Year: 1874

LETTER FROM MR.. sTEDMAN.


TO the Editor OF The Tribune.


SIR: Permit an old contributor to write You with
respect to an event which has excited unusual inter
est and discussion.


Nv subject relates to the thcater. but do not
wish to venture upon dramatic criticism. am too
nucb of stickler for the precedence due TO trained
service in any department of criticism TO set up my
chance views against the opinions of the sincere and
practiced writer's who discuss theatrical matters for
our leading journals What ask leave to do is to
state how layman was impressed lby the event in
question: and to refer with honest Difference, TO
few points which have escaped general mention


I was present last Saturday evening at the first
appearance on any stage" of Miss Kate Field. To
begin WITH let me say that seriously inferred,
from Miss Fields acting and the manner ID which
the play went off, that the debut was, upon the
WHOLE an unusual success. The very large audi
ence-and l am not only speaking OF the lady's
friends who mustered in such numbers but to the
three galleries as we'll seemed, if might judge
bv its close attention and intelligent applause, to be
under the same pleasant belief; so that had moth
ing to disturb my illusion until read some of the
morning newspapers.


New-York is a city of theater-goers. many of whom
have observed the rise and decline Of theaers and
actors, and their judgment though not literary, is
shrewd and valuable. 1t is upon the verdict Of such
people that players success OF failure somewhat
depends. For example, go upon the Stock Exchange,
where a thousand men meet together, representing
every type of character and opinion. Talking with
various members of that body, who also witnessed
Miss Fields performance find that their notion of
its success was similar to my own, and that they
were no less surprised than myself at the
tence pronounced ina few of the newspapers. and
the friendly but despouding tone of criticism in
certain Others.


have most hearty respect for the judgment of
the distinguished critic Of The TRIBUNE, and for
that of the acute and sparkling writer who holds
the post of dramatic editor upon Tie World. The
articles of both these gentlemen were careful,
scholarly and written with the utmost taste, deli
cacy, and good feeling Indeed, as to the lattSs
point-when brave and refined woman, one of our
own guild, dependent wholly upon her talents for
career returns to her fathers profession from sheer
love of it-how any writer could go outside Of the
record to nfict an unnecessary wound is beyond my
understanding. But wish to refer TO certain points,
which even the admirable critics have cited have,
ii seems to me- not fully borne in view.


These writers have paid Miss Field very high
honor but an honor scarcely to be desired by the
most brilliant aspirant at such crisis. They dis
cuss her representation of Peg Wellington as il
they crticsing actress of long standing not
o debutdntF appearing under trying conditions She
is not star who comes to from another region,
where she has gained experience and reputation,
but, in one sense, novice. making her entry upon
| the most difficult of professions


| Neither an actor artist Of any kind can be
written up" or down. have no desire 10 attempt
the former process in Miss Fields case my interest
is solely that which every author has in the DRAMA
and in the lives of those who have won an honor
able stapding in his own craft. In the long run,


talent vouches for itself. Bnt novces career may


be seriously retarded. especially in practical and


business matters unless the facts that tell in his be-
half are fairly understood. I|


The house on Saturday night embraced a numer


Gus cohort not only Of the actresss friends but OF


authors, journalists, men and women Of culture at


tracted by the unusual nature Of the occasion How


many Of these would, pcdcl any cIrcrue' bay,