Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09
THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY.
Great Artists That Have Trod the
Boards Of Historic House.
dec, II, IA. 1874 1s-6 SO

From the New York Tribune.
The burning Of the Brooklyn Academy OF
Music doubtless caused to many persons
feeling Of profound relief. 1t was an olo
building, dating back to long before the
period of f1reproof construction, and, Whlle
substantially built. 1t was well known 10
ba highly infiammable. The thought mas
often occurred to many people. when gaz-
ing with admiration over some audience
that filled its vast auditorium, that a break
Ing out Of fire at such a time would prop
ably mean a mourning for the city scarcely
less general than that OF the historic
Brooklyn Theater fire twenty-seven years
ago this very week-Saturday The alsies
and exits Of the Academy were spacious,
and the stairs easy, and the three thousand
members Of its audience could expeditiously
get out In ordinary circumstances; but the
furry and panic usually incidental TO an
alarm of fire would almost certainly have
caused appalling loss of life. 1t Is some
consolation that the catastrophe has &C.
CURED with so little cost.
From another point of view the fire
causes. great regret. 1t is grievous loss
TO be deprived of an auditorium so perfect
al once for seeing, for hearing ana Tor
comfort. 1t used to be said that there was
not a poor seat in 1t, and the statement
was almost literally true. 1t is doubtful II
country. an auditorium of equal capacity so
well adapted for all purposes Is was that
one. A dainty parlor comedy was not lost
upon its stage, but was well appreciate
by the whole audience, while the greatest
musical festival, with hundreds of singers
and orchestral musicians upon the stage,
did not overcrowd 1t with sound. Withal.
the seats were comfortable. the ventilation
and lighting excellent, and the architec-
fural proportions and design constant de-
light to the cultivated eye. If only 1t could
have been fireproof. and as enduring as 1t
deserved to be!
From yet another point Of view the pass
ing OF that historic building marks an
epoch in metropolitan. II not in American.
history. We know Of no place OF popular
assemblage in the whole city Of New York
today that is quite its peer for interest.
The great hall of Cooper Union is equally
notable for political gatherings. though
scarcely more so. The New York Academy
OF Music Is almost as famous for the lyric
drama. Carnegie Hall and the new Met
ropolitan Opera House have Of late out
ranked It as temples of music, but they are
of recent date. The Brooklyn Academy
antedated the present generation and COM
bined in one the interests Of all these. and
etilt more. Its walls rang with the echoes
Of great patriotic meetings IN the civil war.
and gave space for the memorable fair in
aid Of the sanitary commission. 1t was the
scene Of the temperance reform crusades
of Beecher and Cuy!er and their compeers.
From It's stage spoke Matthew Arnold ana
wendell Philips, JOhn Is. GOOgn ana RICH
ard 8. Storrs, and all the famous lecturers
and orators Of the golden age Of the
lyceum. For forty years 1t was the scene
Of the chief political rallies Of both great
parties. For a generation 1t was the home
of the chief dramatic club for the study Of
stage art. 1t was there that applauding
thousands heard not only the greatest sing
ers of today. but also Patti, and Nilsson,
and Gerster. and Cary. and Brignoli, and
Campanini. and their predecessors of years
before. Upon that stage were heard must
clans from Rubinstein and Ole Bull to
Paderewski There Theodore Thomas and
his Philharmonic Society for many years
educated the musical taste Of Brooklyn.
and there Anton Seidl continued the good
work. There. too, were and heard
some of the chief ornaments of the dra-
matte stage-Fechter, and Wallack, and
Gilbert and Florence. and ModJeska, and
Jefferson, and Duse. and Salvini, and Irv-
ing. and Bernhard. and Lawrence Barrett;
and there. too, was given the last per-
Torrance OF Edwin Booth. with thronging
thousands sadly murmuring Good night,
sweet princer'
Yes. it was well that such a building was
not permitted to fall into decay and base
deflement. but, with the memory of It's
best days still bright and fragrant, that 1t
vanished in one splendid burst OF flame and
color. leaving only a name. but a name that
Is as vital and as imperishable as the great
community Of which It was for so many
years the artistic center and the social
heart.