National Republican (Washington City

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

A NOVEL SCHEME.

To the Editor.

In a letter in the Sunday Herald of yesterday relative to the new Casino Mr. J. H. Siddons unfolds a remarkable scheme. His idea is to send a man to England and from the three or four hundred actors and actresses in his native isle who are unable to obtain an engagement there, and are advertised "to let," form a troupe, bring them here, and install them as the stock company of the Washington Casino, and by this means allow the public at the national capital, who have hitherto been deluded by the miserable attempts of American actors, to see some acting "as is acting." This is an admirable proposition, but it doesn't go far enough. By all means let us have English actors, but let us also have an English orchestra, English stage hands, English ticket-takers, English ushers, and English "supers." Then let us float the British flag over the Casino, and let English music be played between the acts, concluding with "God Save the Queen." Then we will have reached the summit of dramatic excellence, the millennium of histrionic art. Mr. Siddons does not propose to select these artists at random; his idea is to choose only those who have been favorably received at the bar of English public opinion. The American judgment of the abilities of an actor does not always coincide with the British view, but we can remedy this by educating ourselves up to the English standard. There is something wrong somewhere, however, because, while Miss Mary Anderson has made an unqualified success in England, Mr. Henry Irving encountered, to say the least, a large share of adverse criticism on this side of the water.

Speaking of adverse criticism suggests a slight digression. Our English neighbors are frequently exceedingly candid in their methods of criticism, and often express their disapprobation by hissing—a thing almost unknown in this country, or at least reserved for occasions where an actor or actress oversteps the bounds of decency or propriety. It was only a few months since our little Lotta was hissed off a London stage for the terrible offense of singing the "Sweet By and By" in "Musette." Amidst the storm of hisses the poor little woman advanced to the footlights, and, with tears in her eyes, falteringly said: "Gentlemen, I do not understand this." No, nor can any one in America except as an instance of course brutality. I do not mean to say that such exhibitions are common in England, but I do say such a thing could not occur in this country.

Mr. Siddons states that with the exception of Messrs. Hay and Jefferson, no amateur of this city has attained during the past eight years "even a decent mediocrity." While his commendation of these gentlemen is well deserved, it is certain that there are a half dozen or more who were Washington amateurs less than eight years ago who now hold reputable places upon the professional stage. Their names are familiar to us all. It is not reasonable to suppose that they could have attained their present positions if their standard was below "a decent mediocrity."

MAY 25, 1884.

EDWARD M. TABER.