New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-04
STAGE AND PLATFORM.

MISS BAILEY's SUCCESS IN CONCERTS BRONSON
HOwARDs ENGLISH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
VERSUS ENGLISH RETINgMENT-A HANGMAN'S
LECTURE-DR. MILLAR's CAMPAIGN.
(PRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE}
LONDON, Dec. H." Considering she is an Amer
lean, she really sings very we'll" L venture to re-
peat this remark although it was uttered IN pri-
vate drawing-room. 1t was not, as you suppose,
an outburst of British spleen jealousy. 1t was
an American who uttered it-as an indirect means
Of extorting from British hearers the tribute
due not only TO the vocal excellence, but to the
nationality of the singer To do our friends just
ice, they paid it readily. The singer was Miss
Bailey, whose increasing reputation i have
mentioned before, and who was heard
on the evening in question by n cultivated
assembly in a well-known house in Princes Gate;
and applauded with the cordiality she IS now used
IL at the ST. James's Hail concerts. The assiduous
A. ,ton bestowed by Herr Henschel on this young
ladys education is bearing fruit Her voice Is gam
ing in power and her method III sureness and accu-
racy spoke of her not long since as likely to ac-
comDany Hensche on his American tour. 1t Is
settled that she goes home next year for visit. and
there is presume little doubt. that you will hear
her IN public. but her European prospects are
thought too important to allow OF protracted
stav in the United States. However it
NAV be in America, things have come TO such pass
here that American nationality is accepted in Eng
land as a presumption in favor OF singers sue
cess I was sharply rebuked for pretending TO
doubt 1t when made the unlucky observation above
ouoted. and / was reminded that great proper
ton of the singers who have lately gained a reputa-
t,on in England are Americans Whereupon hay-
ing got what wanted, | withdrew my remark.
Once more. also, an American drama. the work of
an American dramatist. has achieved a considerable
success in London. Mr.. Bronson Howard is the
bappy dramatist, and the Old Love and the
New y is the piece with which he has conquered
anew the good opinion of the British critic. Ispeak
of il altogether from hcarsay, not having yet been
abIe 70 see the performance an inability which re-
eretthe less since it is hejudgnent OF the English
audience which you want, and not that of an Ameri-
CON urcdisposed to view fresh American expert
ment with favor. You know the play Whether
Won wonld recognize it in its new dress
/ cannot say. 1t has been thought desirable TO
modify some parts Of it in Difference to English
susceptibilities or English tastes. competent
critic remarks iDgenuously and trnthfnly, that the
aid of Mr. Albery has been called in TO fit the piece
for the English stage, many differences OF custom
and taste existing which might seriously imperIl
the fate of drama popular with the American peo-
plo if presented without some notifications to an
English audience" 1t Is pity that the critic did
not give us particulars of these differences, say
whether they apply to old plays and new alike.
Mnst. for example, Shakespeare be acted with
differences in London and New-York : Must the
admiration OF a French play take note of these
same differences, when done for England on the one
hand and the United States on the other Did
Z. .pinaforer undergo a transformation in order to
adapt il TO the taste of Manhattan The same
writer tells us that "tbe best and most striking
feature of the play is that while few scenes could
he dramatically stronger than those between the
husband and wife, the purity of the latter IS never
in question:" Are We to infer that you in New-fork
allowed the wifes virtue TO be called in question,
while the snperior morality of London would
revolt against au incident unknown TO British
domestic life These are, perhaps unneces-
sary though interesting questions The essential
point is that Mr.. Howard with whatever degree OF
help from Mr. Albery, has scored success at the
Court Theatre an institution when was. II the
truth must be told, much in need of a success
don't know whether IT is also to be set down to the
credit of American dramatic genius that DR.. Carver
has for months past been filling the Canterbury by
his extraordinary shooting. The Canterbury is
Mnsic Hail. and DR.. Carver asserts his nationality
by appearing rs a Mexican caballero, and splitting
innumerable glass balls in the air he crosses the
stage on horseback
II ia always difficult to say where the
irreconcilable difference between English and
American tastes begins and ends That we
Americans are inferior TO our English
cousus in deIicacy OF moral perception
and in refinement Of taste is proposition which few
Britons of pure descent would dispute. But should
We for example, supply an audience OF GOO people
IN hear q le .ure on the Times mot the newspaper
of that name) by the public executionerY Would
pttsburg do as much as that The thing did happen
in Sheffield yesterday, when Marwood spoke de