The sun., 1893-07-16

aN
NJ.ntr N theatres which have been started II
pen'SIae SIaerent capitals Of tho world has as ye
tne u,, a substantial. permanent success, and
W. .bould prove n consollng thought to the
'.,o,or. OF the Theatre Of Arts and Letters
ps.,s costumes plays, scsnery, md othei
WI. and yhattols were last week placed in
t~sh,nds OF an agent for disposal to the high.
~ ,Iddor This theatre was a costly experi.
., undertaken with tho avowed purpose OF
,,'i,g tho American stage to tho same lofty
,i,nt. on which American literature has long
,oysd a secure perch, and a great many peo.
,.,,t,he N ighrst intelligence and purest mo-
.inos ioined the movement without stopping
a. ipoulrc which ono OF the two branches
~ ant was really in tho healthiest condi.
,t,r or TO investigate the methods by
80, II was proposed to accomplish that
,,n,r OF elevation which has in former
lara enlisted the talents and enthusiasm
- such retormers as Steele Mackaye and Mrs
lanes Brown Potter. Tho complete downfall
AZ ,he scheme Is 10 be deplored. because 1t will
n,obtbly be long while before any ono will
nndsrtake tho establishment Of another IN
dependent" theatre. an enterprise which.
nr,u,rly conducted. has It's legitimate and
rssful sphere. Such n theatre should occupy
,bs same relation to the drama that the Gro
liar Club does to literature. That club pub
Nshes special editions OF books for which
th.re is a limited demand among the lovers
and students OF books. 1t would not pay a
regular publisher to undertake the printing OF
tbsse volumes. nor would 1t pay q theatrical
manager 10 produce certain plays which lack
the elements OF popularity. but which would
nroye yeritable object lessons to all persons
interested In the drama. In ths production OF
- ta In
and otl or people who have something to say.
and their own way Of saying it. free theatre
could Rnd wide field for tho exercise OF
tts functions. aud It was In tho hope OF
seeing pieces OF this class that a great
many people were led to subscribe to tho un-
dertaking. But Of the nine new plays produced
nv the Theatre Of Arts and Letters during the
arst and only season OF its existence. not ono
could be said to possess any special value. and
Il is doubtful II any one OF the lot will find
bidder in the market 1t was q matter OF some
surprise to great part OF the public that tho
contributions Of our men OF letters to tho The
atre should have proved Of such little worth.
but the truth is that tho sort OF literature which
IL fostered with the greatest care In this coun-
try is not OF tho kind which lends itself readily
10 stage purposes. The monthly magazine is
the cradle. kindergarten. school, and college
OF American letters. and the conductor OF that
magazine is obliged to consider the tastes Of
millions OF readers and thousands Of Rdver-
tisers. Two-thirds OF these people like their
fiction a. mild and innocuous as the weakest
Seference 10 tho wishes Of such people that
there has sprung up in this country what
might be termed "cambric literature" and
tidal wave OF . cam brio dramas" In every woll-
regulated magazine office there are experts
who for years have made a careful study Of
who form the bulk OF the magazines
audience. When story is offered for publica-
lion 1t is given to these experts. who read it
through with the utmost care to see IL it con-
tains ANYTHING calculated to give offence to
any human being whose name is on the sub
this gauntlet. another expert reads it to soc Il
It contains anything calculated to nlease any
Of the readers: and there are those who believe
that tile precautionary readers arc too CON
scientious in the performance OF their duties.
Sometimes story Is accepted with the pro-
certain objectionable phrases changed. In
recent case bosom ofthe ocean was changed
to Of h the ss to hs %snSst St S
day and generation; By these adroit methods
ppagaznss are re made; Dut when the men who
on their paper and the other on the experts
who have devoted their lives to the study OF
mediocrty. and whom they must not Offend
they ind them selves hampered by that which
they have neen at such extraordinary pains to
learn. The mildly reproying eye OF Mr.. Glider
eannot forget for the moment the pre-
ssSs Of the haTpers other words
p.Sts 0sl.Tt sht hmauity from thoir eyes
Gan story writer's iaii in that higher form OF
have grown UP in the freer literary atmosphere
o! France, Germany. and even England have
achieved SO much success.
But Arts and Letters had other things to con-
tend with besides the false school OF letters
from which 1t attempted to draw its play
Wrghts. AS an illustration OF tho way in
which the business Of the concern was con-
Quoted the following story is recalled: Mr.. Nc
10 BOWEL was extremely W anxious to play In Bos,
ieans;" and Mr.. Mcdowell had a week in
ii. Eut when no 20 made the proposition to
the manager of tho more popular entertain
ment the latter showed him that he had pre-
week in Bpston. and therefore did not care to
tSda 1t ii Mr.: Mcdowell would cporanfee that
should lie $500. and on this basis the ex-
change was effected the manager OF the Arts
ds,dn psysd
Holy Week in rrovidsnce 10 audienees WHICH
made its share about $1,000. and Mr. Nc
Diovel! settled the difference with check for
S-3OW, while his own performances had
Drought in but Sl.4O0 at the Hollis Street
ihhatra. some members OF the deiunct en-
serwse talk vaguely. but hopefully. about
Continuing it as u club, but that 10 scarcely
within The range OF possibility. Club bs spring
up In all sorts Of ground and from al sorts OF
material but il Is very seldom that the nourn-
eH at funeral form themselves into an asso-
cMtiol In memory Of the departed. They gen
orally lcnve he cemetery before tho grave hns
BILE tOQpthar
enSsrTarf cxcept. in litigation over the Will.
sha IN THIS case ther" will he no estate worth
nIghting Tor, Mr. Dickson. to whom has been
htruste1 the difficult task OF rcn izng Jew
ool lars On the odds and ends which remain. is
one ~ he most accom- plished last masters OF
slrategic finance that the town has ever
thowh. The hat under which no Is transact
NJ tuSlncs4 this summer is OF light straw.
VIII bro ID biim and a dark brown ribbon.
Nd Is frequently seen in the vicinity OF Broad
way ard Twcnty-nlnth street. about i've feet
Oht Inches above tho pavement
Rival managers are still stirring up inter-
tcne strife in tho local German colony
heaklnG UP families and destroying the peace
Il once happy cafes, by the discussions which
icy raise in regard to the coming theatrical
" son. The cafes and beer saloons play an
lstorant Part In German artistic life. and
NEy manager counts with absolute cer-
al, - -