The New York herald., 1876-08-17
"SARDANAPALUS."
Boorn's TzEArRx Nrw YonK. August ID, 1871

BoorH's THEATRE, Nxw YonK, August TO- is'o
To EpIroR HERALD
In 4 free and great country like this NO man can -
condemned unheard. | therefore ask you TO 90 me
justice by inserting this rculation OF The grave ana
grouncss charges brought against Us by the nppans
unscrupulous writer OF the composition offered 70
tho public yesterday a criticism OF "Sardsrapaius
II we admit that the higher function Of the press u
TO put all things clearly before the public, exposing
mposture and fostering all that is good and true-"
we admit this, and suppose that all mon do say
that never yet did know critic unexcussbly un-
fair so false to the true chivalry OF his order aA the
concocter of the string OF accusations brought against
US yesterday In an article intended sup
pose 10 be facetious he distorts everything he
saw, and with sorry gibes and maladroit RI
bsldry holds up to contempt and ridiculs
the strong Efforts conscientious labor OF in'eh-
gent men, the honest well directed enterprise OF
two managers put before the public Of New YORK IN
this all important centennial year production tnat
should be perfect art could make It, that snoue
appeal the scholar ana archGoogst by its accuracy.
that should be void OF offence TO the most sensitive
that should beautiful and enJoyaOie as tne
cogpate arts OF the theatre acting music, singing.
painting, dancing. harmoniously sfought toge'nof'
He charges u.s. for reasons known to himself and
wisely concealed, with prostituting Byrons .'Sardn.
papaius" 10 the .ramework OF another Black Crook,
and, with the funny huinor Oh gentleman who has
dned we'll wastes half column in silly Jokes NJ tns
legs and agility OF the dancers ne says Caven naa
cursed Byron's ..Sardanapsius" (" Well, he Is welcome
that little coarseness have many reasons Tor In
difference his opinion What have done is IN prins
and sold in tho theatre, and the public and press
judge for themselves dare say, without the ard
OF TINS open-inoutbed ''SIr Oracle" HIS assertion
that Iii a crime against art land made the iranle-
work of another Black Crock" most emphaticaiIy
deny. The charge Is as untrue as 1t Is wicked ana
malicious. The intention was and Is to make all SUD
serve the play OF Sardanapaus' ana It's supreme IN
tercst ana all truly does, critic could under-
stand what he saw 1t is essential absolutely tmpera
TIVE that there should be dancing, and rcvelry, and
orgies 1he bright gems of tho gittering girls 'ths
laser viors t,nkngs OF uling instruments" the mid
night festival the dancing girls that surround 'tho
eGcminatc thing that governs are Byrons own
duclons-uot introduced by u.s. Byron so places the
festival that the assassination may take place IN The
midst OF Warned by Saenencs and urged by
Myrrha the King defers the revei and orders II 10 De
prepared in the Hall OF Nimrod" In all
this tnat your critic pretcnds 10 regard az
henous, we follow nothing but the story
given and described by the author. The play de-
Palmer have sinncd IN giving good one for, though
certainly the best ever saw 1t has no undus
prominence and performed IS 1t is before tho lasciv.
ious King, II is in its place and tho play. IL
would that your critic had eyes for the bales
only-that their legs and ngity were to him 80 alb
sorbing that he nothing else the OCCASION, or
how could he have penned such sentence as this
1.-The play was no more representation of Assyran
lie as It is supposed to have the time OF Sar
danapnlus than the Jardin Maoille Moody and
Sankey's prayer meetings" In the face OF what ID
seen ovcry night now at this theatre what can oo more
scus than this stupid statement? Every scene ts
a carefully studied reproduction from Layards Mn
cveh by OF the FIRST artists OF time. The cos
tunes OF the King, his court the charactcrs,
the soldiers, the STANDARD bearers are literal
ana faithful copies from the Nineveh Tablets
in the British Museum. The amphor1, the
rhytons, the thrones the couches weapons are also
reproductions The emblems OF Deity and brazen
standards the quaint regaa, the minuest ornament,
even to the earrings, have all been made expressly
from tracings. at u cost almost unwarrantablc The
whole mounting OF the play from beginning to end
deserves, assert. recognition the most perfectly
studied and accurately produced representation ever
present tea in this country any other.
II Is certainly from frivolous writer's can
hope to get this admission; but from the student aud
the scholar who the significance and perceive
the amount OF thought and work that underlies ALL
have fear of justice. My duties in England limit
regret to say my days In New York but II any gcnte
from your office will honor with a call at the
theatre think shall have difficulty in convincing
HIM OF the conscientious labor and uncOmpromsno
fidelity TO truth with which ali has been prepared
In conclusion can but express the sadness fet BY
all concerned that efforts to advance he 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 better bear testimony
than can, and do TO the good and true Intention Oi
Jarrett Palmer tins work; their enterprise haa
been we'll directed their motives legitimate, their AS
pratons honorable TO them, and II Will be discouraeng,
indeed any portion of the public Of this greatly ntci
gent city msled to injurious convictions by the
1ppanL Misrepresentation that have unfortunately
found space in your columna 1 have the honor
be, sir, your obsdient servant,
CHARLES A. CALvERT.