The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-31
CRITICISM NOT LIBEL
FURTHER ANSWERS IN THE SUIT
BROUGHT by JULIA MaRLOwE.
The Proprietor Of the Notorious Ok
Iahoma Agrees with Judge Me-
Cray TO Close His Place. :.

dldndp0liS journal, yesterday filed two adj
ditional paragraphs Or answer In the fed
eral court In the Julia Marlowe damage
suit. The first OF the two paragraphs de-
MES that any part OF the article in ques-
ton, except the last sentence-"The real
truth Is, Mrs. Taber has been trifilng with
the good will Of the public and her friends"
has any reference 10 Mrs. Taber person.
ally. The answer in full is as follows:
The defendant. for a second and further
paragraph or answer TO the complaint
herein, says that 1t denies that any OF the
words alleged to have been published of
and concerning the plaintiff. save and ex-
as set out in the complaint herein, were
published OF, or referred 10 the plaintiff
The defendant, for a third and further
paragraph OF answer TO the complaint here
in. says that il Is and has for a long
time past, been engaged in the business of
publishing daily newspaper, known as
the Indianapolis Journal and it's Sunday
issue. known The Sunday Journal. That,
In pursuance OF its said business. II pub
fishes. as II was in duty bound TO do. re-
ports and criticisms upon all matters OF
public Importance and interest, including
criticisms OF the public performances given
for hire or pay at the Grand Opera House
and other theasers in the city OF Indian
apolis. That during the week ending Dec.
10. 1884. the plaintiff was the star per-
plays at the Grand Opera House. in the
city OF indianapolis. That on Sunday, the
18th day OF December. 1894. the day next
given by the plaintiff and the company
then and there playing with her, there was
published in the Sunday Journal the follow
ing article. to-wit:
MRS. TABER'S SEASON.
" indianapolis Learning 10 Take Her at
Her True Worth.
" Shakespeare Will Soon Be Altogether Out
or Her Repertory, Giving Way
to Light Comedy.
Nothing affords a better criterion for
judging an actors ability than his inter-
probation of Shakespeare. Shakespeare to an
actor is what the crucible is to a chemist:
whatever of dross or lack of merit rises to
the top, so that he who cares to observe
may have the actors faults spread before
him as III written on a page. The Marlowe
season just closed has been of more than
ordinary benefit 10 Indianapolis theater go
ers. since IL has resulted in giving this city
a better understanding of the rank OF that,
in some respects, gifted woman than hereto
fore obtained. The fact was owing to no
fault OF Mrs. Taber. for she has changed
little since her debut seven years ago in the
character OF Parthenia. Mrs. Taber was a
full-hedged actress when she made her APP
paasance before tho public. At that time
she created The impression OF being most
pi omising wsmsE. But Mrs. Taber has not
fulfilled the expectatioIs of her early ad-
American Queen OF Shakspearean drama.
size VAS ace pied as such on her first ap-
pearance in this city five years ago. After
seven years on the stage, If the uncompli-
mentary truth be told. Mrs. Taber has not
developed into the well-rounded capable
Shakspearean personator. The first obstacle
was her voice. The lack of any depth in
her ability to read blank verse was her
most vulnerable point. 1t is more 10 Mrs.
Tabers credit than TO the credit OF few
critics. that she herself first discovered this
fact
- The Office of dramatic critic is thank
less and generally unpopular in any COM
munity. yet for the sake Of his office the
critic owes II TO those who take the pains
to pcruse dramatic criticisms 10 endeavor,
as nearly as possible, and without malice,
to correctly weigh the talents of any artist
ling bid for popular favor. A mediocre
actor might become veritable furore In
an isolated locality and with little hurt TO
anyone. but in city situate so near met
ropolitan towns as Is Indianapolis, and with
the pretensions of this city, IL behooves her
people TO be able to place es,
who periodically return for BRIEF engage
ments.
eft is fiattering TO observe that Mrs.
Taber is beginning TO be understood. There
can be no question that this pleasing per-
former merits the best patronage or the
star Of the first magnitude is a reflection
on cultivated taste. Mrs. Taber Is not
great; never will be great In the way that
Nelson, Modjeska, Rehan and others &C
quired greatness. She has wisely laid aside
almost her entire Shakspearean repertory,
and is gradually and certainly dropping
into light comedy her best and only forte.
Even limited line of comedies is wholly
within her grasp. Standard and heavy com.
edies, such as the school for Scandal,
are not for her unless they be given with
more artistic finish and with many. many
times stronger support than her present
company. The two Shakspearean plays
and 'sAs You Like twill have TO be
greatly improved in this respect or they,
too. will be numbered among the deceased
mrs. Taber makes a good Juliet in the
lighter episodes of the tragedy, but her
Rosalind is lamentably weak. That was
evinced by the waning interest In the pro-
have taken the character OF Rosalind. The
daughter of the banished duke is, unmis-
takably. strong-willed, forward and hoy
denish creature. The idea of travelling in
male attire was in perfect keeping with
the spirit of Shakspeare's Rosalind. Do not
the lines say:
Because that am more than common tall
That did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtle-ax upon my thigh
Well have smashing and a martial out
side"
...who could imagine Mrs. Taber hand
ling a curtle-ax tcutlass), or welding a
Hers is. necessarily. a delicate. feminine
art and II Is the delicacy and never the
merging of the woman into the man,
though appare,ed in doublet and hose, that
constitutes her charm as Rosalind. Yet II
Is not the Shakspearean character. the
beauties of which are sacrificed with Mrs.
ia Der in the leading role.
"Just a word more. Mrs. Taber's sup
porting company has ever been selected
with a view to misleading the public. Her
talents shine. by contrast, with few only
fair and a greater number absolutely poor
people. The bulk of them has been play
ing MY lord. the carriage waits parts In
first-c!ass companies for years. The real
truth il Mrs Taber has been trifiing with
the good will OF the public and her friends.
THAT the alleged libel complained OF In
the complaint herein, was published as
part and parcel OF said article, and is a
review and criticism OF the plaintiffs pub
lie performance. and OF the performance
of the company then and there playing
with her. That all that was so published
of and concerning her In said article, was
published as a criticism upon her public
work. and OF and concerning her in her
.public capacity as an actress. and not 9TH
srwlse. without any malice or ill-wih
against the plaintiff. That said article was
published after the engagement OF the
nlaintiff in the city of Indianapolis was
over and she has not since performed or
appeared in public in the vicinity OF said
.sWherefore defendant says said publica-
tion is not libelous and no damage has
accrued to plaintiff by reason or said pub
lfcati0n