Year: 1873




or Duohu Showmen.


Some years ago the New York theatres with
drew the advertisements Of their performances
from the HERALDs columns. 1t would be un-
interesting now to recount tho ostenslble
reason of this action, into which many re-
spectacle theatrical managers were coerced
through q stupid rule in their society; but
the real cause was the dissemination OF some
of the less prosperous houses to pay the price
of q HERALD advertisement, and at the same
time to be compelled to submit to just and
independent criticism of the amusements they
offered to the public. The greater part of our
citizens will remember the terrible crusade
undertaken by these gallant Crummleses
against this journal and the withering an
nourcement that used to stare out in large
capitals from the head of their play bills
This establishment does not advertise in the
New YORK HERALp!" To be sure, we bore
the loss of their patronage with becoming
patience and without injury. although a
portion of our sympathizing contemporaries,
while applauding the course of the managers,
predicted all sorts of evil consequences to
the journalist Of course we continued to
notice and oriticise the performances at the
several houses as . matter of news and pub
lie information, praising where approval was
merited and censuring where censure was
| deserved. But before many months had
elapsed the theatrical gentlemen discovered
that the absence of their advertisements from
the HERAID's columns damaged nobody but
themselves, and they adopted the wise policy
of confessing their folly and complying with
the HERALp's rules. They have since learned
that independent and intelligent criticism is
of far more real value to manager and actor
than purchased and inconsiderate puffery.


We refer to this piece of personal history at
this time because we notice that some of our
contemporaries have admitted to their columns
an untruthful statement of q matter which
bears some slight resemblance to the incident
alluded to above, although on diminutive
scale. criticism recently appeared in
the HERALD of an adapted sensational
play produced at the Union Square Theatre
AS the play, translated by Mr.. Boucicault, was
advertised by the manager as an original
drama, it was criticised accordingly. and the
false pretence of the Cheap John Snowman was
exposed The author very properly disclaimed
the credit Of originality, but the criticism was
distasteful to the managing Crummles and to
some of his performers. In accordance with
our rule to allow fair play and full hearing to
all sides, we published letters from Mr.. Bou-
4 cicault from the manager and from cor
respondents, some controverting and others
endorsing the opinions Of our critic We even
interviewed the strategic dramatist and
allowed him the benefit of expressing his own
views Of his general talents and of this partic-
ular drama through our columns. 1t is imma-
terial to the subject whether the friendly or
| unfriendly criticisms we're the more just As
a rule, adverse criticism does not sting unless
| it is felt to be deserved A Wallack, DAILY
or Booth would not be silly enough
to attempt an interference with the criticisms
OF public journal, however severe they might
be, or indiscreet enough to undertake to prove
that his ''stage gentleman" was not Of the bar
room lounger character by assuming the part
of o cowardly ruf1an in the public streets. 1t
! is enough that We gave both sides fair hear
/
out of the original notice of the play was remu-
nerative to the proprietor of the establish
ment and could not have occasioned any new
deficiency in its internal revenue department.


The manager of the theatre, however, thought
proper to write an impertinent letter, inso-
lently claiming censorship over our editorial
opinions, and menacing the HERALD with the
discontinuance of the advertising and bill
printing Of the house if our criticism were
not more favorable; in other words, unless we
would consent to puff his theatre and per-
formances instead Of criticising them. Our
reply was such as any Independent journal
would have made. We Immediately ordered
all advertisements OF the Union Square Theatre
to be excluded from the HERALD and the bill
printing Of the house to be discontinued forth
with in our job Office.


The matter would be too insignificant to
require notice so far as this theatre is con-
cerned; but rather than permit any meddling
Snowman to interfere with our criticisms in
any manner we would omit from our journal
all dramatic advertisements, printing only
such notices as we might choose to print as
matter of news or of public convenience. These
are the facts in the case The silly statement
Of the manager that the HERALD refused the
advertisements of his theatre because they
were not of sufficient length ought not to
need contradiction. 1t is natural enough that
such an absurd story should be seized upon
with avidity by those envious journals to
which the HERALD is nightmare disturbing
their rest and diverting their attention from
the proper management Of their own busi-
ness; but no fair and intelligent contempo-
rary ought to have been misled by it. Indeed,
we should have but an Indifferent opinion of
American journalism if we did not feel con-