New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-29
be gratifed, and he will be allowed to return to Eng
land from the Mediterranean in the flagship Alexandra
EDMUND YATES
THE PRESS AND ART.
DEBATE BEFORE THE GOETHE SOCIETY
DION BoUc1cAULT AND WILLIAM WINTER DIS.
ouss THE INFLUENCE or NEWSPAPERS
Upon THE STAGE.

UPON THE STAGE.
The third regular monthly reunion Of the Goethe
Society of the City of NewYor held last evening
OF the Hotel Brunswick Tho attendance, which
was large was composed mainly Of well-known adj
heents of the stage the members and guests appearing
In evening dress Parke Goodwin presided, and in APP
propriate remarks introduced the two speakers Of tho
evening, Dion Boucicault and william Winter, who
discussed The Influence Of the Newspaper Press Upon
Artp
Mr. Boucicault addressed the audience first and took
decidedly pessmistic view Of tho subject through
out After eulogizng his opponent the much better
equipped man of tho two he said that he himself was
ready only TO speak Of the stage, and not ac-
quainted with the arts Of music and painting. His
vocation was to amusO and not to instruct, He
quoted q Latin poet saying that whoever could
mix instruction With fun and delight his audience
takes the cake.n The translation he thought might
NOT be regarded good English, but It excellent
American. After q short disquisition on Art, Mr..
BUucicaut addressed himself tho newspaper press
and its effects upon art
The newspaper press was only about $50 years old
As known now, IL dated back no further than 17s900
10 the first French Revolution sustaining the American
| Revolution! The appetite for news was created by
scores of petty sheets. Tho power Of the press grow
as its terms decreased and its advertising increased
Then the capitalist became the proprietor and the editor
and TO his sordd desires all else subordinated
At first 10 was content to circulate the news then IL
| began to manufacture public opinion This suited
| those who had no time to mako up their minds upon
current events and those who had no minds TO make
up The artist gradually found that his success lay in
the power of the press and from that moment dated the
deterioration Of art. Many journalists discharged their
high functions with justice and ability, but
10 their trust and artists sought TO obtain public
favor through the press Art declined as tho power Of
the press increased No great actor no great artist
no great dramatis, had existed since the press had
asserted and maintained this power. Tho drama In
London and Paris no better than here. Art had
| gone down and the speaker traced this 20
the destructive power Of the newspaper press
The memorable machine called for much
space and 1t must be had by the yard. Tho impress
sion only intended for day, and tmust DO raey
How 1t with the dramatic cHtio9 The play ter
minated at IL p. The unfortunate man must
travel miles TO his Office. and before a m. furnish
column. How could he do It shlfuly and wisely1
He had suggested to proprietors to send reporter
to tell how the play was received and let the art
critic days after furnish welldeested article. There
was no standard of opinion. Tho judgment was
faulty. Praise and blame were improperly bestowed
AS consequence notoriety had taken the place Of
fame Impostors had been helped to high places.
The lease Of the tempted drama had been given TO
the montebank Mr.. Boucicault often INDUCED in
witty flashes which brought unstirted applause.
Mr.. Winter first sketched Mr. Boueicaulfs own
wonderful career from the production Of his first
play in London in 1871 how he recognized the public
sentiment when about 1545 It rccoiled from tragedy
and oraved melodrams and Boucicaut shaped the old
melodramatc character anew Dor thirty years he
know no retiring ebb. Fortune after fortune was
piled In his lap Then he suddenly struck staggor-
ing blow at the despotsm and tyranny of manage
ment he said that the play the thing and the
playwright must be paid. This brilliant
writer and coDsummate actor had received from tho
press the most liberal If not the most puslanmons
alteration The speaker was therefore, at loss To
account for his view of the newspaper press. II the
| drama was deteriorating;he knew Of no one upon
whom rests the responsibility moro than upon the
| distinguished dramatist (Langhterl Over and over
again 1t had declared that his latest plays were his
best Why them dishearened state Was IL because
few incompetent writer's have failed TO appreciate
him Had they debarred him nom an ota OF Successf
Mr.. Winter then entered upon an able, but Inn
partial, defence of tho press. A newspaper, Ike q
THEATRE must gain its success ia life because t pieascd
many persons. Tho elder James Gordon Bennett had
! said that he never desired 10 DO than half
| day in advance Of public sentiment and he never
! was. There making music for deafniutcs.
The address, which closely listened to through
out, sparIed with sentiment and replee IN facts
showing how the press had lahored TO elevate and
promote the stage and with what beneficial results.