The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-05
Fanny Kemble Butler.

/ a.
"drags Its slow length along" 1t will be seen, b,
referring to our columns to-day, that every sue
cessive hearing of 1t brings out some new ant
more curious Developments. The letters Of Mrs
Butler display the most wonderful talent, and mus
extort from every one feeling of pity for the po
sltion of a lady of such extraordinary menta
powers, and so highly gifted by nature.
The whole case will shortly be presented to the
public in all Its entirety; and from what has trans.
pred, and what is likely to transpire, of the rea-
tons between these parties, the whole upshot of 1t
will be to furnish another illustration of the impos.
siblty of two unsuitable temreraments, two un-
congenlal dispositions and two widely differing
natures, living together in harmony and content
ment. There seems to be no other re ason but this
for the unpleasant disagreement that took place
between them shortly after their marriage, and
which has since manifested itself IN their mutual
desire to sever the legal bond that subsequently
existed between them.
Such must ever be the case when marriages take
place from desire on the part of either OF the
parties to free themselves from position which
necessarily involves. to use Mrss Buffers express
sion, "laborious and disaste{6l employment -
The circumstances connected with Mrs. Buffers
case forcby remind us of the somewhat slmila r
career of Mademoselle Garcia, subsequently the
famous Madame Mallbran. When this lady first
came to this country she was accompanied
by her father, whose whole soul was bent
on making money, and who was, therefore,
very Indifferent how "labouous or distaste-
full the employment of her youth" might be
to his accomplished daughter, provided she
gratified his avariclous cravings. His daughters
mind was cast in very different mould, and she did
n OF wish to minister to the parental propensity to
the extent of the claims made uponher. The con-
sequence was, that her home and her existence
were rendered miserable and, to rid herself of
such position, she threw herself into the arms o
a man who was, IN every respect, an unsuitable
match, and whose only claim to aspire to her hand
was his supposed wealth. The result of this
match is well known to the world. After living
together short time they found themselves mu-
tually unsulted to each other, as might have been
expected; and as the only mode by which their
mutual happiness could be secured, she left him
and went to England
Mrs. Butler came here some years ago, with her
father, Charles Kemble, whose object was of a
smilarknd though not, perhaps, so eagerly pressed
as that of Carcass father. The high spirit of Fanny
Kemble could not brook any thing so paltry or gro
yelling. During her sojourpIngs through this coun-
try she wrote book, in which the beau ideal of
her husband was mlnutely described. This young
man was Mr.. Pierce Butler. AT first she rldlcued
him; but whether, as philosophers say, ridi.
Guile is near akin to love, or not, this same
clever young lady, then in the zenith of her
theatrical glory, the highest star of the tragic
armament, the cynosure of all eyes, married this
NJ DIAL
lover of lap-dogs, and who, as she herself
used to say, came In to throw her bouquets
as large himself" Like her fore-runner,
Garcia, she was doubtless prompted to this, less
from love of the man than desire to escape the
"laborious and dlstastefu employment Of her
YOUTH and the avanclous opportunities of her
father.
Unhappily. however, they found that their case
was no exception to the millions of a similar kind
that have already occurred in the world, and that
separation de 1ve, as well as de facto, is the
only alternative by which existence can be made
agreeable to either of them 1t is to be hoped that
the law will arrange this mutual desire to the mu.
tual satisfaction of both parties.
OPERA AND CRITIcIsM.-We are overwhelmed
with letters, billets articles, communications, and
even poetry, on the recent fiare.up at the Opera
House. What is to be the end of all this farce in
high lite would puzzle a conjurer. Amid other
disclosures of mighty facts created by the recent
row, is the following "card" from new man IN
the drama
To THE EpITeRs OF THE COURIER ENquIRER:
OENrLEMEN:-Findipg the impression very general
that am still connected with the Courier and En-
addressed responsible for the articles which have
appeared concerning the recent disturbances at the
Opera beg you to obse me by stating that in April
last ceased furnishing musical criticisms for your
and am In no way deserving the credit due to
the authorship of those which have appeared there
since Allow to add, that no articles from my pen
concerning musical matters, have appeared without
my signature, in any other newspapers in the city.
am yours very respectfully,
6oe Broadway, Dec 2, 1s4s
On this mysterious statement, which family adj
mlts the " soft impeachment" the Courier makes
the following mysterious remarks:-
In reference to the " impression the part of the
public to which he aludes, may add that the conf
to the Opera establishment would matter of course,
II his connection with the paper had not previously
the Courier and Enquirer. Mr.. ". Is not connected
with this paper in any way, has he been-as stated
bis card-since he withdrew from 1t in April last
The meaning of all these coy denlalsls, that Mr..
Grant White Is the confidential secretary, general
critic, or submanager, of Mr.. Fry, the prime mana
ger. He is not the musical critic OF any journal in
particular but simply the general manager of the
criticisms authorised by the manager. The re-
cent attacks upon the superb and amiable Truffi,
as well as those on Benedict, were prepared
under the joint auspices of Messrs. Fry and Grant,
and sent to the Courier and several other papers
for insertion, by the authority Of the former. This
we believe is the real position of these learned
critics.
ng two or three severe fusilades on Benedict,
Laborde and the committee, we shall reserve for
urther consideration. A row among the Opera
'eeple Is good in dull day-but the great public
must not be drugged with tlt-bts. Wait while.
Last evening "Noma" was performed for the