Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-30
Stage Irishnl en-!

The eccentricities and the agreeable qualities
of the Englishman the Frenchman, and the Yam
kee, are often illustrated upon the stage; but
the-Scotchman is always a stingy, loye-money,
drawing fellow, and the Irishman coarse, stupid,
vulgar, and impudent That there are Scotchmen
and Irishmen Of these kinds is not to be disputed;
but that there are gentlemen of both countries
of nobler attributes is altogether within the
bounds of probability!
When Mr.. Tyrone Power personated the impu-
dent valet, we used to enjoy the sport greatly;
but when he essayed to represent the Irish gen.
tleman, we always grieved at his very defective
limitations. They who think there is no such
thing as Scotch or Irish gentleman may enjoy
the caricatures presented on the stage; but we
have at least occasionally enjoyed the acquaint-
ance of such gentlemen we cannot appreciate
what is shown up to the delighted multitude.
We were once sitting at table in a very SPLEEN
did cabin, out upon the water, when European
near us remarked that he had never seen an Irish
gentleman. A very gentemanly and progresses
ing person opposite him regretted the circunf
stance, and, for the sake Of his country, grieyed
that he could not in his own person do service
to that country by exhibiting specimen Of her
gentlemen! The rebuke derived its power, not
only from the truly elegant response, but from
the contrast presented by the two speakers them
selves
Among the Irish people who como in thousands
to our shores, there is much to condemn and
much to pity; but where is the people in like con-
dition-the hewers of wood and drawers of water,
the railroad and canal laborers hod-carriers and
street workers-who are superior to them? If
they exist, Sce hare Reper seen them. There is not
a great public work in our country that has not
been achieved through the instrumentaity of
these lowly sons of toll And if, in their Excess
sive labors, they arc impulsive and improvident,
we can afford to forgive them, and should afford
to seek their welfare and to say to the more for
tunate of their countrymen, not that they arc an
ignorant and degraded nation, but that great pri
vations have not crushed the spirit of industry
and independence in the breasts Of even the hum
blest of their people.
We admire for their peculiar attributes the
people Of many chimes; but with none does the
American heart beat with truer sympathy than
with the sons Of the Emerald Isle Let US, there
fore, while we forgive them that they do not send
the most educated and refined Of their population
to toll as day-laborers upon our roads and fields,
avoid the illiberal conclusion that there are none
such and let us avoid the equally reprehensibe
practice of encouraging upon the stage the cxhi
bition Of trayesties prepared for the purpose of
fattering such prejudice, and offending every
lrishman of honorable sensibilities.
A correspondent writing to US on this subject
says
81 have mingled with Irishmen in all the va
rious grades in their own country and in this
but have never met such Irishmen rs are depicted
on the stage by the bufoons who attempt to rep
resent them. a few blunders too gross to pass
for vita few stale bar-room jokes-a forced
vulgar patois, interlarded with ribaldry obscenity
and oaths--are the stock in trade Of every mount
ebank who makes up dish of caricature to feast
the vitiated appetite Of the 'unwashed vulgar
This false taste is fast fading away, and only to
be found, with few exceptions pleasing to the
palate of the bohoys and rowdies of England and
this country. THE audience was much too
meagre,' the Republic said on a recent occasion,
ito reward the exertions of an actor who excrts
himself with no inconsderable success Thanks
to the tasteful and discerning people of Wash
ington for their discrimination There is an old
adage perfectly applicable to such puddeblooded
Paddles and 'Teddes, relating to the bird that
does not respect its own home A CELT."