The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-12
Genius ON Tap.

Recently we had occasion to refer to the
growth Of the theatre in our city as exhib-
tied in the noteworthy circumstance that
some of the managers now keep dramatists
on draught. 1t appeared that they had only
to turn on the tap of comic, tragic, poetical
or farcical genius to fill any measure up to
the exigencies of the scene. ii Theatres have
always kept in relation with scnbbling
talent Of one sort or another, but hare, not
generally reducaiits I,sej to- correct prin-
ciples. Hitherto in fact, the gentleman
acquainted with stage effects" has preyed
upon the Juvenile author who came to the
theatre with a good idea, and by reducing
the vigorous fancies of fresh mind to the
calm stages of theatrical common place has
with the author. We are glad that the
theatre has purged itself of the reproach Of
the unpleasant side Of that relation and re-
tanned its advantages. But the reader who
has scanned the report Of the interview OF a
HERALD plenipotentiary with the gen.
tlemen Of the Union Square Theatre
which we give yesterday will likely
understand why we now express doubt
whether the presumed poet on draught
in that establishment is not in fact, merely
o spigot. Does Mr.. Cazauran in reality per-
form any other Office than that of crooked
conduit between that enormous secret store
house Of original plays which they keep on
hand and the nightly needs of the stage?
Does he constantly draw on. and dribble
away, as occasion demands, q scene here, o
situation there, happy finale, a felici-
tous opening, bright repnrtee or comic
fancy? That is the great dramatic problem
of the day, and we are inclined to believe
it would be good notion for the authors of
the seven hundred and twenty seven plays
stored in Mr.. Palmers closet to forthwith
provide themselves with free passes and
attend the theatre every night to see il
they cannot recognize their own thoughts in
that putative child Of Mr.. Towards muse,
1.-The Bankers Daughter" Having gone
to the theatre every night for three
weeks they can hire a hall and come to
an understanding as to their respective
ownership Of the different parts Of this
play. We do not believe there would be
enough Of the play left after this proceed
ing 10 make one Of Mr. Boucicault's Irish
dramas Our suspicion that "The Bankers
Daughter" has been made up by the pro-
cess of conveyance rests upon a reference to
dates made, we believe, by Mr.. Palmer. As
an evidence that Mr.. Roge's manuscript was
not pilfered il is said that that manuscript
was only handed in to the theatre in 1876
and that Mr.. Towards play was performed
in Chicago in 1873 Mr. Roge AYERS, how
ever that the manuscript of his play was
handed to the Union square people several
years earlier But, leaving this aside, we beg
to remind the readerthat the play performed
in Chicago in 1873 is not precisely the play
now on the stage at the Union Square. In
deed, Mr.. Howard wrote to all the papers
recently a gushing expression Of his graft
tude for the brilliant and happy and beau
tiful scenes substituted by the poet on
draught at the theatre for the scenes not so
beautiful written by Mr.. Howard. Now the
poet on draught is the custodian Of the
seven hundred and twenty -seven plays, and
what IL would be pleasant to know is, from
which one Of them did he convey those