Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-08-10
From our Evening Edition ofyesterday.l
NOctes Dramatlcae.

iy with his hands crossed behind him, that the ac-
tor can lay any claims to genius Genius is creative
power and the character is already created to the per-
formers hands by the poet"
"Treason treason" cried Charles who had been
conversing with Miss Brereton on the probability of
bringing ballooning to perfection-"t that is rank
treason 1t evidence of the highest genius TO be able
to give habtation to language Such is the actors
art"
81 can't agree with you, Charles" calmly replied
Major Brereton, still walking backwards and forwards
in the room. THE poet and the actor hold the same
relation TO each other that the maker does to
the common soldier who wears his coat of mail. Ge-
MUS directs the fabrication of the suit of armor but
genas is not necessary to the wearing of it. Now do
you understand me- Chares?'
Perfectly, Major Brereton but your smile is a
bad one. 1t is not in keeping with the SUBJECT"
No more than horses head would be upon the
body of man." exclaimed my uncle, sitting in a
rocking chair the window that looked out upon
the moonllt lake beyond the slopng lawn at the west
end OF the house. 1t was about O'Clock spring
nights eve in April, 1873, that this conversation thus
began. We were all assembled at my uncle's coun-
try residence near l., Louisiana. The moon was
just up In the east and slight breeze brushed across
the bosom of Lake Pontchartran. distant and
single sail showed like white kerchef on the hor-
zon. 1 sat near my uncle gazing upon the scene be-
fore me with far other feelings than those which
warm discussion on dramatic literature might excite.
The odd comparison of my unce's made me laugh.
"You seem to differ about the meaning of the
word genius" said Miss Brereton If you agree TO
disagree, you are both right"
,"Genus is a creative power" said the major
"Genus is nothing more than a synonyme for
mind. 1t is mental power and is the same IN all men,"
exclaimed Charles.
Decidedly" affirmed my uncle.
."How can you expect them TO come to the same
conclusion by ways SO different asked Mary Brere-
ton.
"Can we never get together but the old subject of
dramatic literature and representations must everlast
ingly be thrummed upon ?" lpeevishly demanded,
Tor was enjoying the before me, and the loud
talking of my uncle diverted my attention.
"And why not, Mr.. Heahcote?' quickly inquired
Miss Mary of me.
"BecauseI hate it" said l.
"Your doctrine is SO heterodox," said Major Brere-
ton to Charles that shall have to give you over TO
the keepingof the Jesuiis."
Fee them WE'LL" exclaimed Philip in dark cor
ner of the room, stretched full length upon sofa
with quilted cushions, "and they will sustain your
opinion"
"Philp is a perfect Jansenist" laughingly said
Miss Mary, she believes that man may be corrupted
by the Influence of money"
al am ready TO defend my doctrine" observed
Charles, "before Jesuit Jansenist No one shall
persuade me that geniusis not mind"
"Then how do you account for the great differ
ence" asked Philip, observable in the genius Of most
men?"
mr.. III
the WILL !" said my uncle promptly.
"But what has all this to do with the question be-
foreusl We wish to know whether actors possess
genius not" said |, rather harshly-for do hate
dwelling on a subject.
"Aptly asked" said my fair cousin Mary-"give
us an example father and you too, Charles sustain
your opinion by some facts, if you can"
"Bravo! bravop cried Phip-"I shall vote for
Mrs Brereton as moderator Of these Noctes Drama
tca, since it has been determined they shall go on.
Mr.. Heatheote, our royal SCRIBE" pointing to me
twill do ample justice to the fair moderators deci-
sion"
"You are very ofIicious indeed, Philip-who asked
you for your opinion, srr pettishly exclaimed my
pretty cousin, and she laughed. She has dark eyes
and slightly aqullins nose. Her whole face laughs.
"You remember the other night when we were in
sic cdsys sniu CndllcS-"W we saw MISS bdfnes play
Christine, the youthful queen Of Sweden. Can you
say that this talented young lady did not display
powerful instance Of the exercise Of genius in the re-
presentation of this Part2"
al do say So" perinaciously replied Major Brere-
ton-"The author formed thepart, and all she had to
do was 10 wear it."
ooh shame, fatherl" exclaimed Mary Brereton,
who girl Of nice sensbilities and high sense of
discrimination-"I have seen Mrs. Shaw play the
same part-nay have seen Miss Russell do it-but
the genius not present. These two artists did
wear the character, but il wanted meaning, life and
spirit in their hands. You never saw single CLEAN
of light bursting across the canvass while they filled
the part How different was il when Miss Barnes
assumed itl'
You are decidedly right, Mary" said her uncle
"a painter could have drawn thehalf spoiled Queen
of Sweden from Miss Barnes representation, while
with either Mrs. Shaw or Miss Russell in il, his
painting would have been mere "fancys sketch"
dead and inanimate."
"There were good things in the part, as done by
Miss Barnes, but contend she did not create these
points," earnestly added the Major"
"But do contend she did create them, for with the
same verbs, other arustcs produced no effect upon
my mind" said Charles, now warmed up with the