, 1893-03-29
4 QUESTION OF TASTE.
THE Press, March 81

Although cIossly related to them by con-
Bsnguinity, int marriage, language and lit
~erature, II 10 still appa eat in many matters
thst " haga not inherited the { stss of our
cousins across che sea. This difference of
opinion undoubtedly arises from the lS
neal transmission Of that insubordinats
spirit VIII ch insisted upon brewing tea in
Boston harbour instead of in British teapots.
The elements Of disssnsion created on that
occasion have continued to grow, until at
present Our insular kinsman are frequently
and iEreslatibly compelled to express their
low sttina OF our advancement in civili&a.
ton. London newspapers of o recent date
contain various dissOuraging conclusions arr
rived ct by worthy but p~essimistic Britons,
b seen to have quite rslinquished the
hope Of our ultimate reformation. The ami.
mus Of complaint in these perturbsd gentle.
men is not politics, tariff nor quarantine laws.
Leaving these heavy questions to be- argued
by those directly interested in them, our lat
est csnsors have gone at length into the pro-
bls'n Of esthetics, Sad are gloomily convino-
ed thu, in spite Of its ohsaom,ual wealth,
America is a country without taste.
In view OF the spirit of equanimity which
10 characteristic III our own people, it is not
30 be spprehended that this accusation will
Az koJVty VI bn0 ntIbOus OuI DSluR
thus sharply arrAigned it behoo yes US to con-
slider wherein we. differ from the excellent
folks who having lost our revenues, now be.
wall the fact that they can no longer decide
our methods Of enjoyment. The cause of our
cousins present melancholy is the indisposia
ton OF American audiences to support systems
OF entertainment that have already received
the approval of London. 1t is an unreason.
able mind that refuses TO benefit by reproof.
a due sense Of fairness to our critics prompts
as to examine the performers they have lately
sent US, our scanty appreciation of whose tai
ents has stirred up the wrath Of those solioi-
tOus relatives in the tight little isle who ale
constantly |abouring for onr improvement
and, incidentally, for our doll, rs.
The most recent arrivals from London have
been professional representatives. of what ia
known in that city as parlor entertainment.
These humorists came TO us accompanied by
extraordinary testimonials written with elo-
quencs and enthusiasm by eminent English
men. Notwithstanding these vouchers Of
ability our audiences have maintained their
preference for the old fashioned ENJOYMENT
of the drama and refused in great numbers
to be caJolsd into concert halls where the
foreign ~reciters make merry. This contuma-
cy of spirit in our citizens proceeds from va
rious causes. In the first place we have dis
covered that, IN frequent instances, the abili-
ty which has been apparent from London is
quite occult, and mysterious to us. The
average English reader is not up to the intel
leetual standard of our own readers. The
London huIaorist is not 10 ingenious in the
expression Of wit and fancy &c those indigo
nous g%eniuses who have made our lyceums
famous. Further than these facts it NAV be
noted that when . Briti.h entertainer adj.
dresses a new constituency. he never applies
himself to tho preliminary task of finding out
what will please bis audiences. He insists
uponsour acceptance of what tas delighted
his own oountrymen. If his selections were
from standard works ev en- this conservative