The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-24

Correspondencel the Springfield Repub lean.
IT 9 h.. FL Z 1910

Amusenents In Boston.
Corespondencelof the Springfield Repub lean.
U. S. HOTEL, Feb. 5, 1849.
Mrs. Pierce Butler, as she announces
herself in her card, or Fanny Kemble
Butler, as her early admirers loved to call
her, is creating quite sensation in this city
by her Readings from Shakespeare. She
has now given some FIVE or six, and intends
to continue them up to thirty; for they are
reaping for her not only fame but fortune.
Masonic Temple, where she gives her en-
tertainments, is crowded to OVERLOOKING at
every reading. The tickets are exhausted
some SO TO 4S hours before the time arrives,
and hundreds, both strangers and citizens,
are disappointed in their efforts to gain adj.
mi;tance. Each reading nets her from $3.50
to $500, which at three a week (she gave
four last week) would produce $3.50 to
$500 clear Of all expenses. Her thirty
readings, would thus net her, at The lowest
estimate. 81 1900. And, Of course, she will
not be suffered to stop here. Already there
are calls for her from New York and other
places.
Las; Friday evening, through the kind.
ness OF a friend, (all the tickets having been
taken up early Thursday morning) l had
the pleasure Of hearing her
The coming Of The lady was heralded by
an elderly gentleman's placing chair be-
hind the little red covered desk on the plat
form, which constituted all the stage OF the
performer. Two large volumes Of Shak-
speare were laid on the desk, and the buzz
Of conversation that had filled the hall
ceased. Presently, Mrs. Butler made her
appearance as from trap door, near the
platform, and. escorted by Charles Sumner,
she took her place behind the desk. She
was elegantly dressed. as if for a ball,
wearing a rich light silk with short sleeves
and low neck; the vacuity being supplied
by superabundance Of flowing lace work.
Bowling with infinite grace, she put back
with her hand her dark and glossy hair
(Which was dressed with elegant plainness)
and with slightly affected emotion, said: Il
have the honor to read the Merchant of
Venice Then taking her seat, and Just
reading the list Of characters, she entered at
once upon the play.
And now, how shall describe the beau.
ty. the power, and the genius displayed by
this woman, by which for two entire hours,
but with short intermission at the middle.
she kept her large audience bound in almost
breathless silence, interrupted only by spon.
taneous outbreaks Of applause, which it was
impossible to restrain? could not have
believed before that single human voice
was able, by the simple reading of play.
to produce such an effect. Not only was
the utterance clear, distinct and eloquent,
but the feelings of each actor were repre-.
sented most admirably in the voice, ex-
preston, manner, and gestures of the read
or. One moment, she was the fiendish
Shylock, and rage, hate and vengeance
ruled in her countenance and her voice; the
next, the calm, kind, Christian Antonio.
submissive to his fate, was counterfeited;
again she was sweet Portia, describing her
lovers to her maid, acting the Judge with
dignity and wisdom, and tantalising her
husband with the loss Of the ring, which he
had vowed to keep till death. The man.
ner with which these memorable lines were
pronounced, was above panegyric; every
syllable fell upon the ears OF an almost
breaihless auditory:
"The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
II droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath; II lie twice blessed:
II blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
IT'S mightiest in the mghtiest: II becomes
The throned mo march better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force Of temporal power
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth set the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy Is above this sceptered sway,
II is enthroned in the hearts Of kings,
II Is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God,
When mercy seasons justice."
The next forenoon Saturday she re.
peated midsummer Nights Dream. 81
which she had previously given at one of
her evening readings. | was again de.
lighted listener. She succeeded even better.
il possible, in this than in the Merchant of
Venice. Every variety of passion, every
shade OF character. was portrayed with
faithfulness and vigor, that showed the
master mind. the genius and the acquire.
ments Of the reader in n manner to astopish
even those most accustomed to the represen
tations Of the best actors that ever walked
upon the stage. Her appreciation of the
several characters, who acted "the most
lamentable comedy and most cruel death of
Pyramus and Thisbe. was erquisiteIy
life-like. So OF Puck, Helena, Hernia |
and all indeed. There was satiricaI sting |
in her voice, as she said:
'By all the vows that ever men have broke;
In number more than ever woman spoke;
that made the words cut deep. But as her
hearers were mostly ladies, / fear it was in