New-York tribune., 1909-08-08
DRAMATIC CRITICISM.
Its Function and Practice

Its Function and Practice
In every theatrical season The cry Of dissatisfied
or enrased theatrical managers rings through tho
land on the subject OF unjust 'unsympa.has!c~
hostile criticism. Among those persons the no.
tion Is prevalent. and il Is becoming more So that
the province Of critic Is 20 approve and praise
ali that goes In the theatres; for il is often in
timated that anything else is only unjust bu.
dishonest and malicious. a new theatrical season
Is opening. and therefore few words relative 70
the province OF dramatic criticism viii be appru-
pirate here.
The Gaty OF advocating fine Drama i. manifest.
out the tcss OF advocating fine Drama Is Gifncu
In this rs in some other matters TN. Nelfar. O.
the many must be protected. against their Will bv
the determined opposition and strenuous labor OF
the Few Impure drama, experience has clearly
shown. finds favor with she desutory multitude Y,
ought nor TO do but IL does, and influence o,
IL Is continuously psrncious All the more reason
exists. therefore, why a conscientious writer
should defend the good and denounce the svn His
recofapense will be the hostility of many individual
enemies, and likewise a liberal measure OF funI,>
oSloQuy; but. in the long run. he will exert good
influence. he will improve public taste and ne VIII
benefit society. Advancement in the right direc-
tiOn IS slow, but Il Is continuous The obligation
resting upon such writer. accordingly isr clear
Eie must write for the information and henee, or
readers The task OF the critic exacts specific quail
hcations and steadfast allegiance to high and stern
principles. intellectual and moral II is par, OF
his duty 20 know the literature of the drama; 70
discriminate betwiXt Defamation and Acting Be-
twixt appearance and inpersonation: to see ths
mental, moral, and spiritual aspects of the stax.
and likewise 70 see the popular. the expedisnt and
the mercenary aspects of it; to make due allow
ance for all obstacles that confront weII-intenCed
endsavor; TO hold the scale true; reach ths in
tellsence of a great public of miscellaneous read
ers TO respect. as far possible. the feelings and
ambitions of actors to praise with discretion and
yet with force.-displaying somewhat more than th.
An ed To, WITH
undue severity; to denounce explicitly and as often
necessary. the influences. often Operant by mis-
os the stage. that would vtate taste and
morals: 70 think quickly and speak quickly, yet
make no error; to check, oppose. and Giseomfit.
all occasions. tho lsveIllng spirit Of sordid "eom-
merciaIism." which is forever striving GexrAcs
every high ideal and mObble 1t in the ruck OF
mediocrity TO give not alone knowledge study and
technical skill. In the exercise OF literary art for
the good of the theatre. but. also. the best power
of the mind and the deepest feelings of the heart
TO the celebration and establishment Of the labor
of others That is the duty which many writer's in
The American press are striving 20 perform. often
against bitter oppOsition,-wrters. among the older
Journalists such j. Ranken ToWses Henry
watterson. George P. Goodale. Brander Matthews.
Peter Robertson. Franklyn FyIes. Charles NJ.
Bragg. II. II. Parker and Robinson Locke and,
among younger workers in the coed cause James
O'DOnneII Bennett. Burns Mantle. Charles Darnton.
William A. Sage. Louis V. De Foe, George Henry
PAYNE Norman HapgOod. and r. MawsOn.
Some actors. doubt. are. sOmaJirnes. unap9rs-
eiatsd, or neglected. The spirit Of The ss,
is tumultuOus. THE affair cries haste. and s9evd
must answer IT," Some Of the abundant newspaper
commentary which figures dramatic e1iteisn
doubtless provides cause enough for IisconseRt on
the part of actors.-snd Of readers. AIsnU"n has
been made of American irOnmJnser
taken into StratfOrd Church to see the tomb Os
Shakespeare. and whose friend reprOached him Cor
tapping the rail with his Jackknife. whereupon
he said he bound 90 find out whether. In a
neighborhoOd having very little iron. the fences
were made solid or hollow, and. on being rsproved
for lack OF reverence. he further stated that tho
grave OF the man who wrote Damon ana Pythias
and The Lady of Lyons was a matter OF no
consequence 20 him. Some dramatic criticism
appears 20 proceed from that xind OF persOn.-ors
perhaps. from such danes as the lady whos on
hearing that story declared. with veheTnencs. Thar
some people have respect for thcs. sreA:
works Of Shakespeare But. the other hand.
the contemporary period Is rich. Beyond preced.nt
In it's intellectual EFFORT to recognize. honor and
celebrate the vOsari.s Os the stage. Actors. ne
sensitive OF all artists.-for ths cavols ana
SUFFICIENT reason that themselves. ar1 no. tocs
their works. are on public exhiss5ier.--se-eiysc from
ali critics worthy os the nsne the NOS. s=:sso~S
ard delicate consideration, and. furths1rrors fey
their dolnEs receive considerably more at'sn-
tion than IN accorded 70 even tho most snpo1saos
and conspicuous Statesmen cr The age N>ishsf
actors theatrical managers have any j4se
ground OF complaint against dramatic crlucisnA
In ths IN which the Litsrature oe = nation
II national property Theatre OF a nation is also
national property: snd IL well becomes every con
sciontious and honorable publicist 90 his pen.
Freely ard potentially. to protect It's honor 10 pre-
serve iss purity, and 20 advance i.s welfare eaA
s,s righteous h.ru-nce. That Guty invOlves nces-
SAINT toll and che incurrenc- Of enrity and as~oA
Yet tho vocation has It's reeompens-: for. years
speed away and life grows bleak and .oa-ly. IL -
the rightly governed Stage that gives rell-. from
tedious eonventionaIIty and dreary routine; 1, -
the Stax-. with It's sunshine OF MuTnor ard IL
magic art 20 open the boundless realm Ot ag.nA-
ton, that lures from and sorrow. from de-
fsated ambitions. waning fortunes. and the erokeN
idols and darkened hopes OF vanished YOUTH
Happy are ths dreams Il has inspired And to-
tersd. Noble the ideals I has impaired an1
nou:lShst Gentle. tandsr. and ever sacred tAo
friendships 0Iin which I. has hlesssd and boAu19-
hed fe. Let stern.y condemn every a0unD q
isso Il pure