The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
A VULGAR STRIFE FOR PUBLICITY.
The Exaggerated Importance of Small-ITr5
Theatrical People.

New York Hour
The amount of public consideration lavished
upon actors far exceeds that bestowed on the
members of any other notwithstanding
perhaps, the profession of politics. Little is
heard of authors compared with actors. When
author is writing new book a rule moth
ing is heard of it until 1t begins to be published
The world would be amazed if every day in all
the papers certain space We're devoted to the
doing of authors-especially if among these were
included some of the least important membersof
the profession, starving for notoriety. Artists
have u better chance, but such is the Ignorance
of those who collect the news concerning Thorn
that the worst painters in New York are aptt0
figure amid the journalistic congratulations be-
slowed upon the best. Lawyers and physicians
are, of course, excluded from regular periodic
mention. Ministers have good show once a
week, provided they are either celebrated or
torious; but no secular paper devotes any por-
ton of its columns to noting daily the health or
ill-health, the salaries. the sermons of clergy
men, But with the stage the treatment is dn-
ferent Everything ard everybody connected
with it-eXcepting the dramatist-are treated al
most as though they were Of the first impol's-
ance. If an actress leaves one theater to become
connected with another, she and the rival nl1g,
ayers are interviewed as though the welfare O
the city depended upon inducing Truth to show
her head and shoulders above the bottom of the
muddy well where she is hidden. When q
singers diamonds are stolen-all singers have
diamonds, and all singers diamonds are some
times stolen-the fact Tor hction is para
graphed as though it was of more importanes
than the robbery Of a mere private persons
property.
One of the most remarkable features of this
unwise and nauseating publicity is that the small
fry Of the theatrical profession not only claHe'
for, but receive, an amount OF newspaper record
that would on no account be vouehsafed 70 per
sons holding corresponding position in any
other calling. Not only the business engage
ments, but the private relations and entangie-
ments of the least experienced tyro arc too often
descanted upon in exclusively Theatrical shcGts
The practice fosters inordnate vanity in tl.e .
youngest and least meritorious members of the
profession, and causes them to exaggerate their I
Importance to "a degree aptly illustrated by the(
unhappy frog who emulated the bull
Without undue disparagement of the thcatrI
cal profession and without unseenly glorieet
ton of journalism, It may be claimed that u
tranquil content with which obscurity is enduIs
by excellent workers in the profession u
named, is in very pleasing contrast to the vuls
strife for publicity of which we have been siss
ing. In New York alone, connerted- NIT Gerry
good Journal are writers gd are a credit VIE
might say an honor TO Y craft which they have
joined, but who sekoh or never enjoy Whatever
felicity is felt by thsel accustomed to see their
names in print. Mtny'of these writer's are sen
sible enough to dekise the notoriety grabbed fOr
by petty actors and ar satisfied 10 let the NH0fk
that is never publicly identified with their nGNea
speak for itself and do its quota of good amid
the innumerable influences that bcset mankind.
There is a beauty i'll such tranquil and unoslca-
tatious labor
A good many of the theatrical evils to which
we have referred could be easily corrected if
could convert human nature. But this is i'm
possible, at al rate by a rapid process. Matters
win change fC! the better slowly. The work CT
managing theaters properly and'of writing about
them properly is difficult work That is tina
reason that it is seldom perfectly done To
advert to another matter managers who bring OK
the kind of plays that have recently been uHsuc
cessful here and that deserve to be so, aver tfaa
they can get no others-an assertion which Il
false, though Justification is not always intended
by the managers The managerial prejudicci
in favor of plays already produced
abroad s so great that one almost
never hears of the production Of an
American play, excepting at the Madison
Square Mr. Wallack at intervals Of years,
makes a virtue of necessity and brings one out
1t is generally failure. Why Because the
grossest ll-iudginent marks either the selection
of the play the manner in which it IS placed
on the stage. This applies to whatever Ameri
can plays have been brought out at this theater
during the past six or seven years. VI venture
to say that by the exercise Of good Judgment
both in selecting play and in casting it. together
with the permission granted to the actors % en-
ploy energy and vivacity, there are plenty of
good original American dramas in this city at
present which manager like Mr. Waila1k
ought to feel proud TO produce. American
dramatists, as a class, are weak enough. heaven
knows, but we are glad to do them the justice If
making the admission just specified.