The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-24
LOCAL MATTERS.


The correspondent whose eulogistc epistle in ref
erence to Mr.. Fleming's performances the
subject Of comment in Saturdays Republic, has
addressed to us another communication, which we
append as curiosity in the literature of dramatic
criticism:
al rejoice that my remarks touching Mr.. Flem-
ing's sIago' have called forth your special objec
tons to that gentlemnn's porsonation OF the char
acter.
at will not be denied. presume. by any one,
that you the first writer, distinguished or
otherwise who took Shakspeare's iago for IAN
accomplished gentleman DIR. johnson. the greatest
critic who ever reviewed Shakespeare, says oil the
character Of Iago: There is always danger lest
wickcdncss conjoned with abilities, should steal
upon esteem, though il misses Of appreciation; but
the character OF lago Is 80 conducted that ne Is;
from the first to the last hated and despsed
MIR. Flcming's conception was in accordance with
this studied conduct Of Shakespeare; and your
spiteful remarks afford no mean proof OF the fact
Sha kspeare certainly never intended lago tor
any thing but villain; and MIR. f., in hs delnca-
ton Of the character, did not lose sight of the
immortal bard's' direction TO the players in Ham
let, but complied strictly with the admoniton,
Speak the speech, pray you, as pronounced to
you
.'You set up a claim to be just critic, while, In
the very article which refer to, your personal
prejudice gets 30 much the advantage of your cool
judgment, that your claim utterly expodes, clevat
ing to height never dreamed Of by Shakespeare
the character Of Iago. b."
1t ia plain that what our correspondent lacks in
critical acumen ia more than atoned for by an &
OF impcrtincnce, which would warrant the re-
lection OF his letter without remark.
IL DIR. johnson ever revisit the earth through the
medium Of the spiritual rappers, we venture to
predict that his first act will be to resent tho in
suting attempt 10 associate him with the 'most
distinguished gentlemen who are represented IA
approving OF Mr. Flcming's lago. The Doctor.
tho
putstion that his words prove that Iago never
meant to be gentleman.
We apprehend that our correspondent would not
have limited his quotation from Johnson to asingle
sentence, had the aim been to arrive at just
clusion. few sentences before that quoted in
the letter. find that johnson speaks Of "the
cool n'agnity Of Iago,' who il described as "silent
IN his rescntments. subtle in his designs, and studi
at Of his interest and his vengeance"
And u little further ON the great critic says:
"The gradual progress which Iago makes in the
Moor's convictions, and the circumstances which
he employs 10 infaInc him, are so mJuly natural,
that though II will not perhaps be said OF him, us
be says Of himself that he ia a man not easily jea-
Gus, yet we cannot but pity him when at last we
find him perplexed in the extreme"
These portions of the context are conveniently
kept out Of sight by ''B." probably for the
that they fatal to his Interpretation fthc char
acter. Taking the passage cited by"B )" we main
tain, however, that even it bears meaning exactly
contrary to that imputed to it. "Iago." it says.
"is from the fret scene to the last hated and de-
spised." Hated and dcspised by whom? Not by
Cassie. who says of him
- never knew
Florentine kind and honest
Not by Othello. who to the last moment believes
him to overflow with love and honesty. His by play
alone gives the to his real character, and with
that only the audience are acquainted. To those
OF whom he desires to make use he appears ga pol
ished gentleman" able when necessary to make
"the worse appear the better reason and with
sufficient command over them to pilot them TO de
struction. Neither Cassie Othello be re-
garded as fool either must be if inhaled by one
whom, according to our sagacous correspondent,
he "hated and despised." If "B." be right, Iago
bad more of the fool than the villain in him. and
we are at a Ices to know how this superstition can
be rcconciled with the fact that he in
trapping those against whom he lcvelled his de-
signs Regarding. then, the sentence cited by
3d." in the ordinary light of stage probabilities, it
will be found to sustain estimate Of Mr.. Elem.
ing's Iago. That this estimate accords with John
cons conception OF the character is proved by por-
lions OF the context which we have given above.
Cocridge, too, has pat record conception
just the opposite Of that cherished by B." and his
"most distinguished" allies. Hazit, another critic
Of some noc--though Of course excluded from the
category Of "B.'s' cable critics"-remarks that
Iago "bclongs to class Of characters common to
Shakespeare, and at the same time peculiar to him;
.ohose heads are acute and acus as their hearts
hard and calous." And in the notes to Yer.
planck's edition TO Shakespeare we have the same
Idea:
Tho hypocrisy, the knowledge, tho dcxterous
man nature, the recklessnoss OF moral feeling, even
the stern, bitter w.t. intellectual and contemptuous
without any Of the gaiety Of youth, arc all pre-
cious and peculiar, separating Iago from the or
binary sympathy OF our nature, and inuesfiNg him
ruth higher talents and blackcr guilt"
The interchangeable industry and incxbaustiblc
resources" Of lago-Hszlitt further says--" divsrt
The attention Of the spectator, well his own,
from the end he has in view TO tho means by which
it must be accomplished"
We are disposed TO apologize for occupying space
with evidence in support Of the conception Of
character which every actor of reputation, great
little, has considered settled from time iInmc
mortal. Mr.. Fleming may be a great actor as
"B." may be great critic, and "B's" coadju
tors may be "most distinguished gentlcmcn;" but
not prepared to permit any of them, or oil
Of them, to impose upon the play. going class Of
the community an idea OF lago absurd in itself, at
tariance with inc studied elaboration with which
Shakespeare has invested it, and with the opinions
ofknown critics and actors of every degree Charity
20 Mr.. Fleming. IL not justice to readers, re-
quircs that the controversy should now close. II
that gentleman feel aggricvcd, he must remember
that his own over. jealous friends have compelled
us for once TO depart from accustomed brcvity.
yIsIr TO Mousr yERsos. The members of the
Presbyterian General Assembly Of the United
States visited The tomb Of Washington on Satur
day lsst, in company with other distin guishcd
strangers, and their lades IN front Of tho tomb,
uncovered and in silence. there went up to Heaven
heartfelt thanks for tho past and prayers for the
future peace md prosperity OF our glorious country
The steamer Thomas Collyer, which conveyed the
visitors, stopped also at Fort Washington, allow
ing them an opportunity TO examine that forti6
cation. No incident occurred to mar the pleasures
Of the trip.
DEATH FROM FALL.-A bricklayer named
Norton fell FROM house upon which he was at
work. in the First Ward, ON Saturday last, and
seriously injured as 70 cause his death in a