The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-18


has the Providence Journal dcteriorated
during the past three years or so. From
position Of authority, both at home and
abroad, 1t has descended until It's views
on dramatic matters have ceased 10 have
any weight either with the profession or
| with the public In its dramatic depart
mept, today, the sams slipshod methods,
the sams lack of Judgment the same evil
dence of want of training. tho 1me abb
surd pretensions to authority because OF
splcuous as in other departments. With
Providence people its views have long
since ceased to have any weight while in
the profession of tie drama they are a
| laughing stock. Incapable of forming an
opinion by reason Of an amusing disre-
gard of any standard of criticism, its
errors OF Judgment are frequently as
amazing NJ its total lack OF acquaintance
with tho history and traditions of the
stage OF of familiarity with its contempo-
raneous concerns
Yesterday, The News devoted space to
discriminating survey Of the present
theatrical season as affected by what Is
known as the Syndicate The object
Of this article was TO correct the impress
sion that the public may have received
from a wholly ignorant and short-sightod
statement dealing with the same subject
in recent issue of the Journal an
article that only Ignorance, unless malice.
could ever have prompted. Tho elucida-
tion by The News Of the standing and the
purposes OF the syndicate of which the
Providence Opera House is member
was, we believe, rs convincing as II was
thorough both in respect to argument and
fact. Needless To say IL was not dictated
in the rcmotest way from the theati ical
ever unbiased i'm Its treatment of dra-
matte matters, as OF all other concerns
with which il deals, except 10y its sense
of public duty and its interest in behalf
of its home people and home institutions
The News tot ny is recognized by the
home theatre going public and all
through the dramatic profession as Rhode
Islands chief authority on dramatic
matters and it ranks high among New
England critical authorities In this
department. IT'S IN every page fhr Ncws
seeks only To represent its home con-
stituency and the study Of the situation
brought about by the syndicate organiza-
tion is made with the chief, nay, only
object of presenting the case fairly snd
with view to tracing its advantage to
, the Providence public. It's endorsement
results from the conviction that the pub
lies interests are decidedly advanced in
the matter of theatrical entertainment by
syndicate organ nzation. Before the season
is over this, we believe, will be- demon
strated TO the satisfaction of every lover
of dramatics. by tho discriminating thea
tire goers who demand the best that the
local managom ent Of or theatrical enter
prlses can secure, whatever tho means,
whether by syndicate or otherwise
Undoubtedly, there are today dram matio
attractions in the field that FOR one reason
or another the syndicate has not so far
secured for its list and may not present
through the hundreds of theatres in
ITS organization. But that these are very
! few is made plain by our resiew Of yes
terday Indeed they can no counted ON
the fingers Of one hand. That the syndi-
cate Ia able to give the public the best for
the greater part OF the forty weeks of TITO
season is made perfectly clear to any one
who stops TO think that In its organiza-
tlon is represented practically all The first
class theatres and the prominent man
ayers who nov control and indeed create
contemporaneous American drama
AS we have before taken OCCASION TO
point out, Providence. both by reason of
its fortunate location between New York
and Boston, and tho enterprise and dis
eliminating intelligence OF its theatre
managers enjoys prc-cminelce among
provincial cities In dramatics. The
Providence Opera House Is +. Koiths
the Olympic, and tho Westminster
are able To furnish an uninter-
rupted supply of the hest In their respect
i've fields to their patrons throughout q o
season. Tie difficulty of maintaining the
standard j. naturally greatest with the
first named house since it's standard must
bc Of tho highest fhe syndicate organ.
zation will evidently DO Of great
assistance TO the local management of q o
Guys leading dramatic resort in making
available bookings in combination with
tha houses that have her. fora dom andad