... Sir,--I have read with a great deal of interest the editorials and the letters of vour correspondents on the lack of interest and the decrease in attendance of the provincial publio. The beginner, the touring manager, and the local manager have all receivtd their share of blame. May I point to another probable cause--the actor? Disengaged for the first time in two years, 1 had the unusual ...

... . IR May I, through the medium of your columns, make an appeal on l>elialf of an old actor, James Cumberland? The modern school, probably, does not know him, but surely he has numbers of acquaint ances still living who do. He is in most distressing circumstances. He has had thirty-five years on tho stage, and has played with most of the best people of his day. His wife has been a helpless ...

... . Silt, The death of the above talented actress reminds me of my first theatrical speculation in 1857 at the old Theatre Royal, Bradford, when the late Miss Johnstone was an important member of the company. It was about the first, and ono of the best, companies organised in London for touring the provinces, and was known ns the Allied Metropolitan Dramatic Company, and in cluded among its ...

... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. THE TOURING QUESTION. SIR,--Killing the goose which lays tha golden egg has always beon an enterprise in which mankind has shown remarkable ingenuity. When one looks round at the vast amalgamations of theatres, run by syndicates of business men, one cannot but be forcibly reminded of the truth of tlys assertion. From what other causes have these amalgamations sprung ...

... SIR,--Your laudable efforts to form a Touring Managers' Association will, I hope, be crowned with success, a, though I write in no spirit of antagonism to resident managers of theatres, from whom, as a whole, I meet with fair and in many instances generous treatment, yet there aro many theatres which are carried on in a manner which only requires a few words from your powerful and ...

... Sir, In the last issue of your naper an advertibement appears upon page 19 regard ing the production of a new play with the above title. May I remind you of the drama written by R. Macdonald and my self, produced on September 14, U96, at the Prince of Wales's, Birmingham, en titled The Elei'rtith Hour? It was toured for twelve months by Mr. Macdonald and myself. I have written to Mr. Castleton ...

... . Sib, Will you please allow us, the un dersigned, a little spaca in which to protest against the point of view from which pome of the leading critics of the London Press have regarded our appearance in -4 Trip to Midgettownl During the seventeen years in which our company has been in existence we have always welcomed criti cism and profited by it; but then we have always been criticised as ...

... . Sir, My name is being dragged in by several of vour correspondents. The only reason I did not reply to Mr. Mason's letter is that, as he askec! me for my personal ex periences, I thought they might not bo of sufficient general interest for you to pub lish them. To me it seems a very simple matter to get on the stage in a way that hurtJ no one. quote my own experience. I gave my services for ...

... Sir, With reference to the notice which appeared in your last issue of The Perils of Life produced hero last Monday, may I re quest you in simple faimcus to every one concerned to contradict tho in correct statement therein contained, that the curtain was rung down before the terminal on of the play. The piece was acted in its entirety as announced, and bo far from Mr. McQuire's engagement ...

... . PLAYS TO ORDER. Sir, Referring to your admirable article on this subject in your current issue, I quite support Mr. De Wolf Hop per's view that Shakespeare to a great ex tent wrote his plays with a view to fitting certain actors with parts specially adaoted to their peculiarities. Hamlet having been qioted in the course of the leader, I will furnish the proof of my argument from that play. ...

... THE TOURING QUESTION. SIR,--While fully agreeing with your correspondents and the leader as to the necessity of some organised and business like combination of touring managers, I cannot but think a great deal in the way of improving the present position rests in the hands of the travelling managers themselves, especially as regards terms. Now because a local manager offers terms which, on ...