The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26
JOHN 0XENFORD'S RELIQUES.

THE NEW YORK STAGE THROUGH AN ENGLISH
OPERA GLASS OUR BOARDS DECADE
SINCE TooTLIGHT FLASHES or THE PAST
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS TO THE HERALD
The death In London, Wednesday last OF Mr.
John Oxoniord, tho celebrated dramatic critic for
the Times aud other papers OF the English metropolis
rcvves interest IN the life Of this pcrscur Of tho
past His chief merit was in writing conscientious
opinions of good, bad and indifferent plays In the
vein in which no received tho impression. He
was originally intended Tor barrister.at-aw,
but wisely resolved to make the good dramatic
critic rather tho bad lawyer HIS liter
airy and dramatic compositions are numerous
in quantity and have vast range OF subject. What
links him particularly with New York the TACT that
during latter part Of the year 1867 he contributed
whilo making visit to this city, some remarkably
brilliant theatrical letters to tho New YoRK HERALD.
Tho subject treated "Tho Stage In New York as
Seen Through English Opera Glass" Those letters
were signed "By English Playgocr,' ana the first
of them boro Now York. August 10, 1867. 1t
began with the sentence:-
A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST
at is common remark among tho American actors
visited London that the English public is for the
part, wholly ignorant Of the standard by which
transatlantic fame is to DO measured" After this
delicate and most glittcrng patitudc MIR. Oxenford
refers to the American artists who at that
deghting London. Among those mentioned arc
Kate Baeman, playing at the Adeph, and Joe Jefer.
son, who doing Kip Wan Wrinkle and Asa Trench.
ard at another Of the London theatres. John T..
Owens is also alluded to, and hore casual mention
Of the feminine glory with which Mrs. Barney Will
Jams and her sprirhty sstor, Mrs Florence ilumined
the boards OF the London stngc
THEATRICAL MATTERS IN YORK.
IN q O "a
first letter theatrical matters In New York Is as
follows 1.-THE preliminary note may not be super.
1uous that, theatrically speaking, New York IS as
much the capital OF tho United States as London is the
capital OF Great Britain and Ireland. Before
the particular rcnOwn attached to New Orleans
as tho place whore no end OF money was 10 DO made
but New Orleans like the Northern cities, required
New York testimonial Of talent"
Following TINS declar alton OF opinion comes Mr..
Oxenlord's sentiments with reference to tho demo-
cratic character oil our audiences, lie says:-''The
mass operatives aud humb persons who
garded with complacency by tho arstOcrats OF Lon
don audience ana who frequently offered amusemcnls
by their mirthful demonstrations on holiday
Emnirc' c,tv. nor in tho absence of some great
political Crisis can CONCEIVE the possibility OF tho
upper tiers singing In unison the airs played by tho
orchestra, like tho English gods boxing night
Easter Monday" While Mr.. Oxcniord visiting
our theatres he comraisant enough notice thai
wero very proper IN the style of our audiences
One paragraphs In his first letter speaks
au orchestra way being "decorous to a iau,n and
mentions the fact of our being extremely undemon
sirative AT tins point he gets of the following nuppy
antlihesrs-"When the English tho Americans
merely SMILE"
THE SECOND LETTER.
Tho second dramatic contribution OF Mr. Oxen ford
bears the date Of August II, 1857 1t begins with a
comparison New York 10 London, and lkcns Canal
street TO Temple Bar While dwelling the subject
Of streets ho says:-"Near tho CITY Hall Park stands
what the writer calls Tho pautiai oflcc oil the NEw
YORK HERALD, Mr.. Oxcniord mere mentions tho
broadway Theatre, which was at that time under the
management OF Mr. Barney Williams ana ana, MI By Fior
rage; it was followed by very successful perform.
ance OF RoDcrison's Caste" Mr. Oxeniord IN
thus letter compares Niblos to the Adephl Theatre,
and says apropos OF spectacle which in It's lime
light glory during his -"Whuts Black Crook p
Normally DRAMA but 1t is 80 utterly devoid OF
plot or that tho most daring adversary tho
London Anainbra would scarcely venture to call II
stage play"
| Lota Is mentioned as having been playing at wal.
lacks .'The Pet OF the Pettcoats'' anu Little Nell
tho Marchioncss." While In the lotia STRAIN Mr.
Oxeniord wrote follows :-Gencray, as have al
ready stated the audiences OF this city are inclined to
be grave and apathctc, but tho sparkling PLEASANTLY
scarcely TOO old Tor pnaiorc, was too much Tor tho
habitua stocism OF the most genteel theatre the
Broadway, and drew forth screams Of delight"
CHEWING
Our letter writer drops into pleasantly, and aIudcs
rather sarcasticay to the habit which the American
youth whom he met IN New York theatres hhd oi
gong out get cloves. lilo noticed this particularly
al tic olympic, then called Laura Kc,ne's Theatre,
where ''Dombcy and SOM was being performed. 1t
was al the Olympic that Mr. OXenlord saw Mr. John
Brougham, who had come from the picked company OF
Nine vcs,ris OF the Olympic Theatre In London.
He also speaks avorably Of Mr. H. Cocnah's persona
ton Of Quilp at Wallacks Theatre.
SEEING RATS.
The third letter is dated October D. 1897 and In IL
occurs a comparison Of the Bowcry to Whuccbapcl
road lie mentions the Stadi Theatre being across
tho way, and alludcs the fire which destroyed
the New Bowcry Theatre. This letter has play ul
attack mosquitoes. One paragraph roads -''Let
sumbcrs to DO disturbed, but that am provoklngly
interrupted in my tranquil contemplation Of the rats
which, even in good hotels, sport about tho bedroom
freely and as vIsbly as rabpns IN a warren Mr..
Oxcniord audes to the fact that the Bowery Theatre
was once called Crosby Hall, and takes occasion u
compliment Mr.. Siudley, 1av0rito actor at the timo
lEER on THE DowERy.
Tho subject OF lager beer tho BOwcry Is tapped by
letter writer and there quite gushing descrip
ton in OF mis- letters Of Atlantic Garden In the
same letter he speaks OF Risor being at the French
Theatre, OF Mrs. Landor's sway in New York, and OF
the celebrated suit oil WaIack Florence. There
many caustic sentences in this letter which were,
surprising to tho public Of New York. 1t must be
said, however, that Mr. OxeniOrd wrote u genuine
dramatic scholar, ana thnt MS crtcism o! our crude
ways tempered by his appreciation OF us as peo-
ple
This letter Is Dated Liverpool, November O, 1867,
aud is headed, ''Tho stage IN New York." 1t Is an
analytical review OF what the gentleman OF New
York theatrical matters and Is thrown into numbered
geographical statements Wo extract freely as io-
| lOws:-.With the exception Of the Bowcry the Now
| York thcatres considered as cdhccs furnish models
which the London architect would do well TO initiate,
MS they are light, ommodious and so arranged as TO
allow nearly tho whole OF the audience good view OF
the stage The theatres in London that most resemble
them Ascy's, in It's present condition, and the
| small house Highbury Barn. The New York
audiences for tho most part extremely sedate and
dccorous and save at the Bowcry seem devoid OF the
| decidedly pcbcian element. The people
| OF New York arc, rule, resoutc play goers,
like the people Of Paris" Mr. Oxenford after passing
| upon the prevalence Of the star system in this
country speaks of the Theatre Francois being 'ln
an extremely gcntcci, but somewhat out Of the way
quarter" In his OPINION there was no chance In New
York IN 1867 Tor dramatst but every opportunity
for scene painter. lie advised us to rewrtc old plays
and put this spice OF caution, 'Dont let King
Philip conquer Queen Elizabeth especially while Cubs