The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-07

day, but who conceals an excellent heart under q
mask Of profigsoy, and Mr. Hardman, a plebeian
member Of Parliament, who strongly supports the
Walpole administration, are rival lovers Of Lucy,
the daughter Of Sir Godfrey Ihornside, an honest
gentleman, who in early life has suspected his wife
Of an intrigue with the deceased Lord Henry, and
has led an unhappy existence ever since. David
Fallen, though he is starving himself, and has six
starving children to feed, is too honorable to part
with the scandao0s beanest, either for the price
offered by the renowned BOOKSELLER Jacob Tonson,
or for that offered by Lord Wilmot, who assumes
the name and appearance of the equally renowned
bookseller, Edmund CURL. But when Lord Will
mot, throwing of his disguise, addresses David as
friend OF the Duke OF Middesex the man Of Grub
street, remembering that he has been especially ne
elected by the aforesaid Duke, gives up the manu-
script, 10y way Of taking the noblest revenge the
naughty aristocrat. Now, this manuscript, though
excessively singing far a. the Duke Is concerned
is accompanied by letter which fully clears the
fame Of Lucys mother; and iardman, aware Of
this fact obtains the letter from the Duke by an
appeal TO his honor. On the other hand, Wilmot
has discovered that Sir Gcofrey's wife, reputed to
be dead, is living in obscure residence and pro-
cures meeting between the mother and daughter.
Thus the game Of seneio sty is well played on both
LOTUS CNilmots father, and the Duke OF
Middlesex, from the consequences OF being
implicated in a jacobite plot, Wlmot has
been no less magnanimous, for he has purch ised
Hardlnan at the price Of a Murillo Advantages
being so great on either side love alone can settle
whore the balance is to be placed, and Hardman,
discovering that Wilmot is really the man after
Lucy's heart, resigns his pretcnsons This is the
main story, in which Mr.. Shadowly Softhead, n
cockney worshippcr Of fashion, who takes Wilmot
for his model, and Mr.. Easy, respectable city gen.
tleman, who IL, nevertheless, so proud Of getting
drunk with lord that his pride takes him to the
watch house, appear as secondary personages In
the delineation Of his characters the author has
kept in view he title OF his work, "Not so Bad as
we SEEM and it is the peculiar faculty Of Hard
IN Ia discover the ms ny slpq IF n afura
Thus, IN accordance with the good humored moral
Of the play, the proud Dukes supercil;ousness is
compensated by his high sense Of honor, Wilmots
rakish alterations are excused by his excellent
heart and head. and David Fallen, though appa-
rently abect hireling, is found to possess strong
sense Of virtue-and 50 on, as far as one may be
pleased to pursue the work Of analysis.
The latcness Of the hour at which the comedy
terminated prevents us from entering into any mi
mute discussion of its merits We would briefly OBJ
serve that it is piece more Of character than Of
plot, and that though there are several strong
situations, they not closely connected by con-
tnuous interest. The language i often brilliant,
and If in the serious characters of Hardnan and
David Fallen it now and then becomes inflated, we
should bear in mind that their speeches may be
looked upon as oratons in behalf Of the class the
performance is intended to benefit. The circum-
stances under which tho piece is produced should
also be taken into consideration If we would fairly
judge Of its merits. In an amateur company every
body likes to do something Of distinctive nature,
and hence an author, writing for such n company,
would not 20 much aim at concentration as ut dis
trbution of interest.
The amateurs performed better, probably, than
any other amateurs who could be collected together,
and tho decorative artists produced spectacle
which could not be excellcd for completeness.
Her Majesty and tho Prince arrived at o'clock,
and remained TO the end Of the performance
The last appearance Of Fanny Elssler at Moscow
was for the celebrated danssns6 the occasion of a
yertable triumph. On leaving the theatre she
found the crowd 50 great that it was with difficulty
hotel she found the whole Of the interior from the
entrance to her apartments, lined with magnificent
tapestry.
AT st. Petcrsburgh, concerts have been multiplied
in most extraordinary manner tor the close OF the
season.
AT Bremen, MAZDA me Lagrange is performing in
the part of Fides, to very crowded house,.
From the report just made of the French Thea.
trical Fund by Nj. Ferdinand Langle, to the annual
general meeting ofauthors and dramatic composers,
IT appears that during the past year the society has
afforded relief to one hundred and one poor authors
or inyalids, widows and orphans. The total amount
of expenditure in this respect was io,Uu0 francs
The total receipts of the droits ddpitW for 1880,
for Paris 62 900 francs; from the departments,
$4,000 francs Total, s!6, ,s francs, being ex-
the preceding year Of about " 900 francs.
II is wcu known that the theatres of France, on
each night Of performance, rs well as concerts pay
onetenh Of the net receipts to the hospitals for the
benefit OF the poor and another portion Of the re-
ceipts goes TO the dramatic author Of the pieces
at the doors, in order to prevent fraud the part
of the manager or his servants. Since the passing
Of the law establishing this regulation, in l79l, 1t
appears there have been l6S cases Of fraud detect
ed. One was committed last month, which ex-
hbts great industrial merit. The female money.
taker (for this Office is almost invariably performed
by females in Francc) at one Of the principal
theatres of Paris, had formed degree Of int imacy
with the check-takcr, man employed by the
management. Ihis lady very partial to snuff;
she took il frequently, but never carried a box.
The check akcr, on the contrary. possessed one OF
those large snuif-boyes which. among the snuff
taking fraternity, are denominatcd depots. The
money-taker beng forced during the whole time Of
the performances to remain immoyabe and clols-
tered in her cupboard, the gallant chcck-taker, in
order that she might not undergo any prolonged
priYation. forwarded to her every quarter Of an
hour his -nud-box by a boy in attendance. This
object introduced into the sanctuary, the lady
took her Virginia Mt her leisure. and then very
gracousy returned it to its owner. AT length,
this continual going and coming excited the sus-
pcion of the CHdOge the behalf cl the hospitals
The mystic ,ious mou was seized on its passage; II
was found full Of cheeks
The privilege OF n Third Lyrical Theatre has
just been granted to N. Edmond Se'estc. on con.
di,ion that il opens on the 18th Of August, or at
latest the LEI Of September next: tho Theatre His
,orique will be used for this purpose. it, situation
(Boulcvari du Tcmple) Is considered n nniayor-
able for IN orcraie theatre; all the theatres
which havc succeeded are centrally situated. and
all tho others situated In remote localities have IN
yariably failed.
M. dc Lagrave, the new tenor engaged al the
OPERA has arrived in Paris, and will shortly make
his febW.
"Ilippolytus, one Of the tragedies Of Eurirides,
from which some Il the finest scenes Of Racine &
phcdrc" were taken, has been produced at Ber-
lin nj the Theatre Royal. in the form Of quasi
opcia. the music By NJ Schulfe. II il runorcd
that Mcyertecr himself is writing, at the present
Moment the music for some Greek drama tho
Eumcnidcs," a. some assert, and Promeihous,
according to other,
At Antwerp, .nt lteatr'ca season has just closed
with performance which leaves brilliant rccollcc.
tions. r1eyerbccrs hcfGGpprt, Gle Prophetic,
VS. the final piece. Mile. Mequillet appeared for
the last time, in tho part of fdes; in which part
and that Of Norma, she hss been highly succos slu
| The farce department" yrodaceds' the Prin
| cess, profcssedly written by MIR. w Rroush, "tc
suit the timos" i. nn.r,a net .icc n rrccn
sdncf, though IL might have been 20 II the visitor
1 had only foskod 10 London as had been anticipated
/ The sad fact that the town never was % empty a
II Al. Ax.A hat If.flEr no. HI ilG