The evening world., 1888-04-11
ROUGH ON ALLEN DALE, Y

Before replying to MIR. Alan Dale's criticism of
the performance OF Francesca da Rimini" by the
Rival Association, l desire TO thank TnR EVENING
WORLD for having been the nrst 10 open is
columns to q defense OF q muoh-abused olass-
namely, amateur actors. Although o constant
reader Of your valuable paper, I never fully real.
lied how thoroughly 1t was perused until my letter
Of the goth ult was published. I was astonished
At the number OF letters l received thanking me
for my defense Of amateurs and their work. AZ
your paper Is the most widely circulated evening
paper in this city I am pleased TO have selected IL
sion before the public. lam convinced mat public
opinion Is just, and am willing that the cause OF
amateurs should stand or fall upon It's verdict No
words of mine can more fully demonstrate the
truth Of the assertion contained In my previ-
GUS letter to the effect that amateurs seldom
receive Justice at the hands OF dramatic critics
than do the extravagantly %satlrical ana humorous
remarks OF Mr.. Dale IN his letter OF the btn inst.
There are few doctors who can endure their own
physic; sermons are, as a rule, distasteful TO
preachers, and when q professional critic, VINO
bone " by cutting, slashing and ridiculing others,
receives a small dose OF his own medicine II ~ but
natural that he should launch forth into q more
violent and unjust attack upon his censor, thereby
proving himself worthy of his hire. In inc minds
OF some dramatic critics nothing deserves com
so complete, so beautiful, but tuat they, with
their acute sensibiiiues,. will detect some hideous
from 1t all merit. What their standard OF
excellence Ii ordinary mortals are not per-
United 10 know; ana II nave met some Ignorant,
presuming persons, who assert that they do not
know themselves. 1t 10 certain BOOTHS Hamlet
ssa,a lssS do y, not 1,n ,eas - hi 1ai = s sasnIs st EGana 10 r ai9sin
1t; Forrest, Mccullough, Barrett and all the rest Of
those idols OF the popular heart, dead ami living
fell far short Of 1t. 1t was, therefore, unpardon-
able temerity on my part to hope to convince MT.
Dale that a company of "intelligent anu con-
scIentious ~ amateurs could present an enjoyable
performance of Francesca da RiininL" But |
have 30 much In common with the rest OF human
L. ly- the great mass of the American tngAtTe-HOlnX
public, whose verdict makes or mars the reputation
Of an actor. that ] have acquired the vulgar
wherever ! nnd 1t, whether upon the pro
fessional or amateur stage, and for INA,
when l invited Mr.. Dale to our perform:
ance l was but a~fording MIN an opportunity Of
That he might leave his prejudices al home and
come prepared to give a fair, honest criticism OF
too much of him. / can see mis- smile of sympathy
and condescension as he entered the opera-house,
sighed, drew his handkerchief across his wearied
tance from the stage. How, as the play devel-
oped and The audience became more enthusiastic
at each new clever piece OF acting, even he became
80 interested that for a time he forgot his errand
ihllher and Joined In the generous applause which
Mrs. Drew, and their EARNS" before the curtain
after each act. But when the play mad progressed
to the end and not a single sign of the accus.
toned "amateurishness had married It's effect.
! can see MIN as he awoke TO the sudden
realization that his bone " was not there; But
II he wrote "a favorable notice what would his
brother critics lay? MOI MOI he could not en-
danger his professional standing IN that way,
why, it was an amateur performance And so,
after two nights and days OF laborlous effort nt
&&r. Taylor ASSUMED a - tedious monotone, wGict
was soothing and soporihc." Now, Mr.. Dale
Which TnG ~ was 1t; tedious o. 800 or ,n soothing I'm = asm ana cr,, sopoI'nMH r
Lawrence Barrett frequently r%eceives? There
were about twelve hundred people present at tn
:! not pronounce II o success. There were many
present to whose opinion even MIR. Dale, l think
would defer, whose approval was unqualined ant
Torrance OF VirgiutaIto John McCullough's Nlr
scarcely be convinced that most OF the performer
were not professionals; and while sne OF cours'
r nuuno.S Sf if eaaai 100 To- the Ssl asnsIsl Gnne 81 proisss,p pnS
performances. Every. one will admit that there ar,
many tragedians OF considerable ability whose per
formanceH are generally received with favor; bu
who would compare them with Booth or salvini
Well, think we can survive even Alan Dale
criticism and extend our sympathy to him In hi
suferings.
Let US have q little justice. Honest and fai
abuse never. VS. DO MOI ask for tafy, but credi
where 1t 10 due. There are few professional com
at the Lexington Avenue Opera-House, who coul,
weeks rehearsal.
mir. Dale charges me with saying that profes
SIGNALS, at 30 mucn per week, can never feel q Low,
for the art. This 1 did not say. but stated that
amateurs study from pure love Of the art, and, - al
q rule, are moro apt scholars than the aulomatoni
who support our professionals at SO much pei
week" This principle, l maintain, is true In al
professions. A man who adopts q profession
merely to gam a livelihood can never attain the
success which comes 70 the genius who follows the
natural bent of his mind IN selecting his life work.
! Shakespeare wrote because 1t was impossible fol
him to withhold from the world the magnificent
thoughts with which his fertile brain teemed; Bun
yam saw no hope OF gain while at work In the seclu.
sion Of bis cell; necessity gave no impetus 70 the
pen of Lytton-out l will not tire your readers with
me further recital Of great men OF all ages whose
ouly incentive TO action was love and not necessity.
! Will be content with one more illustration. II
Mr. Alan Dale had adopted his profession from
love and not to gam the occasional 'bone," hi,
criuctsm OF our play would have been different.
Sincerely yours, j. RIDGwAY TIERS,
President OF the Rival Association.
40 Nassau street. New York, April 10.