The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-01-08
That Complimentary Notice.

That complimentary NOTICE.
We wish to correct a very general
impression that we wrote the compli-
mentary notice of the play, "The Spy
| of Atlanta" )" in our last issue. We did
not write It, but allowed it to go in by
request, with fictitious initial, which
should be sufficient to indicate that 1t
was not editorial. We were quite will
ing to do the band . favor, because the
community are under obligations to
them for gratuitous services which they
seem slow to appreciate; but we had
heard enough of the play from other
places where it had been given, and
seen enough Of the star actors after
their arrival to satisfy us that we could
afford to waste no time in forming q
better acquaintance.
The judgment Of those quail fed to
give an opinion in other places, is that
both the play and its rendering is al
most q caricsture, and we doubt not
similar opinion could be given here
without injustice. We did not, nor did
anyone belonging to us, attend the ex-
hibition.
1t has happened too frequently in
Wellington that third or fourth class
concerts, lectures and plays thar had
not merit enough to draw q paying
house, have sought an alliance with
some Sabbath school, the band or other
benevolent object, in order to enlist the
support of those charitably disposed
towards home interests; and many are
led to give them patronage on this ac-
count, and to avoid the appearance of
unfriendliness to these organizations.
1t has proved to be so successfsla dodge
and has been SO frequently used that on
general principles it gives a flavor of
suspicion to everything adopting this
method, and we hope no church, Sab
bath school, or the band will permit
themselves again to become thus en-
tangled.
We have no criticism to offer on the
acting of the amateurs of Wellington,
who took part in the play. Considering
their age and experience, we have no
doubt all did themselves credit. Indeed
we think a company of home talent en-
tire, would give even better satisfaction
than actors of the class apt to visit us,
and we think discriminating public
would much prefer giving them their
patronage. 1t would be much more to
our taste to listen to a concert gotten up
under the management of the band,
with such outside assistance as 1t could
command, than to the ranting and roar
ing Of travelling mountebanks, who
have neither the merit Of genius, educa-
ton or discipline in their profession to
recommend them, to say nothing of
character and good morals. Concerts
given by the band have too often
received but an Indifferent support
which fact, however, reflects more on
the taste that can prefer Outrageous
veal" to really artistic entertainment,
than upon the merit of the performance
itself.
Without reference to theatrical exhi-
billions in general, 1t is safe to say that
large majority of those that have vis-
tied Wellington, were scarcely worth
the time spent in listening to them.
Actors Of real worth cannot afford to
waste their time on suchhouses as we
can give. A fair and impartial news
paper criticism is not always easy to
give. Managers of almost all enter
tainments endeavor to put US under OBJ
legations to them.
They patronize us, and in every way
try to obtain only favorable mentio n.
Then the societies with which they often
ally themselves have claims upon our
consideration and benevolence. AS
members Of the same community, we are
mutually dependent upon each other,
and each Is quick to resent any injury
to his interests. We are all more or
less sensitive, and a criticism however
Just and moderate and carefully word
ed, Is very apt to be construed as per-
sonal, unfair and injurious.
It ought to be understood that when a
newspaper gives an unfavorable notice,
it is supposed to be deserved, and when
it commends, the subject is thought
worthy. A reputation for gush or in
discrimin ate praise is no more desirable
in public than private capacity.