Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-22
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
"DREAMs AND REvERIEs OF A QUIET
MAN"

"DREAMS AND REVERIES OF A QUIET
MAN"
The Harpers, Of New York, have just publish
ed two volumes with the above title. They are
dedicated to George p. Morris, Esq one Of the
editors Of the New York Mirror, and are from
the pen Of Theodore Fay, Esq, another editor Of
the same excellent and spirited journal. Mr..
Fay is probably one Of the happiest writer's Of
our country. He is the author Of the Hypocon-
driac, prize tale Of great merit, published some
years since-also of the series Of papers, sketch
es, essays, &c. which for the last two or three
Mus" been the very life and soul of the Mirror.
These sketches, with others, have been collected
together, and constitute the contents of the two
volumes before US. They cannot be read but
quentIy equal TO Irving's-graceful- rch--how-
ing and natural-and many of the sketches con.
tain happy moral, merit that should always
be commended and noted.
We copied into our columns yesterday an ar
ticle entitled, &c Snorers Steamboat Tray elling. +"
an excellent affair, the production of Mr.. Fay
Those who read the article TO which we refer,
will desire no better recomme ndation of the work
before Us, and those who have not, may perrse
the following, which we take from its pages at
random. as a fair specimen of the tact and tall
ents of one we consider among the most promis-
ing of American writers:-
DRAMATIC lMPROBABILITlEs.
happened sometime ago, 10 attend thcatri.
cal representation, by a company ot i,inerant
performers, who had been quite importunate in
their demands upon the patronage Of the public.
The play advertised in the bills being Richard the
Third, the gentleman who personated the Duke
of Gloster delivered his opening speech,
". Now is the winter of our discomfort,
Made glorious summer by the son of New York I"
A voice from the audience interrupted him,
pointing out the error. The Duke came forward.
with low bow, and explained. He was ..per.
fectly aware" he said, "that nv Shakespeare,
| the line was written,
! Made glorious summer by the son Of York.
but he added. " when he played it here, he al
ways said Nsv York, to compliment the coun.
try"
HIS odd ideas Of civihty occasioned gener.
al smile, which the deformed usurper took in We
~ i'll part; but could not help thinking he was
not more ludicrous than many Of his brethren
further advanced in the profession. The incl
dent insensibly led my mind on to recollection
of the innumerable little Inconsistencies and i'm
possibilities which have seen pass on the stage,
without exciting any attention in the audience,
who. from long habit, suppose. have become ia,
| miiarized with their occurrence. and thus com.
! pleteiv overlook their folly. This strikes me
more frrcby from the circumstance that | am
not frcqucnter of the theatres, and look upon
the violations of common sense, (as well az of
decency, which have occasionally remarked
| there "a complete novelties.
| The other night, IN spri, stirring opera, one
young man was stabbed to the heart in the early
| part OF the evening, under aggravated circum.
stances, while performing his duty. AS was
pitylng his sad calamity, and entering, (as my
custom ISL into several opposite and sentimental
reflections the subject, was rather puzzled by
the sight of the dead man IN new un'torn',
marching in high spirits al the head OF the enc
my's arm, "Why, the cunning rascal"
thought to myself, ''he only teigned to die,
and has deserted for a commission! This Is the
way Of the world"
! [ cannot say pitied him IN the least when he
received the contents of al least dozen mus.
| kets in his bosom, beside more wOu nds that Ce-
sar, from the dagggers Of The enemy; for thought
il 10 more than his treachery merited; but must
say, that was greatly astouished in the next
scene to behold my friend officiating at banquet
and very eftctually, too. considering he had
been twice murdered in the last hour. lie was
killed again toward the end Of the piece; but
saw his face afterward through hole in one Of
the columns, giving a brother actor the cue. l
think they called him DTey, clever little fell
low, highly appreciated as a prompter.
| do not know any thing more amusing than to
see a regular stage hero or heroine read or write
letter. When they open one. purporting to
contain long story, they peruse the whole
three pages at half glance. gaining by intu ition
a ledge Of all the details before any other
human being could get further than ''dear sir. y
Nothing can exceed their rapidity in reading ex'
cept their despatch in answering it. Such peo'