The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-11-30
DELAwARE.-oF OPTICAL.

MAcREADY's DEBUT IN PHILADELPHIA-GTed
Tamut-Much interest had been for some time ex-
cited in Philadelphia by the intended simultaneous
appearance, on Monday night, the 2Oth, of Mac
ready and Forrest at different theatres in that city
The spirit of rivalry thus manifested, whether by
themselves or the respective managers merely, be-
gat the following scene at the Arch, that even
ing. The whole bearing of Mr.. Macready was
certainly highly eFedtable. TheLedger says:
Mr. Macready appeared last night at the Arch,
and the announcement drew very crowded audi
ence. The house inside was packed, and ontside
there was a gathering large enough for a town
meeting. Curiosity had drawn these " outsiders
in expectation of a row, and we are sorry to say
that the conduct of portion of the audience inside
justified their expectations, for they did all they
could by Kissing and noises to destroy all the effect
Of the play In this, however, they were only par
tally successful very large portion of the audi
ence were respectable people, and their paudIls
senced every attempt interruption, though these
were so frequent as to mar the beauty OF the per.
formance. During the play cheers were several
times made for Forrest and drowned by louder ones
for Maeready Pennies were thrown upon the stage
amid calls and cries of the most disgracefu charac
ter and in the last act while Mr. NJ was on the
STAGE an egg was THROWN and falling near his feet,
broke. Still he needed not the insult, but proceeded
on through the piece.
At the fall of the curtain there was the usual
call and Mr. Maeready came before the curtain
amid an almost universal waving of hats, and the
most tumultuous applause ever heard in a theatre.
Ii was several minutes before he attempted to speak,
so loud and general was the noise OF friends and
foes. He at length said he had understood, at New
York and Boston, that he was to be met by an Or
ganized opposition, but he had an abiding conf
dence in the Justice of the American people. Here
the noise and confusion completely drowned his
voice, and three cheers attempted for Forrest
and three hearty ones were given for Macready.l
He resumed by saying it was the custom in his
country never to condemn a man unheard lCheers
and calls, in which Forests name was heardI
Mr.. M. said that it had been said that he enter
tanned hostile feelings towards actor in this coun.
try and that he had evinced feeling OF opposition
towards him-all which statements, severaliy and
in tie aggregate he declared wholly and entirely
unfounded. The actor alluded to had done that
towards him that he was sure no English actor
would do, and what he believed no other American
actor would do-he had openly Kissed him. [Great
noise and confusion, Kisses and hurras That up
to the time Of that act he had never entertained to-
wards that actor feeling of unkindness, nor had
he ever shown any since. Collision in boxes and
great uproar all over the house, When opposition
in his country had been organized against French
company. he actively interested himself to allay 1t.
Here he said something of the disreputabe char
acter of those who participate in such outTages,
which amid the tumult was lost to our ear. He
said he fully appreciated the character and feelings
Of the audience and to his engagement, If If was
their will he willing to give 1t up at onee no.
ao!-eheers and hissesl but that he should retain
in his memory the liveIest recolecoRs of the warm
and general sentiments Of regard shown him, and
should speak of the American people, whom he
had known and studied for the last twenty years,
with the same kind feelings that he had done.
Throughout the closing scene, as indeed heNid
throughout the entire play, Mr.. Macready bore up
under the many vexatious annoyanees Of small
part of the audience with great apparent good
humor, but once, so far as we saw, showing any
warmth of feeling, and then but for moment.