The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-27

1t has sometimes occurred to me that
the gentlemen who write criticisms Tor
newspapers do not frequently enough. De-
fore writing sharp WORDS, pause 10 con-
slider their effect. Take, for example, tha
savage attack made BY last Saturday )
Truth upon Mr.. YounSs 'tiamiet.' Its
Immediate result was to cause to this
earnest and gifted young player loss
In his business probably amounting TO
500. But that was not all. 1t deeply
wounded the player himself. He is a
young man. just starting out in life; =
gentleman by birth and breeding, who, at
a time when most stage-workers are
ready enough to descend to h!ppancy or
pruriency, has the ambition to gain rec
ognition by conscientious and painstaking
work in the higher levels of the drama.
He was newcomer to our city; he rose
for that performance from sick bed and
during it tainted In his dressing room.
Even II he had murdered the part, 1t
would have been at least an attempt in
the right direction. and while it would
have merited kindly dissuasion, would not
have deserved satirical back-r!ppins
founded in the main on false representa-
tionS.
But the fact is that Mr.. Young's "Ham-
let needs no apologies. 1t was loftily
conceived, poetic In treatment, clearly
drawn and not at all discreditable to q
young man of 90 years of age. Its imper-
senator showed that he possessed gifts
of an uncommon Quality--a graceful
presence, q resonant and flexible voice un-
der excellent control, easy and effective
gesticulation and intelligence decidedly
above the ordinary. If the Truth critic
could not see these recommendations. SO
oh ha fpr liSnarpmpnt. thew
were seen and appreciated by the audi
ence. The circumstances fairly cons;d-
cred, it was a surprisingly good produc-
ton of one of the most difficult OF trage-
dies: instead of butchering Mr.. Young
for his honorable desire to equip himself
for dgniied and uplifting work upon a
decadent stage, the press should at least,
It seems to me, give him Il fair chance
and extend whenever 1t can a welcoming
hand. Ill words so much faster than
words of encouragement; but II these rev
remarks can antidote the Truths un-
called for virulence. Mr.. Young Is well
come to them.
-.ll:-
The meeting Of the Interstate Homoeo-
pathic Medical society in Scranton this
week will not only be an event of interest
to members of the fraternity in north
eastern Pennsylvania and southern New
York, but will also be of Importance as
another advertisement of the enterprise
of the Electric City. The Interstate con-
vention. which will bring to Scranton
some OF the most prominent physicians OF
the homeopathic school from New York
and Philadelphia, will in many respects
be preliminary session of the state con-
vention which will be held in this city at
later date. The State homeopathic
hn., hnp fffn ~ |.
lated between Pittsburg and Philadelphia
and has never been held in any other city
In our great commonwealth. The deci.
sion of the body to hold the next annual
meeting In Scranton is a recognition OF
the importance Of Scranton as we'll as OF
the talent and enterprise Of the homoeo.
pathic physicians Of the city and vicinity
-:ll:-
BY the way, have you ever noticed the
increase In the flood of mediocre ana
maudln stuff that is tolerated on the
stage today? There Is scarcely comb!
| nation save the eXponents of tragedy tha'
does not contain one or more alleged Dal'
| lad singers who profane true sentimen,
and shock the nerves of musically.in
clined people by renditions Of ear-spltt!ng
compositions set to wretched verse. Forty
line stanzas descriptive of the adventures
of dry goods drummer or the woes ol
| the maiden who strayed from the paths
of virtue at an early age and never al
tempted to get back again, are made ad
ditionally terrible by the piping voice o.
| the soubret.e or the bray Of the basso in {
hand-me-down dress suit. Horse music
| and doggerel poetry are bad enough wher
confined to humorous topics, but wher
the elorts of the "inspired'' are turned
to subjects that should be avoided In or
dinary conversation they become posi-
| lively painful. 1t is to be regretted thai
| the army Of descriptive ballad writers
seems to be on the increase and that ar
indulgent public continues to allow then
! to not only revel in indecency, but alsc
| at times introduce subjects that should
be too sacred to come within the range
| Of modern song writer.
-:l:-
I notice that the craze for the queer II
literary fields has reached Scranton ant
| that the city can boast Of weird publ
ca ton Of the order Of the "Philistine" AM
| Chap Book" The new magazine. know
| as the "Pheon," presents the proper ap
pearance printed in red and black. and il
delivered to the reader folded in q 3x9 incl
| wad. It caters to the highest elemen
only in society and literature in Scran
| ton. For the present the magazine will
doubtless be able to cover the entire fiel,
without being unfolded.
1