The times., 1898-10-30

That old and seemingly no-longer-truth-
full adage about honesty being the best
policy appears to have received quite an
impetus in the manner in which Angus
tin Daly's production of "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac" has been treated all over the
country. Not only has Mr. DAILY failed
to make anything like the amount he
probably calculated upon when he decided
to sacrifice his reputation in an effort to
make some extra money but he has sue
ceeded in giving what seems to be any
thing but a creditable and artistic per-
formance and has the double satisfaction
of seeing his company popuiarly rated as
Number 2' in the bargain. A version
of "Cyrano' with Roxane as the center
of interest never appeared especially al
lurins. and when. on top of his announce
ment that this liberty would be taken
with VI. Rostand's piece Mr.. DAILY tod
the public that Mr.. Richman would play
his title role the success or the presenta-
ton became more than ever doubtful
But the principal element with which
the metropolitan manager has had 20
fight is the American love of fair play
While the laws have sustained his rights
in the matter OF "CyranO," people have
not relished the idea of Mr.. DAILY waiting
until Mr.. Mansfield had conceived and
advertised his enormous production Ge-
fore taking advantage of what his prede-
cessor had gained to offer the drama him
self. Nor did the knowledge that Mr.
Mansfeld's honesty had prompted him to
pay the author royalties even while he
realized that the play was unprotected
and might be presented without that ex-
penditure, increase public respect for a
man who had spent his life in acquiring
a reputation in the theatrical world only
to become something of common play
pirate at the first opportunity. Had Mr.
DAILY been director of less character the
matter would not have created so
much attention as it has and might
simply have ended in the refusal of house
managers to give time TO companies Of
fering "Cyrano"-as Luckett and Dwyer
did recently-but the very esteem in which
the transSressor has always been held
has not only increased the dishonesty of
his proceeding but its effect. His lead in
| the matter of "Cyrano de Bergerac" has
| induced many to follow who would not
| have thought of robbing Mr.. Mansfield
| had not SO exalted a parsonage as Mr..
| DAILY attempted 1t.
The result of the TRANSACTION has been
| far-reaching. Mr.. Mansfield is doing and
| will do a greater business than ever be-
| fore in his life and MIR. DAILY is meeting
| with only passing degree of success.
| Besides this the newspapers all over the
country have taken the matter up and
| have given Miss Rehan's manager an
| amount of roasting" that can hardly be
| pleasant to that worthy. NJ. Rostand and
| NJ. Colequin have both seized arms in the
| fight while even Sir Henry Irving has not
remained passive.
| Altogether things look as though Mr.
| Daily had not profted by his new methods
and as though Mr.. Mansfield had. Ger
| tainly the enterprise. honesty and artis-
! tic work of the latter gentleman have
| done for him and for the American stage
| more than anything his rival has ever
| accomplished in his life and theatergoers
| cannot be unappreciative. When the
way of the transgressor" is made hard
| by the public even laws so unjust as
those concerning copyrights in this coun-
| try cannot have a bad effect.
One of the greatest holiday publications
that ever came off the press will be seen
when the next Christmas edition of the
| Mirror is put on the news stands. For
several months force of capital writers
| and artists have been at work on the is
sue, which will undoubtedly make a most
| creditable souvenir of the papers twen-
! tieth birthday. Certainly no periodical de-
| serves greater mead of praise than does
| Mr.. Fiske's paper. The only intelligent
and able trade publication extant. 1t has
steadily advanced the best interests ol