The times., 1899-12-31
THE PASSING SHOW.

THE PASSING SHOW.
Either by one of those queer condolences
that so often happen, or because of a con-
dition that is fast being focused to the
point of unbearableness, a great number OF
this months magazines and newspapers
contain articles on the dearth and desira-
bility of honesty in dramatic criticism
That is true, not only Of such periodicals
as are given exclusively to theatrical mat
ters, but also of ordinary publications, the
reviewers of which are known for special
ability in their line. The commentaries in
question take only one tone, and that tone
goes a considerable distance toward show
ing to what a crisis affairs have been
brought by the unwise policy of certain
writer's and propretors. AS Clement Scott
said of the situation in England, managers
have come to absolutely control the pro-
ducers of statements concerning their at
fractions, and, what is worse. the public
has come TO realize that control a jour
nal that invariably praises ceases to have
effect with its praise or blame, and the
present unhappy arrangement is gradually
destroying the best uses to which the pens
Of few conscientious scribes had been
being put. The Obyiousness Of this fact is
responsible for the outcry noted.
/ 1t is in mentioning Clement Scotts ut
! teTance On the subject, by the way that the
Nickel" for December drifts into a most
/ pertinent discussion Of the unfortunate
/ business under consideration. H. $. c..
/ the regular amusement man Of that ven
ture treats briefly but with vigor deyoting
: less attention to the dictatiOn OF adver-
1 tisers than to the cOrruptibility Of an in
/ fuential minority among writers, After
quoting many Of Mr.. ScOtts recent protests
and insistences, among them the line, l
! refuse TO be press agent in advance TO any
/ theatre or popular actor-mana6er. and 10
sell my birthright Of independence for the
/ pottage Of the preliminary puff this OBJ
I server remarks the existing condition and
/ its IameHtability. He says
The average reader may be inclined 10 dis
! miss the foregoing as the overdswu complaint
/ Of reviewer. grown grabbed by years and Nclssl-
/ tudes. Sadly It is the uuyarnisaed truth 1t
! is hard 10 believe however that any intelligent
man should betrsy such Urcteru8tual greeuuesE
regarding things in America. where they are not
whit better. taken altogether than in England.
/ With lev conspicuous exceptions, the
/ criticism oi plays, like the advance notices Is
{ generally dictated by rhe business llicaa 0f
/ newspapers ia the large cities 0i this country,
and many dramatic editors use au inch rule tHst
/ limits may not be exceeded. capable, uuiet-
tered critic would prove a bull iu china suop.
! The trouble began when sunday newspapers were
started Having vast space 20 hil, adNtl liScmtHts
/ were gradually expanded while reading notices
! kept pace. BEeyity was thrown To the winds.
/ Quantity dowued quality Personal journalism too,
was passing. The stool. system was dying out and
stars companies afforded les material for writer's
/ Consequently. dramatic editors soon realized they
possessed special facilities los booming pieces Of
/ their OWH, their brethren seldom caring TO at
I tack the work OF member of the guild IN
/ this way. half dozen dramatic editors laid
the foundations Of large fortunes Most of them
still retain their places, merely for the leverage
they afford, their royalties on trashy plays being
| dozen times great as their salaries. These
dTamat editors delegate most ~ their work to
/ an assistant Many who do not write plays are
play brokers or solicitors for other publications
: The fountain head Of the evil lies ia the mer-
cenary spirit that actuates majority oi news
/ paper publisAcT1 and lu the fact that theatrical
/ Advertising pays extra high rates.
Though generally sensible, this article is
/ neither entirely consistent nor altogether
unexaggerated. In the East there may be
two or three reviewers who have laid the
foundations of large fortunes" in the man
ner described. but The Times does not
know Of any such nor does it believe that
there can be more than solitary example.
il would be difficult too. TO blame news
paper publishers" for the lack Of principla
thus shown In his other statements. how
ever. III. c. s. is wholly correct, though
luckily, the evil may not be so wide
spread as he seems to think The sue
Cessful "dramatist- editor, for instance
might be claimed almost exclusively by
New York. That metropolis boasts al
least of one shining mark-a disciple OF
Shakespeare whose worthless efforts all
have been produced by single manager
The unconcealed satisfaction with which
the aforesaid disciple now regards all the
ventures of that manager has long been &
topic OF general conversation. There are
many other theatrical dictatOrs on Broad
way who probably have not been delib-
erately bribed but whose blind friendship
for certain magnates is conspicuous. A
prominent semi-amusement organ ii
Gotham has never condemned a single
presentation put out either by Charles
Frohman or by w A. Brady. This fac
argues nothing against either Mr.. Froh.
man or Mr.. Brady, who would be quite
justified in making every possible attempt
10 secure the praise Of prominent journals
but il certainly speaks harshly for the
sheet ia question. Between the scribe;
who like the syndicate and those who dc
not those who have had dealings witt
resourcefuI directors, and those who coun
= on having such dealings, Gotham criticism
would be a dangerous affair did not The
/ very appaTentness OF these transaction.
= render them harmless
, The reviewer who sells his birthrigh
. Of independence" for a few dirty dollars
however, is not nearly so ignOminious a
he whose fear Of losing his position o
= support makes him amenable TO the grasp
ing spirit that obtains In certain business
ofiices-principally elsewhere even il
! Washington. Fortunately, this condition
= is not as notable here now as it was whel
] one or two local papers monopolized tn
( field. For nothing can be more unfortunat
r and unreasonable than theatrical contro
I of a daily. Every publication has a dut
G to its subscribers as well as to its ad
s vertisers, and that which willfully enter
into a conspiracy to wheedIe playseers int
. spending their money on worthless per
/ | formances forfeits its title to being des
G ignated as anything other than an adver
tising circular. Within a brief period i
= Is certain to lose the confidence and sup
0 port OF its readers; it pays for the re
t mittanees of house proprietors with thei
C ! respect. An amusement puryeyor will g