Life — December 1, 1892 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“THE legitimate drama in New York during the week past has been a good deal like the snakes in Ireland. Outside of “Aristocracy.” the comedy at Daly's, and Mrs. Beere’s “Ariane” at the Manhattan Opera House, there has been nothing legitimate that could justly be accused of nov- elty. Both Proctor’s and the Broadway have gone over to the equine drama, and Niblo’s to the Wild West. The Garden is monopolized by the perpetual and deserved suc- cess of “ The Bostonians.” At the Union Square the same is true of “The Liliputians.” It took the American public some time to appreciate the unique excellence of this remark- able aggregation, but they are now doing a splendid business and may keep on forever. This is the height of the dramatic season, and the present state of affairs does not afford a pleasing outlook to those who prefer to see on the stage something more substantial than the frothy entertainments which are to-day the best supported by the public. And it would seem that the end is not here. The variety shows, notably the Imperial Music Hall, which encroaches further on the territory of the legitimate theatres than any other, are doing a good and constantly increasing business. As soon as there is any modification of the law which makes it necessary to have a political “ pull’ to run a music hall, we may expect to see this business extended until it assumes the magnitude it enjoys in London. This result need not necessarily be a lamentable one, for it will relieve the legitimate stage from the financial drain of the so-called “ farce-comedy.” There is no special moral to be drawn from the present situation. Good plays are scarce, and the public prefers to be amused by froth rather than be bored by mediocrity. When the American drama- tist becomes more numerous, our theatres will be able to compete successfully with the variety show, but meanwhile we will have to be content with the occasional work of two or three Americans, and the doubtful successes of London and Paris. Metcalfe. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY. “yar are your hopes for the future?” asked the solemn man. “T have none just now,” replied the youth. “ To- morrow is my best girl’s birthday, and I'm worry- ing about the present.”” QUESTION of the day.—Whether last win- ter’s clothes will last until a Democratic Congress has time to regulate the tariff on woolens, comicbooks.com