New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
THE PRESS AND THE STAGE.
An EXAMINATION OF THEIR RELATIONS.

An Grafton By william Winter asliys o before the
GSe ssev ss ssa VIC cct,yo pp 90 o' osWood
CoOmbes. Sew.York, 1850.
The decline Of the drama hrs long been subject
fruitful OF controversy. There has never been u
period since the theatre became q distinct social
force that the air has not tecmcd with lamcnta-
tions upon this subject The drama has declined
80 long and with such relentless steaduess that it.
ought to have touched bottom long ago But in
spite Of all this ii continues TO exist and TO
flourish, according 10 the view Of numerous i'm
partial Observers never before. This is indeed
a phenomenon contrary 10 all tho laws Of nature
and Of art II matters not that the social rank OF
the actor, who once could not claim Cllristian
burial, has improved, until now any position is at
his command, provided he have the ability aud
character 10 deserve it, and his profession Is rec
ogniuea 90 lofty, intellectual pursuit. II matters
not that the drsmatist has ris-n in public esteem
until In France. where literature reaps higher
honors, probably, than In any other country,
writers for the stage ill goodly number OF the
chairs Of the Academy. II matters not that plays
are now put upon the stage with q spleldor OF
adornment and precision in detail OF which onr
forefathers never dreamed. 1t matters not that
there never was t'ms in which IN" theatre taking
the world over, held more conspicuous and re-
spectable position in the intellectual te Of man
kind The drama Is declining. nevertheless, and
II behooves us, instead Of endeavorng TO reconcile
these contradictions 10 discover the cause Of its
deeeneraey and ask ourselves the remedy.
At this jnncture Mr.. B6ucicnult. the most pro-
life and NEST successful contributor 10 the English.
speaking stage Of this generation and who has
maintained for many years. in season and out OF
season, that the stage Ia declining comes forward
with q singular explanation. THIS was set forth
In his address before the Goethe Society TO which
Mr.. Winters GRAFTON was IN answer. Strangely
enough MIR. Boucicault does not And the cause Of
decline either in what is written for the stage, nor
in what 10 done upon ~. The fault is with neither
the dramatst nor the actor but with the press The
newspaper, 70 use his own words has practically
displaced the public IN the exercise Of iud ment
and the formation Of the stage in acce pting this
Office 10 has incurred it's responsibilities this
service Of opinions TO the public has parayzed the
freedom and strength Of public Judgment actor,
Seek to occupy high places By force OF press adver
tiserue nj the journalist as rule is incompetent,
as specialist In dramatic Affairs, and encourages
trivial kind of drama and bufoonery: the few
journalists conspicuous by their capacity are toe
few 70 make hend against this influence, and pro
test vainiy while the torrent OF ribadry and char
| iassnim sweeps into bathos and imposture sit,
| On the dramatic throne. And Of this state OF
thugs no great drama, no great actor can posi-
bly, come, and none has come-not one" 1t II
VIE sswspspers, then, that have stfed our BUDDING
nhAhespeares, and lsft our GarriolS, that might
have oetn, no alternative but to saw wood Ia
| remote rural districts. We all know how easy il
- sspSsess genius which is above oil thing
j Sns@ rAs kssef OF . nswspaper page, and sh'