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ad. Saturday," " two column ad. tomorrow ," or " 150 lines next week .” 128

These are indeed the “ secrets of the critics ' prison

house.”

Dramatic criticism has been hampered not only by theater managers and by advertisers, but also by the social conditions surrounding critics. Leigh Hunt says that " it was the custom at that time (1805] for editors of papers to be intimate with

actors and dramatists. They were often proprietors, as well as editors, - and, in that case, it was not expected that they should escape the usual intercourse, or wish to do so. It was thought a

feather in the cap of all parties ; and with their feathers they tickled one another. The newspaper man had consequence in

a green- room, and plenty of tickets for his friends; and he dined

at amusing tables. The dramatist secured a good-natured critique in his journal, sometimes got it written himself, or according to Mr. Reynolds, was even himself the author of it. . . . What the public took for a criticism on a play was a draft upon the box -office, or reminiscences of last Thursday's salmon and lobster- sauce." 129

Catling relates that E. P. Hingston, a theater manager of about 1840, during the intervals of a play, mingled freely with the audience, " and several of us enjoyed his hospitality. Suddenly a voice cried, 'Ah , Hingston , at your old game, trying to nobble

the Press !' 'Yes,' replied themanager ,‘and I've squared three of them for tenpence." ” “ It is absurd to suppose ,” he goes on to say, " that such an incident had any effect on what was written ,

but the free-and-easy method did much to lighten labour and make the evening pass pleasantly .” 130 But A. W. à Beckett writes with emphasis still later that “ the great difficulty with which a professional 'first nighter' 128 “ Corrupted Dramatic Critics," Dial, January 3, 1918 , 64: 13 -15 . An important editorial in the Outlook condemned a prominent New York

daily for dismissing its eminent dramatic critic at the instigation of its theater advertisers. — “ The Newspaper and the Theater, " September 4, 1909 , 93 :

12– 13 . — The Independent discussed the report that three prominent dramatic critics had been retired from three New York papers at the instigation of the theatrical syndicate. — “ The Dramatic Critic and the Trust ," September 30 ,

1909, 67 : 770–771. “ A Theatrical Press Agent's Confession and Apology " may be found in The Independent, July 27, 1909, 59: 191-196. 129 Autobiography, I, 181– 182. 130 My Life's Pilgrimage ,