Year: 1867

hercely than ever; the government or the
Sultan, having disrsgarded the advice, will be
left without the sympathy, Of the European
Powers; and it is not improbable that by this
very means the solution Of the Eastern ques-
ton will be hastened.


The Dessrucsien Of Winter Cardsn Rsviv al


Of the Legitimate Drama


We reported yesterday morning, with much
regret, the particulars attending the total de-
struction by fire Of the Winter Garden theatre,
Broadway, calamity which involved the sud-
den loss Of the uninsured properties of Mana
ger Stuart, Mr.. Booth the actor, and other per-
sons engaged in the establishment; but 1t was,
as if in the order Of providential interference,
unaccompanied with loss Of life, owing to the
hour Of the day at which the fire originated


As in the instances when the Academy of
Music and New Bowery theatre were lately
swept away by Are, 1t is consolation to know
that human life was not largely sacrificed on
each occasion; for had the flames burst forth
in the Winter Garden or either one of the two
last named houses when they were filled with
an audience, an appalling loss of life must have
ensued, owing to the almost complete un-
saitableness OF the buildings for dramatic pur-
poses.


We sympathize with Mr.. Stuart in his loss.
At the Winter Garden he used very credita-
bic exertion to sustain the legitimate drama
and render 1t as it was before the stage became
confused by the apparitions of woolly horses,
stuffed monkeys, fat women and cosmopolitan
giants and dwarfs, and before the public taste
was outraged and palled, almost to insensi-
bilty, by scenic glare, blue lights, the rattle of
gongs tin plates and the demoralizng pOstur-
ing of the ballet, lowered in some instances to
positive indecency. The performances which
were arranged by Manager Stuart at the
Winter Garden had tendency to neutralize
the poisonous effect Of these exhibitions; but
the place was entirely too small, situated too
far down town and inadequate to accOmmo-
date even the refined audiences which the great
city Of New York can furnish, not to speak of
it as q metropolitan dramatic school for the
cultivation and enlightenment and consequent
refinement Of the vast middle and working
classes and the rising generation Of every rank
in life. Winter Garden, in fact, held within its
walls the living principle Of art, which is mex
tinguishable, but was insufficient to afford it
healthy development


Out of evil comes good. Mr.. Stuart has lost
all his theatrical property. He is uninsured
aud will feel the visitation severely. New
York requires an up town theatre, and around
US on every side are men Of wealth, education
and philauthropic purpose Of mind who can
soon build one. As the men and money are
both on hand we recommend that such work
be commenced Immediately. Let our capi-
talists meet and arrange to give US large,
substantial theatre, situated up town, near to
one of the centres indicated by the stream of
travel. Let the building be as nearly areproof
as it can be made at all points, with ample
halls, spacious corridors and stairways afford
ing free ingress, with safe egress in cases of
frc or sudden alarm and let the architec-
tural design and finish be such as will
make the house On ornament to the city,
and q great desideratum will be gained.
In such an undertaking Manager Stnart's pro-
fessional advice and assistance would be Of
great value. He lie an educated gentleman
of taste and experience, and o man of dis
eliminating ideas in the uses and influence
OF the legitimate drama. He reached our
shores some twelve or fourteen years ago,
and has labored very faithfully since in the
discharge OF the duties Of his profession. In a
moment, and when just about to enjoy the we'll
earned fruits Of bis labor, he sees the result Of
his toll swept away by fire, and is, with Mr..
Booth, another very painstaking, industrious
gentleman, left in very unfortunate plight
indeed. By prudent adoption Of our sug-
gestion, however, the fire at Winter Garden
may be rendered Of great advantage to the
public, presently and for years to come, and
made profitable to the moneyed men who may
carry this idea into execution.