Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-02-08

. | am commanded to write a story
yes, IA story that will please all aud
offend none one that shall be most
avldously sought by the fashionable
beiies of this golden age Of accomplish
ment and perfection. Well, Mr.. Edi-
tor, | will obey your wishes, and thine
also, dear reader, To the best Of my
feeble abilities, provided that all the 9n-
gelic bellies, and exquisite beaux, to-
geiher with their ambitious aud over
zealous mamas, will first promise not
to be offended by the ebulIiiions of my
brain, which ain now about to commit
to paper for many of us have already
lived long enough 10 realize the force
and beauty of the proverb, that truth is
stranger than Jction.
/. ! AIN now easily seated in my lihraiy,
which is most comfortably warmed,
while out of doors the thermometer is
nearl to zero the curling smoke OF
one Of Riders exquisite Regalias (the
lover Of the weed will readily know the
meaning ofthe term is beautifully as-
cending in columns oyer my head, and
llslnsplrlng fumes have already supplied
me with an abundant stock of ideas
wherewith 10 amuse you, gentle reader
for the space Of at least half an hour
Immediately after breakfast mex, Thurs.
day morning.
| have read in some old and marvel.
lous tale, or have CLEANED it from
some aptiqurted novel Of tle last cen
/ tury, or else | have existed on EARL
before, and have now come back 10 ihi,
sublunary sphere in another shape -
that men aud women were once reasona
ble and sensible beings; that they were
born for some high and noble purpose
and that the great aim and end Of lili
| should be, to cultivate, ennOble and ey
pand the mind, and to prepare ihe sou
for some more lofty and elevated
scene Of action. Tbs world is but
! stage, and all the inhabitants of tht
earth are but actors, and ii was design
! ed by God ,hat all should take part
/ a noble and praIse-worthy part in th'
! great and soul-slirring tragedy, which
! since the fall of Adam aud Eve in Para
! disc, The human family were command
ed to perform, in the presence Of pur
er eyes than are permitted to glistcl
on earth. But the players have becom'
SO Intoxicated with pleasure, that inc'
arc well nigh mad with the wild deliri
um Of delight which is now thrilIin!
their hearts (; they have degraded th
grca, theatre of life, and corycrtcd tn
solemn and majestic scenes on lis stay
> Of action, into most farcical tragi
, comedy, of the very lowest order
} They themselves have abandoned thei
high characters, the beauty of which
angels were admlring, and assumed III
garb and action of clowns, bulloons an
4 Bccromanccrs, of the most dlsgustin
e. nature. never Witnessed any thin
y which more fully represented the abov
d idea, than one evening AT tie Par
. Theatre, New York, when the late Ia
. the character of Richard Third ; tn
house was beautifully decorated wit
n new scenery, and 6uely relttcd for 10
season, while every seat, nook an
n corner Of that capacious editicc wer
crowded 10 sullocatlon, with vcr
fashionable audience TO see the inini,;
bic comic Finn perform one of Shake
spears most mastery tragedies, -
thing, by the way, which he had ncve
before attempted. The whole audlenc
bad probably Witnessed his perfect an
life like comic performances, aud Il
likewise expected 10 see him equal
!, successful with Forrest and hiacrcad,
in his new character. Finn appc arc,
IN due course of time, rs tho play pr,
: srcssed, splcndldIy attircd, and we
! on with his part quite well ut first; b,
as the scene became more cxcitin.
he gradually assumed more ofhis com
effect, which seriously interrupted a
success Of the performance, and onr
oftho actors were evidently much ch
grined. Once or twice, he was spoke
to, in an underione, by tho promp,e
! to play better his part, and finally
p began to alter the tex, Of the play, re-
dcring tho whole affair extremely l