Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-07-13

Gated IN The worst manner OF Knewes's dramas The
Outline - vigorously skeched and the parts arebold-
y developed; but they arc i'll put together. The
warm glow of hcahful imagination, however, per-
vades the whse and if cannot hide, at least it
comedies to the bIemishes. In the leading points
of dramatic power, development of character, pro-
gresson of incident and uncertainty as to the result
this play is remarkably deficient. The personages
want individuality, The action is irregular and often
suspended, the plot is based ground work Of i'm
probability and both the mystery and its ISOLATION are
evident from the first Yet in spite of these capital
defects striking and effective the situations, SO
powerful is the interest of each scene, that reason
yields 10 tie sway OF emotion and you become will
fully blind to the starting inconsstenc of cir
cumstance. "wemans WITT was never less inge-
niously or effectively exerted indeed were "Lovcs
| DISCUSSES" ever more transparent Two very inro-
girls rejected by their lovers through the arts of
the same villain, assume DISCUSSES to right their
| wrongs. Hero, the heroine Of the main plot, mas
querades in Quaker gulse to punish and reclaim her
swain Sir Valentine de Grey, who had taken um-
bragg at her enjoying waltz too freely; while Helen
subordinate character, having been cast off by her
adorer, Waslngham dons male attire to revenge her.
self on the contrNer of the plot by which her honor
was seemingly compromised Sir Valentine is much
mysllied by the likeness of the pretty Quaker to his
gay and imperous mistress, and Is made to look RI
dculous by adopting the Quaker garb and the prefix
ofPeter TO please his tormentor; but he is taught no
lesson, does the lady vindicate herself by this
scheme So with Helen, or Eustace for such is her
masculine name: her years lessons in fencing are
thrown away, for the duel is prevented after all and
except that she finds her quandam lover fellow pu-
pill IN Monsieur De rEpee's fencing school, ard
makes friend of hR,, nothing results from this
Then, as tito go the round Of futile purposes the Iago
Of the play, Lord Athunree is douby oiled in his in
ention of carrying off Hero by his own clumsiness,
(stage poters are so careless) and the remorse of
bis agent--one of those sofhearted rascals that
Knowles is SO fond Of The arch traitor goes off scot
Free bidding defiance to all; the chivalrous Walsng-
ham does not so much as challenge him. The Judi
cia blindness that prevents lovers from recognizing
each other during long intimacy, in virtue of
change in the fashion Of a suit Of Clothes until it
suits the authors convenience to open their eyes, is
carried beyond stage license il takes away what lit
tie interest would be excited by the narrative Of Wal
singham and Eustace of their respective sufferngs
and makes the pair of dsconsolate turtles rather tire
some. This is the weakest passage of sentiment in
the play; it borders on the efeminate for Though
CARDS him as man.
Upon this part OF the piece a London paper re-
marks
"The powerful and impressive force and ten
deiness of Macready however, and The feeling evnc-
ed by Miss Taylor, threw an air of grace and beauty
over the scenes between them, that supported by the
delicate pathos OF the sentiment made hem really af-
feciing. The scene OF the duel, where Walsngham-
having by stratagam dIsarmed Eustace for the pur-
v<2- lsuL. ala - IL. n
is in turn deprived Of his weapon by counter ma
nguvre-is kept al bay by his adversary's second,
caused people TO rise from their with excitement
as the actual incident had occurred"
The assumption Of the Quaker character by Hero
10 a poiu anu nvvUi ~~Pcriur., and ud..;r-Iy
The Friends need take offence; for the nuthor
has done such justice the essential articles of their
creed that we admire their simplicity and earnest
ness and laugh only at the buresque exaggeraton OF
their peeuari,ies Of manner.
The very best acting plays do not abound with quo-
table passages; such being the surplusage of poe.
fancy, that does not always enrich ft adorns the
dialogue. From these excrescences this drama is not
free; but instead Of extracting any of them, we will
take deep and true thought or two, expires sed with
the terseness and raciness OF Knowless best writings
they seem 10 come direct rom the heart-are feenps
in fact clothed in simple imagery-though with an
afleciauon OF quahness in phrase proper to no age
but like the coaks aad caps of the actors serving for
any, where precise and locality form no essen
al feature of the drama Hero, having first tried the
success OF her Quaker disguise on her uncle, Sir Will
liam Sut,on explains the purpose, and asks his CO.
operation. What an arch ioyousness, sharpened by
the of injury and the anticipation of redress il
| shown in this passage!
Sra WILLIAM. Why. how hath this befsli-n,
To ease him. No, sirl He is connosseur "'e
Ia as1 ing lab n-tion Of bis
OF . stop! Iacsrriage, attuoe, has taste,
paisty a. palate OF an epieute,
When, yos ht not tos hair disgust
Dab take the pi sce He u sici of me!
ply feet the trolic measure may indulge
sut no ny hearl--n.nr eyeny chick my lip.
Mgst not be coguizant of what do
As wo,d aid marble could he brought N darce,
And iook iikc wood aud matb.e. shall teach him
Another style. Com. have found you out;
Will you Bound for your sediti n,
And h~ip me Come nov say you, little trai,ress,
tmiLy. Content
HERs And you, most reverend re,eliopf
WILLIAM. Command n
HEao Can do in i~ason huh~t z. asoof There
Are My kisds III re1.uut Tn fools reosop.
ARd a wise mans reason, nnd knave's reason and
An hones mans reason. aud an inf nts reason,
And rea on II grandfather bu, th.res
reason love them al
Cen stand nae nov IT, sfead-s wo,pan's reasonl
Nih thou be subjest unto me In THAR
Sta VALENTINE. She never gave
Her heart 10 me.
hEto she did you know when
woman gives away her tear a. times
She know / herself iasens bly,
II vscs from her! She thinks she hath u still
N she q fscs-whils sm0o My the
ofwooing hut ifh'ply comrss CHECK