New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-15
LONDON NOTES.
TIE LYCEUM AND MR.. Irving.
London, October 1

London, October l.
Mr.. Irving and the London County Council ara
at issue the question OF gangway sea,a
Mr.. w. Is. Challicc wrote TO the Theatres Commit
fe" about them. and that singular body came \
this singular resolution:
That Mr. Challcc be informed that the plan
were approved by tie late Metropolitan Board a
WORKS. ard the seats referred 10 have been IN
existence for some years: and that, although the
Council does not approve Of gangway seats n
does not see that at the present time il would h
justified IN calling upon the lessee 10 removs
them
There was nobody, said Mr.. Fardcll. chairman
OF 'he committee, from whom the Council and in,
committee received greater courtesy than from
Mr.. Irving. 1lccf0rr-such seems t. I've tho con,
clusion in the mind of Mr. Farcll-Mr. Irving
ought to he allowed 10 place seats in the gang
way, where they are admittedly dangerous They
were long S.Ecc prohibited in London pay
houses and II IS not easy'tO understand why an
exception should have been made in Mr. Irvings
favor. lie has, however, friends in the Council
who urged thai the exceptional privilege should M
continued. Mr.. Fardrll urged il and Colonel
Rotton urged it. and as Mr. Charringion was on
the other side they lad strong presumption in
their favor But even Mr. Charringt IN can some.
He is bold man. who boldly said that tho
(ounci ought 10 haze taken the Iyccum in hand
long ago. as II was one of the M ST ,anccrous
theatres IN lonlon. Then Mr. Foster proposed "
instruct the committee - lake all fe necessary
steps - obtain Tie removal of these gangway seats,
and Tins Was carried hy 4 large majority.
50 Great are the POSITION AMI presto Of Mr..
Irving that they have hitherto su'lrri 10 Der.
,I,'!r the public ii.;.t thr I.Ycrum = a safe and
comfortable theatre. Ban Mr.. Ford was right
when he described II ~ one of tie most danger.
Gus IN London. The approaches to the stalls are
~ steep and narrow stLrcass. Tnc stalls are |
think. moro ciosrlv crowGroi together than those
IF any other important theatre in Loil"n and
there Is II" centre a.s.c ln'runrc an exit are
equally dihrut diilicut that a middle seat IL
never desirable and on"" in ycu have little
choice bar :" ,iiy there for the rest Of the even.
ing. | SNOW OF 10 Theatre in New ork like it
you would not endure either the Inconvenience or
tie danger he ventilation Is very imperfect;
the Il.rcUr. In tact. combines The greatest mum.
Der Of drtnghi> w.th IT," greatest '2rc Of stRili-
ness. " u"n the curtain /, up tlr auditorium
h-nfS are tunnel down low tlai thc gloom of
tine pace Is lunrrra lUV cannot 10 read
your p.albIll. wnch is III such small type and
FAINT INK a, 10 he not easily readable at the best.
For some Of these defects Mr.. Irwin: Is rpsppn.
,lhIr: for those which are structural he may not
H.: or ony in part. The a'tractyrncss OF his
acting and fine general sp.cndor IL the mounting
are ,urA that people crowd the Lycrum all the
SINE The press la, little or nothing To say Oh
;H'~r sGbjcrt>. M l:.irs Is II KIND Of pole.tite
whu.n nobody w.>r", - offend. I.lhc oiiler po-
rcui1tcS. t>rr.aiiA '!.p,r wEu>r throne /, on the
stage he IL >'hslilyr Z" criticism. ana resents IL
Criticism upon As 'i,@,'rr wonld. II il APPEARED
N a lprpiui palr.,. diminish thu receipts OF tie
Ill"atir, and noboii h,rs hl> receipt, TO "" IL
E.hlsnr Inc London prs, IL iimid III SUN
,.a'r"r,: o. perhaps II We're better Ia say over
prudent Ton sIdrrttI"n for the individual -
,troh.cr than 80 i Ter tt.oa Cor the pubic. 'thef
managers gri the benefit ii II not Mr.. IRVING
only. Mr Au.u,rIs Ilalrs did. wien ~" l." !pi
r.l..r> plhll>,rd hi, version of lis controversy
with Mss icn,> Huntington. and suppressed hers.
Aaoihcr manaerr get, the benefit Of II N his
n,omcn, when the papers are printing letters 10
lie effect that a p'ri"u!ar th"'''' i a rNfr-
trap: but suppress, the name of the theatre; from
fear Of a liieI-ar'Ion. perhaps Prudence may 10
carried yc:y tar In Mr. Irving's ease, his per-
soncl popularity counts for much. No one likes
TO dsohge Fan who is not only pot"ntate
but a good fellow. lie attaches people 10 him;
there is n kind Of Irving worship as there Is a
Gla,is'onc-wor,hip, and the idoaters are more re-
S,ntful of criticism than the Idol himself is. IL
Is remarkable what body # public opinion may
,hu, br created and now curhtsi SIN spreads, and
vha, singular immunities the object VI 1t may
enjoy. Yet II looks How a. If Mr. Irving would
have ~ remove tho>' 2ansSaI seats. u. W. ,.