Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 35, 16 October 1888, Page 3

Correspondence

£c are not responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.]

UNFAIR CRITICISM,

TO THE EDITOR OF THH STAn

Sir,— What could have been the matter with the correspondent of the Marton paper when he sat down to concoct the following lovely little " par" anent the Minstrel entertainment: —

41 A minstrel entertainment was given in the Foresters' Hall, Feilding, on Thursday evening, by some Peilding and Taonui amateurs, in aid of the Feilding Library. There was a very good attendance, and tbo not result was a sum of aboit £7, which will no doubt be very acceptable to the Library Committee. Although the individuals deserve the thauks of the Library Committee, we cannot say mv- h in praise of the performance generally. The jokes, songs, and farce were all stale and hackneyed, and some of the songs were very flat. A few more rehearsals would have made the entertainment more enjoyable to the audience."

Did'nt the secretary send him a •' comp. ?" IE not it serves the troupe right to " get it," but surely not to such a sweeping and wholesale extent aa tue said paragrapher has given it ua. Everything was bad, and bad altogether — not one redeeming feature in the programme. Eh ? Surely this is "Black Justice" with a vengeance. We are very neatly referred to as **some amateurs"; but I would suggest that for the very reason that we were nothing raore, and were giving our services " free gratis" for a benevolent object, the rule in such cases should have been observed of exempting us from hostile criticism in a newspaper, especially to such a totally unqualified extent. Then, again, why ■are we snubbingly described as "individuals ?" If it was so essential to adhere to abstract facts, why not have said "animals?" Surely the lowest •degree of common courtesy would have some other epithet than that used by our excellent friend. While admitting a few faults, which might have been obviated by proper rehearsals, it should be remembered that there was no available place or convenience for these. The whole affair was got up and gone through under difficulties, and thanks are due to the kind friends who lent the various materials for improvising a stage, &c. Our adverse critic acknowledges that some amount of gratitude is due to us; but to write as he does about our efforts - in other words, to pat us on the back for doing something, and kick our shins severely for not doing it to his mmd — is indeed poor thanks, and scarcely the way to encourage " individuals," or even gentlemen, to work for a good cause. Anyhow, Mr Editor, whatever motives may have prompted the author of the said " par," the attendance at the show, and its financial results, to say nothing of the evident pleasure of the audience, are plain proof of what can be done without advertising in any but our local paper. — I am, &c, Minstrel.