Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-16

younger past OF the multitude, togetheS WIN
The English emigrants who had taken q con
spicous part Of the Theatre. were ffm sad-
undauntedly in favor of Conway.
Rosalind, H~a!oran, and Miss Hardy. during
all the confusion of the evening, had watched
The wings of the stage, with extreme anxiety,
to witness the entrance Of Miss Johnson, ness
Mrs. Hilson, who was TO enact tAs part Of
Bely;dera, and to them, as their c~uriosiy wfs
on tip toe, the Introductory part Of the play,
was dull and almost in,olerable.
The dialogue. between Cooper and Conway.
or rather between Pierre and Jafier, was al.
ready concluded. and the son tones Of Miss
Johnson's voice were heard, ere she entered
as she repeated the following lines, and rush
cd TO the arms of her long absent JaHier:
"Lerd me, lead me, my virgins,
To that kind voice. My losd, my love, my Trfase!
Happy my eyes, when they lei:oid Thy face!
Ny heavy iean win leave its dolcfui leNing
At sight office, and bound with s~lEishiIy jays.
Oh smile. as when our loves were in their srri
And cheer my fain,ing SOUL"
The disordered, and afflicted Janier, clasped
in his arms the despairing fair one. and thus
responded to her language, amid the deep and
profound attention Of the million.
"As when orr loves,
Were in their spring. has then our fortune ~chansed.
An thou not, ~Delv!dorl, sin the sane,
Kind, gOdand tender, rs my arms flsi fund ilS!
Ifthou mt arcfcd, where shall Have harbour
Wheie ease my loaded hent, Oh! where complaint
As tho celebra ted actor pronounced tho
words OF the last line, lie seemed 10 struggle
with himself, and TO express what he foi:, rath-
cr than the deep toned language, and fancied
feelings of his author. II Was remarked by
many Of the auditors, in q half smoothed whis-
per. that the performer impaired bis own feel
inss rather than those which Otway had express
sed, and many an eye was wet, on behold.
ing a scene so pathetic and almost painful.
Nor WAS the Interesting Miss Johnson, des..
titutc Of feeling; she was Belvidcra herself.
and never shall wc forge, the manner in which
she responded to the half complaining IAN
guage Of Jafier. Lingering on his arm. and cas-
ting her w~i,cl,iug eye towards his. she tLua adj
dressed him:
"Does this opeafi.ke cbarre, or ,ove denying,
Wien thus throw my stlfinio thy t.SoIn,
Wiih al. The Resolutions ofstrons truth!
Eoa:s not nyheat, as 'twotld alarm thine,
Toa new change oftlss? Toy more Ia thec
Than did thy inoiher, when s~hchussed se dsss
And blessed The Gods. 70. all lcr tayel pas,.''
The delivery Of the speech, as Miss johnson
delivered it, could not fail to produce tho
most happy effect, and the admiring multitude
bestowed upon her, the warmcst, and most de-
cided testimonials ofthcir applause, and graft
! ~fcation.
But it was when Jaf;sr, was allowed 10 re.
ply 10 his dcspondipg fair one, that the house.
rung with the thunderings of deafcning ap-
r!ause. Looking upon the ~cfirighted Belvi.
dera, Whilst a playful end joyous smile, fur
once. beamed upon his eountenancc, he ie-
cited the following Ines, which have 10 rara-
LEI (or strcrg'h aid beauty IN the whole rapee
OF the modern drama: g..
Can here in woman be such glorious fifth!
Sure all the so.ics ofthy sex arc fLso.
Oh woSAN! LOVELY wo.iAS! Na,aro mldctliee
To temper h:ai. We lad been brltes wi;lnai ya.!
Angels ae plinted fart look ike you;
fberc is in YOU al that we believe in Heaven .
Amazing bar''acss, lar.,y ,ui ,ni;h,
lie!u1l loy and everlasting love"
The ed:nigatiou Of The ladies, and the paf-
liant feelings Of the gentlemen were awakened
to their utncs; extent by the readings Of the
actor; and Wills, Rosalind wipcdhcr soft blue
eye, Mania Hardy looked on with silence, and
Wa as unDoyed ash che had tcen Ito fahh,
statue OF Heroina, tie matron Of Damascus.
Never did Beiyidora find a happier, or a
lnore correct representation than she found in
Mss Johnson, a lady Of whom-iiough she
have assumed Tic suise Of the mistress of u
sublinary lord and mas,cr;-or 10 be less OBJ
seure. though she be the welded wife, Of that
laughtcr-loving genius, honest Tom Hilson,
tho celebrated low conelian-wc must be per-
nlitted to speak IN terms Of enromilm aad JUST
admiration.
To Ike elcgancics Of u graceful and well
turned person. she adds the higher ornaments
Of the mind, and the witchery Of a finished ed
uca,ion. The stage was not originally her
choice, but having been thrown on the shores
Of America, by adgentitious circumstances, and
soon after deprived Of the best of fathers s..s
was compelled TO assume the life Of an actress;
and by dint Of her cxeriions, and the operation
Of flial duty and attachment. sue supported Tor
Il number Of years, an INDECENT mother, a BROTH
or and sister, aud at the same time, susfaincI
the rcn,aatio, Of an ac.ananfSlsd act,.v. 49,