The times., 1899-10-08

to kill his unappreciative hearer one sea-
son will bob UP serenely'' the next to pass
the time of day and the state of the
weather in obvious forgetfulness of earlier
difficulties, just as the press agent will
precede worthless attraction this year
and unblushingly repeat his promises for
another star three months later. But even
this affrontery does not incline the suf-
ferer to take a more charitable attitude in
thinking of his theatrical acquaintance.
Briefly, though it is too bad that stage and
press are not in closer communion, the
reason is not altogether in the "suspi-
cions" of the newspaper man, and if it
were, no one could claim that those same
suspicious were unjusdfable. Until Father
Time has used his sharp bladed instrument
in pairing down the heads of the strollers
and has made them less selfish, less ego
tistical. and less bahyish, there is not like
ly to be much warmth in THE Relation
Between Actor and Critic Relations
they may be, but as poor relations.
Exceptions prove the rule" In the
amusement business, as elsewhere, there
are charming wamen and genial, honest
men. There is, perhaps, no dramatic edi-
tor who does not number among his ac-
quaintances some three or four players of
whose sincerity he has no doubt and whose
regard he values most highly The writer
knows several whom he likes immensely
and condemns often. A friend strong
enough to be loved should be strong enough
to forgive frankness. Some of these exist
But, despite the article of ''Thespian, " THE
Relation Between Actor and Critie''-not
TO put the point too finely-is generally that
between 'bunco- -steerer'' and "'come-on .
In the New York Telegraph of Sun
day and in the "Mirror'' of Tuesday morn
ing Correspondents Fettis and Warde an
nounced the fact that Willard Holeomb will
soon sever his local connections to take up
his abode in Gotham as press director for
the Lieblers MIR. Holcomb's intention has
been known to his associates for nearly a
fortnight, but none Of them felt at liberty
to make statement Now that the truth
is out however, it is well to acknowledge
that it is the truth
Personally, there is no man in Washing
ton whose loss will be felt more keenly
than that Of Willard Holcomb, whose many
excellent qualities have made for him new
friends during every year OF his long stay
here. His eandor and his kindness, his
willingness to forget a wrong and his abili-
ty to remember a courtesy have endeared
him to his acquaintances. OF his ability
there is less need to speak since thai ability
is generally recognized. Limited by official
rules resultant from an adamantine COM
mercial instinct, his criticisms on things
theatrical in this city have borne the marks
of conviction and scholarly thought There
is today no more earnest or competent re-
viewer of dramatic subjects in this country
than Willard Holeomb. His going will be
universally regretted in his circle From
present indications, it is not probable that
readers of his work will look upon his like
again.
Children of the Ghetto on tomorrow
evening begins it's second week in Phila-
delphia, it's premiere in Washington having
been followed by an engagement in Balti-
more. All along its route the play has
provoked the utmost interest, critics COM
ing from as far West as Chicago for a
look at Israel Zangwill's work 1t is a
notable fact. too, that radical as was that
article and much discussed, there have
been very few dissenters from the opinions
expressed in the review published on Sep
tember 10 in The Times. The more i'm
portant newspapers have been unanimous
in coineiding with those opinions, several
of the sheets in question going so far as
to copy and endorse the two-column eff
fort.
Contrary TO an idea that has been some
what prevalent here, The Times did not
ruthlessly condemn Children of the Ghet-
| to-" 1t remarked that if New York audi
ences were willing to sit through three
! acts of character sketches for one of plot
| the piece would succeed, adding that it did
not believe New Workers SO tolerant. In
| this view the seribes have all been agreed.
! Compare, for example, a portion OF the
matter printed in these columns with a
| paragraph written by II. l.. Knapp, the
| cleverest of Philadelphia reviewers, for
the inquirer of last Tuesday. The screed
| finally mentioned follows:
Such is the whole story, and it viii be un.
derstood from this synopsis how deficient 1t i:
in substance. There is no under plot, and the
dramatic framework is filed out with scenes
which, while they are interesting in themselves
| and serve their purpose in filling up the canva:
! upon which the author has sought to portray
| some typical and illustrative scenes Of Jewish
! life and character have connection with the
| story, and do not at all promote the develop
| nent OF the action. Yet there is not o.
these episodical scenes with which it would b
well to dispense. They really make up the lif.