The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-27

be equal one to the other, or it is not a circle.
Hear, hear.l ldon't say that our guest is versa
proof that he is most comprehensive in his capacity
IS that all the lines he has created within the range
of his art are equal one to the other And that,
gentlemen, explains to you that originality, which
even his opponents have conceded to him. But the
originality of guest does not consist in his man
alone, but in his singular depth of thought. lie
is not only comprehensive ia his essential views OF
oratory, in look, in gesture, intonation stage play,
but he has applied his study far deepcr-he has
sought to penetrate into the sublest intentions Of
the poet and made poetry itself the golden key to
the nss e not . be ae
gnal, but true. (Cheersl Because, in word
he has sought to be, and has succeeded in
being, conscientious in his art as in his actions
the works of living authors by Mr.. NJ, the honor
able gentleman continued) But, gentlemen, the
fact Of his having sought to rally round him all the
dramatic writers Of his time, brings me at once
from the merits Of the actor to those of the mana
ger. recall that brief but glorious time when the
drama of England appeared suddenly to revive, and
promise that the future would be worthy OF the
past tcheers when by the union of all the kindred
arts and the exercise of taste at gorgeous and
severe, saw the thoughts of Shakespeare proper
ly embodied on the stage, because the ornament was
never superior to the work. Just remember the
manner in which the supernatural agency of the
weird sisters made to appear to the eye-how
| the magic isle of Prospero in its mysterious
sotude-or how the knightly character of the hero
of Agincourt received its true Interpretation from
| the pomp of the feudal age, and you will own that
you could not strip the stage of those scenic effects
without stripping Shakespeare of half the depth and
ichness of his descriptions (Great cheering. But
| that was only half the merit of his management
he purified the audience that, for the first time
since the reign Of Charles the H., father might
have taken his daughter to the public theatre with
| as much safety and little fear of any shock to
| decorum as if he had taken her to the house of
friend [checrs and for this reason it that the
| late amcnted Bishop of Norwich made it a point to
i Tho, al nipfnn IF Mr. Mus Iv
that he might thank him, as preate of the Church,
for the good he had done to society [hear, hear,
| hear Gentlemen, j cannot recall that period
| without n sharp pang OF indignant regret; for If
| that management had lasted some ten twelve
years, we should have established permanent school
for actors and fresh and enduring field of dramatic
| poetry. and might, while educated the
audience up to it, feel that dramatic performances
| of the highest point of excellence had become
| intellectual want which could be dispensed with no
more than we can now dispense with our newspapers
great cheering) and all this has been checked and
put back for an age, not because the public would
| not support the experiment, because, he says,
| that his houses were filled to overhowing, but be-
| cause of the enormous amount of the exaction ON
| the part of the propretors of the theatre, which
even in the most prosperous seasons made the exact
difference between profit and loss. CLEAR, heard
But this is not the place to speak Of remedies Re
but that is different subiect-a subject involving
considerations with regard to those patents secured
TO certain houses, for the purpose OF obtaining for
4
fear have proved hostile to it. But these reeolec-
| lions belong to the past-the actor, the manager
arc more, clear, hear.) Whom have We with us
| to-day! Something grander than actor mama
| ger. To-day we have with us the man. (Iremen-
dous eheering) Gentlemen, to speak OF those viz
| tues which adorn home, and are only known in
| secret has always appeared to be out OF place on
| public occasions; but there some virtues which
| cannot be called private-whch accompany men
| everywhere-which form an essential part of their
public character and of this it becomes us to speak,
| for it is to this met to do homage. l mean
| integrity, devotion to pure ends, high ambition,
| mental Independence, and honor that never knew
| stain. (Applause.) Why should've disguise from
selves that there great prejudces to the profess
sion of an actor! Who does not know that noble
guest has lived down every one of such prejudces-
not by falling into the weaknesses of the actor, and
for which Garrick could not escape the sarcasm of
Johnson mean hunting after the society and
patronage of the great. (Hear, hear) The great
have sought. in Mr. Macready, the accomplished
genteman but he never stopped the proud front of
an Englishman to court any patronage meaner than
the public, sue for the smile with which fashion
humlatcs the genius il condcsccnds to Halter (lm-
mcnsc chcering) And, therefore, it is that he has
so lifted up that profession to which he belongs INTO
| it, proper rank among the higher arts; and there
fore II Is in glancing over the lists OF stewards we
find that every element Of that arstocracy on which
he never fawncd, untcs 70 render him this tribute
Of respect (Cheers.) The ministers OF foreign
| nations-names amongst the noblcst peers of Eng
| land-veterans Of that profession Of whose honor
he the lfe-spring-the chiefs Of literature and
of the benefits he has bestowed upon society in
banshing from the stage what had drawn upon it
censures of the pulpit-all here, all unite to
force the truth the great TRUTH which he leaves to
those who come after him-that let man but honor
his calling, and his calling will soon be honor to
the man. Circat applause.) Gentlemen. cannot
better sum up all have to say than in the words
which the Roman orator applied to the great actor
Of his day, and ask YOU If | may not say to our
guest, Cicero said Of Roscius-''lIe is a man who
untes yet more Of virtues than of talents yet more
Of truth than Of art and who, having digniied the
scene by various portraitures OF human lfe dgnifes
vet more this assembly by theexample Of his own"
(Chccrs.) The toast am about TO propose to you
is connected with many sad associations. clear,
hcar) Long will we cherish whatever may sadlen
the mingled feelings that accompany this farewell,
(hear, hear,) when night after night We miss
from the play bills the old familiar name, and feel
that one, the of elevated delight, lost to US
for ever. (Grcat appauso.) To-day let us only
rejoice that he who Is precious and dear, Is no
worn-out veteran, retiring to the rest he can no |
longer cnjoy-that he leaves u in the prime Of his
powers with many years to come in the Of |
nature, Of that dign6ed leisure for which every |
public man must have sighed in the midst Of his !
triumphs. loud cheering) And although can
not say that the period OF his life has fallen into
'the scar, the yellow leaf" can say that prema-
turely lac has obtained that which should accompany
old age, "honor love- obedience, troops OF friends
and, therefore. Withdrawing for this night all selfish
regrets, not thinking of the darkness that v to fol-
low but of the brightness of the that Is to set,
| call upon you, with full glasses and full hearts, to /
drink "ileslth, happiness, and long life to William
Macrcady"
The toast was received with every demonstration
ofappause.
Mr.. MAcrEADy rose TO reply, but for some moments |
was compelled to stand mute in face OF the vehe-
mcnt and long-continued greeting which he receiy-
cd. lie at length spoke as follows-l rise to thank
YOU should say TO attempt to thank you, Tor feel
the task is far beyond my powers. What can say \
in reply 10 all that the kindly feelings Of my friend
has dictatedl | have not the skill to arrange and
dress in attractive language the thoughts that press
upon me, and my Incompetence may, perhaps, APP
pear like want Of scnsibiliy to your kindness; tor
we are taught to believe, "that out Of the hearts
fullncss the mouth speakcth." But my difficulty,
let me assure you, Il contradiction TO the proverb.
have TO thank my friend, your distinguished chair
man, for proposing my health to you, and for the
cloqucnce, and, may not add, the brilliant fancy
..,t he ha.. ehela and yraeel HIS guhieet.