The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-31

"the Peopie" THE Actor-The Living and
the Dead-A popular Preacher, md the
Enemy OF Souls.
IL was the evening of pleasant autumnal day
The air was cool ana bracing, and the noses Of
the numerous pedestrians who hurried along
broadway were tipped with healthy red. AT the
crossings of the side streets pleasant gimpses were
10 be had OF the Hudson and the distant Jersey
hills, whose dark outline stood out in fine relief
against the western sky, which now glowed with
the blood.red lusre of the setting sun, and many
care-worn soul in that various, hurrying crowd
was thus momentarily cheated into happy forgetful
ness of the presence of the living sire am amid
which they moved. The clear, cold waters OF the
fountain in the Park danced merly as il in mocke,y
OF the neighbouring trees, whose summer sores all
withered and dead, s,rewed the pathway-the music
from the band at Barnum's Museum foated across
the Park, and, softened by the distance, fell
pleasantly enough upon the cara pale, blue
eyed girl, al one of the windows OF the ladies'
parlor at the As.or, sighed heavily as she looked
upward at young moon, and N. P. Willis, at the
same moment, stood at Lsary's window, and salts
fled himself as to the prevailing colors of vests and
cravats for the month to come-the ''night fires
blaze" Illuminated with its cheerful light the draw
ing-rooms of princely mansions in Waverley Place,
and the wretched denizens of the 'Five Points"
sailed forth on their nightly errands OF vice and
crme-an empty hearse, with drunken driver,
wen, RAPIDLY down the Bowery, meeting on its way
a gay bridal party-virtue and vice, penury and
wealth, despair and the pride of life, Lazarus and
Dives, famine and iulness, the living and The dying
all mingled their voices, and sent up that rushing,
solemn, and mysterious sound which is continually
ascending from the great cities OF the earth.
Near the City Hall rude platform was erected
''mass" meeting of ''lhe people, was to be held.
few rough rlanks, supported by empty barrels,
composed the unpretendng rostrum, the ascent to
which was by means of ricketty ladder. The
assemblage of the "sovereigns" was not very i'm
posing. According to the placards, the meeting
was to be composed of that respectable portion of
society who labor for their Bread but the majority
of those who were Ground the platform appeared to
belong to that other class, who, acting on the old
orthodox doctrine, that "the world owes them liv-
ing" disdain to purchase food and raiment by the
sweat of their brow. At the appointed hour about
dozen individuals scrambled on the platform, and the
proceedings commenced The chairman smokeda
cigar with great dignity, and the secretary, who
looked like a journeyman tailor out Of work, read
in husky voice the following resolutions
Whereas, The protection which legislation affords
different classes society has not been extended in fair
degree to the interests OF and other laboring
men. Therefore,
Resolved, That we are imperavely called upon to
take protect our rights and via.
dictate ourselves at and forever from the long stand
ing reproach that the mechanic is the mere instrument
and slave of his employer.
OF mechanical professions, recognise the only
by whi:h our great objects can be achieved and the
organise against the unjust and oppressive influences
which long have overborne US, and that will
desert the cause Of our fellow workmen, long
princi pie remains unvndcated wrong remains
redressed.
Resolved That we regard the "strke" that is now be.
ing made by some ofthe mechanical professions as one If
the hottest assertions of human right the graspng
averce the y ranny, the seshness Of made,
and that we will firmly support and maintaa it with ell
our heart and to the extent OF our ability.
These resolutions were Supported by gentleman
who spoke i'll vigorous strain for some minutes
but only few broken sentences were heard at
distance, interspersed with the running commentary
of the auditors-"G sntlemen-freedom- Citizen
image OF his Creator-defeEd our rights, &c. &C."
Two or three speeches Of the same character were
delivered, and after some cheering, the meeting
dispersed. It appeared to have been, from some
cause, a total failure Even those on The platform
seemed sensible Of this. and looked as shee pish
boys caught robbing an orchard
Let us change the scene 10 the Park Theatre -
Forrest was TO appear, and an emeats had been eX-
pected on account OF his alleged uacourteous t-eat.
ment of the widow of one of his bes, and earliest
friends. The treasurer and the door.keepers looked
little 6jgetty, but those fears had been almost
wholly dissipateo by authentic information that the
design of Kissing the actor had been Abandoned
Ten uuts hef he tho hon lao
ed thin. There were not twenty ladies present.
The pit and gallery were well filled. When the
curtain rose the boxes had filled up good deal ;
but it was not crowded house. All was as calm
as a summer morning. twas clear there was to be
no row. Captain Bob Tyler, with few friends,
occupied private box, and perhaps his political in
fuence had some eff act in preventing the riot. In
he next box were Mrs. Forrest, Mrs Leggett, and
one or two female riends-au interesting group
The play was Richeeu." The opening scene
went of tamey There was some impotence evil
IDENTIFY to sec the american tragedian." Atleugth
he made his appearance, and was greeted with ge
neral, but by no means enthusiastic applause. He
bowed several times, and then thus addressed the
house, IN rather tremuous voice -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IL crave your Indulgence
Tor a moment whilst refer atIa ck upon me- which
appeared ID very OBSCURE PRINT IN TINS city, called the
'Suberranesn,' and which repubshed Ia this
ing's Hersld-the characteristics Of which paper will
not shock your feelings by reciting "a pause) To
those who know me rersonally, trust nee d make
vindcaton of my character against these foul aper
sons (Cheers) To those who do not know me, read
the following letter =
New yoRK, Oct. 80, lsl3.
My DEAR FRIENp 81 have seen with surprise and
tom hment in the New York Herald ofo-iay article
which purports to be extract from certain print pub
lshed in this city and said TO be edited by Mr. Walsh
and have no hesitation in declaring every charge
tanned therein so far as regards yourself TO be entirely
false. Yours, &c. ELMlRA LEGGETr.
Ladies and Gentlemen, en- very sorry that have in
truded thus far your time and patience but however
small my pretensions may be-however humble my re-
tensions may be to the character of and Citizen
prize them more than would all the professional tr
umphs of all the actors from the days Of Roscu down"
Here Mr.. Forrest passed, bowed and retired
number in the pit shouted bravo-the galleries
cheeres, the boxes aPplauded quietly, one or two
personal friends of the actor rose and waived their