San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-25
THE VOICE OF THE PUBLIC.
An Echo of tho Lights Structures on
Booth and Barrett. by a Refined
and Cultured Cores
pendent.

Booth and Barrett. by a Refined
and Cultured Cores
pondent.
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. %, 1888.
Editor San Antonio LIGHT;
The Booth-Barrett company have
come and gone. Before they came the
good people Of this portion OF Texas, In
dulged freely In expectations OF deriving
great pleasure from seeing and hearing
them. Their departure, however, has
been without regret. Disappointment
and vexation are about all that the
citizens here, and In the neighboring
towns have realized In their coming,
save the extravagaut depletion OF peck
cts and unrequitted trouble and labor
especially for those coming In by rail
and stopping at the hotels.
We had right to expect an entertain
ment commensurate with the reputation
and well known ability OF the gentle
men, as we'll as with the exhorbitant
charges made for admission. Vain re-
grets are the only outcome, putting 1t
mildly. 1t might seem ill.timed and
uDbecoming for US to say exactly what
we think OF these performances. so We
forbear.
We will say this, however, that proba.
bly, One-third OF the audience, and per-
bsps nearly one.hslf Of them, In the
opera house both nights. had seen the
distinguished gentlemen In the theatres
OF northern cities and were competent
Judges OF good performances, taking
these gentlemen, or others, as a standard
Of comparison; and where the admission
rate was but one-hslf that charged here,
and audiences but little larger. There
was as much here, therefore, calling for
the exhibition Of the best talent, the
most painstaking rendition of the sub
jects for iirst-olass stage accompani-
ments and dressing as would be called
for In larger cities. Did we have all
these? Who will assert that we did?
On the contrary, who will hesitate to
cay that we did not? We have heard
but one expression on the subject, and
that anything but complimentary to the
leading parties concerned In the show
But one OF two things strikes an i'm
partial observer with great force: name
ly, either Booth and Barrett, conscious
OF the infirmities Of age and their indi-
vldual Inability to attract large sup.
ports separately In other communities,
have combined their interests so that by
their union and joint personal attrac-
tions, taking advantage Of the natural
curiosity that the public always feels in
whatsoever relates TO all prominent men,
and seeking to awaken new interest on
a lower basis than professional excel
lence-that OF the man only-a sort OF
travelling monkey show, II we may be
permitted to use that expression as an
Illustration OF our ideas; and SO, did not
EEL called upon to 60 through their per-
formances only In perfunctory manner.
On the other hand, II this view be I'M
just, then we must suppose that in their
top-lOfty notions they did not think II
requisite to do more than humble
through their respective parts, or dress
only In the most careless and Indifferent
style for this out Of the way, semi-bar-
baric, ignorant, frontier town. Any
thing was good enOugh-we would not
know the difference. The light beam
ing from their expressionless counte-
nances upon the astonlshed gaze OF the
people being all that was necessary to
meet the requirements OF the occasion.
The leading woman made this idea very
manifest, and probably with the charac-
terisIic traits Of femininity. she WAS a
little freer In her expressions. and more
Indifferent TO results than the boss males
OF the troupe, because she had them to
back her, and the people OF this comma
nifty would be more lenient and chival-
rous towards one OF her sex; these con-
stituting a class on whose ignorance she
might presume.
They all seemed to have learned
nothing OF the intelligence Of this
country on coming west and forgot
nothing of their absurd notions in the
east; and 1t would appear further that
they are too old to learn anything new.
All we can say therefore, is, that II they
should ever think Of coming here again,
and we presume they will not-but II
they should, or anyone else with their
notions, we would suggest the proprlety
OF being a little more careful in their
ways and manners, a little more con-
siderate of the intelligence Of this com
muDity; a little more conscientious in
their performances In order to give
reasonable return for the money paid at
the door. We may assure them all that
indifference or thickness will always
reap due reward for the public. 1t
may be accepted also as the truth that
this community wants to see no slipshod
acting. fleeing, or ticket swind-