New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-17
NIB. ABBEYS ADYERTISLNG.

| Mr.. Henry Il. Abbey who IS renting Pamer's
| Theatre from its new proprietor for the season
Of French plays, has Withdrawn his advertising
from The Tribune and has refused the represent
alive Of this paper the cOurtesies OF the theatre
during the continuance of the engagement. The
only possible inference is that Mr.. Abbey feels
personally aggreved at the estimate placed upon
| the acting of NJ Coquelin in these columns, and
adopts this method, not only of testifying his
anger, but of seeking TO influence the course Of
the paper for the future with regard to this
and other OF his enterprises
We confess to some surprise that Mr. Abbey
should have been guilty of 50 foolish and vulgar
an action. Weak displays of resentment of this
sort not uncommon with managers whose
experience has been confined to the agricultural
districts and who are not accustomed to severcr
criticism than that which usually appears on the
exterior Of a patent inside; or with actors who
are absolutely persuaded that the failure TO
eulogize the manner in which the announcement
is made that the carriage waits arises from a
deep-seated personal spite on the part of the
entire body of critics. But Mr.. Abbey while not
manager in the sense that Mr.. Palmer and
Mr. DAILY are managers, is a man Of affairs,
a large and usually successful SPECTATOR; and we
certainly should have supposed that he had too
much knowledge of the world to make himself
Tribune's critical opinions are not to be bought
nor buicd. They are not Influenced by such
advertising as Mr.. Abbey may bring us, the
amount being probably moro important in his
eyes than it. is in ours and they will not be
affected by the Withholding of advertising. All
that he achieves by his action is to make public
his apparent belief that the critical views of
newspaper are or ought to be matter of bargain
and sale between the manager who advertises
and the newspaper which prints the advertise
mcnt-a theory which will be Indignantly resented
by every selfrespccting journal and every self
respecting manager
1t is mark of peevish and ll-balanced mind
to assume that some personal motive always lies
at the bottom OF an unfavoable criticism. The
opinions expressed ly the distinguished critic
of The Tribune upon the acting Of NJ. Coquelin
were certainly not influenced by any lack of
kindly feeling toward him, as there is abundant
evidence to show, nor toward Mr.. Abbey, whose
numerous enterprises, theatrical and musical, have
always had generous treatment in this paper. Mr..
Abbey ought to be willing TO recognize the posi-
bity of an honest difference from his opinions
although he is conscious of course that his own
views upon any art question are based upon
profound knowledge and are infinitely valuable
As for NJ. Coquelin we unhestatingly acquit
that accomplished artist of any share in the
action of his manager. The Tribune will cOu-
tinue to cfticsc these performances without the
aid of Mr.. Abbcy's complimentary tickets, which,
he seems again to have supposed, gave him a
mortgage the opinions Of the critic. Mr.. Abbey
may live long enough if he grows wise at q
very rapid rate to find out that the views of a
paper like The Tribune are not governed by
free seats and advertising.
Meantime The Tribune will endcavor TO con-
tnue its dividends to it's stockholders without
his powerful assistance and will treat his various
spcculatons as kindly before, where kindness
IS deserved undctorred by the fact that, in this
tri6ing transaction he has exhibited neither
good sense nor good manners