The times., 1898-09-11

III y S6dio " a. pSIloTuldHCe, anu tii&E
learned it to be a false one, will miss
many an exceptional entertainment be-
cause of his distrust of fiatterng reports.
Observation that Is always commenda-
tory ceases not only to have the effect
desired, but to have any effect at all.
Then. too, indiscrimnate praise is GER
tainly not fair to combinations of greater
worth than those which have been unde-
seryingly complimented
Altogether In dramatic writing as in
any other, honesty Is the best policy.
What degeneracy the stage has today
may be rightfully laid to faults and de-
fects In newspaper review. A portion of
these are due to ignorance, a part to
fiippancy, but the great majority may be
laid to the infrequency with which the
employed may tell "the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth"
Closely bearing on these remarks is
Harrison Grey Fiske's recent tribute to
the late George Edgar Montgomery, who
was once dramatic editor of the New
York Times The article, which speaks
for itself is as follows:
The promise of George Edgar Montgomery ;
| carly career was not fulfilled. and disappointment
crowned the life of the gifted poet and able
critic that ended last week.
When Montgomery was dramatic editor OF the
| tion, and he ranked with William Winter and on,
| or two other veterans as one of the influential
| stage writers in the metropolis. He judi
| cial TO degree rarely found in man mt far
past twenty; his knowledge OF the drama was
expert, his ideals lofty, and his opinions
were safe from outside influence.
| Ii was because CT this last admirable quality
! that Montgomery lost his high place a dra-
matte critic Henry Irving came to play his fist
New York engagement. 1t believed that
| Montgomery would dislike his mnnnerjsms and
| find little to praise in his Gcting-not because oi
personal prejudice. but because Irving represens-
| ed in art what Montgomery known to dis
approve
| Influence was brenght to bear on the proprietor
| of the Tmes-net by the actor but by his friend:
with the result that Montgomery was not per
| mitted to write the Irving criticisms. 1t was
generally understood at the time that Joseph
Hatton-who part of the irving en-
tourage in the character OF sort Of upper pres
agnt-ccntributed the reviews OF irving's per
formances to the columns OF the Times.
| This treatment naturally CALLED Montgomery
who soon after handed in his resignation. 1t wa
accepted, and his successor appointed In nlor'
| ways than one this affair seriously affected th'
| writer's prospects, and never was he able TO re
gain post of similarly commanding importanea
| He was the victim of his own high p,inciples
His subsequent experiences in literature and POUR
naiism varied and generally unsuccessful
! And yet there was not dramatic critic IN TIM
| city during twenty years better qualItied thai
! Montgomery to succeed, more deserving OF re
spect and confidence.
| Is there any other profession In whlcl
| such a thing could occur?
/ A great deal of attention Is being pro
| yoked at present by Augustin Daly's an
nouncement that he will take advantage
of the unprotected condition of "Cyran'
de Bergerac'' to produce it at his theatel
during the winter. This is hardly VIVA
| one would have expected of Mr.. Daily
| While il is true that the copyright law
did not permit NJ. Rostand TO properly
| take care of his work and that, therefore
| anyone has a legal right TO produce 1t
this does not hide the fact that when Mr.
Mansfield originally decided to presen
the piece he thought sufficiently high o
the authors personal rights to pay him ;
good round sum for the play. II was Mr.
Mansfield who first contemplated expend
ing the immense sum of money necessar!
TO staging the Offering and IL was Mr.
Mansfield who first determined upol
bringing the drama to America
The star had already put out grea
deal of money and had made his an
nouncements for the season when Mr.
Daily discovered that competition wa
possible and declared his intention o
| giving "Cyrano" The thing is so unjus
and contemplate on its face that one cal
hardly believe Augustin DAILY in seriou
earnest If. however, he insists on carry
ing out his project he is likely TO fin
himself the loser. Mr.. DAILY has none o
Mr. Mansfield's facilities for putting ol
the piece and It is doubtful If he can fin,
in his entire company a single person ca
pable of playing the title role in NJ. Ros
tand's drama-eertainiy no one who coul
rival the original protector This befn
true and American love of fair play be
ing thrown in the balance one may decid
in advance that about the wisest thini
the Broadway manager can do If h
cares to save his reputation and his dol
lars is to leave Mr.. Mansfield alone i
his possession of the sole rights to a pro
duction which is his by every moral iay
| in the ethical code