Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-19
THE CRITIC.
How He is Subjected to the Criticisms OF
Others

| Others.
Mr.. Kriebel, the gifted critic of the
New York Tribune, appears to be fairly
| familiar with the anonymous protest.
and the item marked with 'the blue pen
cil.D He confesses
| Only men concerned actively in news
paper work know what coign Of vantage
| for the study of human nature they pos
| sess in the privilege of reading the letters
/, of advice, reproof, instruction and approval
| sent to the editor. The advantage is but
| feebly Swallowed forth in the communica-
lions which are printed, for these are let
| tiers that have been vouched for by genuine
| signatures, and the most interesting let
| tiers which come to newspaper offices are
| anonymous. What a pitiful opinion of
humanity one might construct out of these
| letters How mean conception do many
of them convey of the intelligence and
| honesty of the persons whom they gra-
| tuitously criticise! And how shallow
view do they take of the obligations and
| responsibilities of writer's for the public
press, especially writers who deal with
| artistic subjects. A favorable mention of
| Herr Vogps splendid performance in die
Goetterdaemmerung," calls out two written
vidual who forgets to say whether or not
occasion in question, but tells Of disap-
few words of disapproval are expressed
! concerning single performance of
petted tenor in connection with
vast deal of praise for the
things which he did well, and immedi-
ately feminine chorus of protest is raised
like that which the Valkyrior din into the
ears Of Wotan. The reviewer finds it i'm
possible to agree with Mr.. Damroseh in his
conception of what appears upon the
printed page of Beethoven, or in his
opinion Of himself. as exhibited by his
attitude toward masterpieces of the
classics, and promptly dozens of fair fingers
are soiled with ink In an endeavor to con-
vince the unhappy reviewer that Mr..
Damrosch is the only conductor in the
United States whose transcendental
genius lifts him above criticism That
Mr.. Seidl, Mr.. Thomas and DR.. Won Beu-
low have been argued with because of
their efforts to improve upon the plain in
tentions of the composer, as published by
the printed page, the manuscript of the
| composer, and the unbroken custom of
years is of not the slightest moment to
these fair advocates, who estop all contro-
versy in true feminine fashion, by saying
(as one says, whose letter is before u.s. SIT
is generally conceded, of course, that Mr..
Walter Damrosch knows as much about
music as anyone in the city" There you
are. After that, what is a reviewer, con-
corning whom nothing is generally con-
coded, of course" to do, except to bow to
the chastisement and regret that the old
custom Of fagellatory penance is fallen
into disuse?
Generally the ground of complaint
against the newspaper reviewer is too
much attention of an unfattering kind,
but sometimes 1t happens that persons and
organizations are grieved because they are
not criticised. In the majority of cases of
this kind failure to appreciate the atti-
tude which reviewer ought to bear
toward the public is responsible for what
seems to the person or organization mali
clous neglect. There are in New York a
great many societies and clubs that give
concerts of private nature. Their doors
are not thrown open to the general public,
but only to subscribing members. Their
entertainments are adapted to the tastes of
their members. A few of these organiza-
tions maintain their distinctive character
by keeping entirely out of the public eve
and away from the public ear. The Men
| delsshon Club, for instance, concerning the
superlative excellence of whose artistic
work there can be but one opinion, never
obtrudes itself upon public notice. Others
invite public criticism by requesting the
attendance of newspaper reviewers on
their concerts. What is the standard of
Judgment that ought to be applied in cases
of this kind? The entertainment is a
private one, gotten up to humor the taste
and wishes of the comparatively few who
pay for ii, and the social pleasures which
| it brings. The taste and wishes of those
few may not be such as to conduce to the
cultivation of good art; but is that the
concern of the public? Throw open the
doors and invite public support and it be-
comes, to some extent, a public question.
Close the doors and announce that the
distinctive feature of the clubs mission is
to exact evening dress of the audience,
and to sing to the liking of those who
| contribute the funds, and there is no COM
mon meeting ground for the newspaper
| reviewer and the Climb