THE CRITIC

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 4, 9 October 1880, Page 29

THE CRITIC

A long course of servile, venal, and indiscriminate puffery has, it has to be feared, had the effect of reducing the by no means overpoweringly great mind of William Horace Lingard to a state not far removed from chaos. No hypothesis but this would, in my humble opinion, account for that funny little man's extraordinary behaviour at the "Luminary" office last week. I was not, of course, there when the rumpus occurred, but, strolling over later in the day to see " 'Enery " on a matter of business, I was immediately regaled with the whole story. Here it is : On Wednesday week the elder Geddes (J. M. of that ilk) was told off to do the theatre. The performance happened to he very poor indeed, and unquestionably deserved a "severe slating." The "Luminary," however, does not go in for slating. There are, in point of fact, only three sorts of "Luminary" notices, i.e., the mildly complimentary, the "buttery,"andthe "extremely greasy. " Geddes chose the first-named method, and, with the exception of Mr. Craig, damned the company all roxmd with faint praise. Amongst other things, he noticed that Mrs. Lingard took her breath in the wrong places, and that the tenor's voice was well under control. These unfortunate remarks appears to have driven short-tempered Horry Lingard into a state bordering on frenzy. First of all he, in a most unnecessary manner insulted, and Craig made uncomplimentary remarks about the other members of his company, whom the "Luminary" praised, and then he told

Luscombe Searell to prevent the sinning reporter's re-admittance. Now, Searell, if he had had the gumption which I always credited him with, would have held his tongue and done nothing till Lingard's passion abated. Instead of this, he very foolishly gave the order forthwith ; and when Geddes turned up later on, the sportive and seductive-looking Isaacs said he couldn't enter. Taking the remark as. a practical joke, the reporter at first paid no attention to it, but, on realising the reality of the outrage, he, with some celerity, "made tracks. " Next morning Lingard turned up at the " Luminary" office to justify his conduct, and a jolly mess he seems to have made of it. " 'Enery " was in the room, sitting calm and placid at one side of the table, and the editor was at the other Between them, friendly. and apologetic, squatted Mr. R. J. Delias. Asked what the fuss was all about, Lingard commenced to rave. What did the "Luminary mean by sending a blackguard to the theatre to review " Pinafore !" Mrs. Lingard was the best actress in the world ; everybody knew that. She hadn't a catch, in the throat — she was merely overtired. The men the "Luminary" praised couldn't sing a note scarcely. They had really no business to be in an opera company at all. Not that he cared what a rag like the " Luminary" said. " 'Enery " ought to send decent people to the theatre. He should remember what weight newspaper criticism carried, etc. , etc.