It is curious how critics will differ. Here is a case in point. The other night, at the CENTRAL PARK GARDEN, I sat near a table surrounded by five well-known musical critics. THEODORE THOMAS had just led his orchestra through the devious ways of the Tannhauser overture, and I naturally listened to hear the opinions which the critical five might express. This is what they really did say.
FIRST CRITIC. "Thank heavens, the music is over for a few minutes. Now, boys, we'll have some more beer."
SECOND CRITIC. "Not any for me, thank you. I'll have a Jamaica sour."
THIRD CRITIC. "Bring me a claret punch."
FOURTH CRITIC. "Whiskey cocktail"
FIFTH CRITIC. "Well! I'll stick to beer. It's the best thing in this weather."
What ought a man to think of the Tannhauser, after hearing these five contradictory opinions? For my own part I rather thought the cigars were a trifle too strong.
And there is just the same difference of opinion about THEODORE THOMAS'S merits as a conductor. On this occasion there were two aged and indigent musicians in the audience, who knew more about orchestral music than even the present President of the Philharmonic Society, and to each of them did I propound the question, "Is THOMAS a good conductor?"
FIRST AGED PERSON. "My dear sir, he doesn't conduct at all. His orchestra pays no attention to him, and plays in spite of the absurd and meaningless passes which he makes with his baton."
SECOND A. P. "My dear sir, he is the best conductor of the day. He has made his orchestra the best in the country,--in fact, the only one. No man has done more for our musical public than has THEODORE THOMAS."