The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-03
FRENCH CRITICS,
Isw Yurk commerrial Atlrnr,iaer.l

Statements to the effect that Mile
 Marie Van Zandt. the American prims donna, has been the victim of clique O
 French journalists, who charged her with drunkenness, have created no little indig- nation in this city. A gentleman well known in theatrical circles, and who was connected with the Madison Square lhcaier, said this morning; "I was iu- trodnced to Miss Van ZAnds while in Paris last summer, and there was every evidence lhA, she was lady ot great cultivation and the most irreproac hahle character. She Is only about ss years old and is under the constant guardian ship of an elderly maiden aunt, who ac. companies her niece to and from the opera-house, remains in Miss Van Landts dressing room while she Is pre- pairing for her role, follo~s her to the stage, and waits for her in the wings She is popularB known as the eat he. cause she watches the mouse Miss Van ( Z.ndO so du'ifuliy. Although the artis, IS public singer and an artist, there has never been a breath ot reproach against her fair name in any sense. That she is an American, g,ves her the entree ,uto society ,ha, would be closed agains, French singer, and her many amiable qualities have always warranted the in- dulgence of her hosts
 1t would be impossible for young woman to pass through that blast fur mace, the Conservatoirc, without hecom- ing acquainted with the ways of the world. She Is made aware of all the sl. 1e fa ak l. ak as torewarned is torearmed, she rarely does anything that would create a scan dal Miss Van ,ndt is a charming American gitl, "a every sense of the word. She IS intelligent, and promises to be one of the best singers ot this century She is in constant receipt of effers of marriage from titled Europeans. Is n probable, n the face of all this, she would descend to become a drunkard, f, lose her voice, and become an outcast2
 "The French, or 1 should rather say the Parisian, critics arc peculiar set oi men. Generally speaking, they have spent their youth in extreme poverty, and the excess of study and long hourS laid an impress upon their characters know Of no class of men so concei,ed than the second-rate Parsian journalist But le, one of them hit the popular fancy, and he becomes in a way famous. This much can be said in their favor.
 " The theatrical or musical critic of a leading Paiisian newspaper is no mere tyro in the att which he ptetends 10 judge. He has made life study of 1t |, and knowing that, his readers regard his dictums with respect. This acquIescence on the part of a great portion ot French. men to the opinion of one man is fruitful of the most evil results Ot course there are French critics Of the mos, es,imable character. They review a play or cri,icise a singer with an impartiality that Is in its way marvellous. They write as all French writers do, over their own name or their noms de plume, and arc responsible fer their statements. But there are only two or three critics. The rest, as far as can ascertain, of the critics are venial set, who, for the sake oi few hundred francs, would damn their best friends One cannot set rule. you know, without making sweeping charges. Even among tho small fry of Parisian journalism there are noble exceptions. But regret to say these exceptions are few.
 " ft IS not strange 10 hear of critic going to aa actress and saying, My dear, you arc going to play A new char. acter this evening. rather like you, and don, want 10 have you hissed. 1 will call on you after the performance This bribery is open faced, and is to some extent recognized among the actors in the smaller theatres. Of course, if a man went to Nj. Got with any such proposition he would be in danger of being kicked down stairs. but Got has a reputation that is unsssaiiable. This Is, Of course, q system of blackmail which is extremely repTehensible, but how can t be avoided While French newspapers are not responsible as corporations for the articles they publish, they will be preyed upon by this class of men, and while the actors rely more upon the favorable criticisms Of newsp2per than upon the applause of their audiences, they will be the victims Of this peculiar species of leeches. Then again there is another evil to contend with. Many of the French dramatic critics are interested more or less in the financial manage ment of the theatres. The consequence is that one newspaper will regard all that appears in one theatre as most ex. cellent, while the other houses cannot possibly produce anything that Is not utterly absurd. The stockholders Of these newspapers muy know this, and yet they close their eyes to it simply be- cause they are afraid of their employee He has written 90 long he has estAb- lished cer''in kind of reputation. He says: 'I'll leave you, but I'll take with me 900 or 10 .ooo of your subscribers.' The stockholders think over the pToposi- ton for while and then conclude that perhaps, after all, M. Jacques may be right. As rule, the merits Of play or a performer are determined after the iirR act.
 "The critics assemble in the foyer, and there among themselves they make their decisions. If the actress is obliging and has sufficient good qualities to justify