TO get this admisson but from the student aud
the scholar. who the significance and perceive
tho amount OF thought and work that underles ALL
have no fear Of justice My duties in England limit
regret to say, my days In New York but II any gentle
man from your office will honor with call at the
theatre think shall have difficulty in convincing
HIM OF the conscientious LABOR and uncompromlsno
fidelity 10 truth with which all has been prepared
In conclusion can but express the sadness felt BY
all concerned that efforts advance tie art OF the
theatre by this most complete production should meet
with such unjust treatment IN the columns Of so I'M
portant journal. No can better bear testimony
than can and do, 10 the good and true Intention 0t
Jarrett 4 Palmer in tins work; their enterprise baa
been we'll directed their motives legitimate, their
plrations honorable 10 hcm and II Will be dscouraeing
indeed portion of the pubic OF this greatly tntc
ligcnt city mised to injurious convictions by the
nppanL misrepresentation that have unfortunately
found space in your columna 1 have the honor W
be, sir, your obsdient servant,
CHARLES A. CALvERT.