The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-30
The African Lyrical Stare.

EDWIN j. CHRlSTY B NEGRO MINSTRELSY-THE
OPERA OF BLACK DOUGLAS AT wO0DS-CIN-
DERELLA AT BUCKEYES.
Now that the supremacy Of the children Of Ham Is,
like the restoration Of the scattered people Judea
darkly looming in the future and that Ethiopian king
doms and republics beginning with the great Nebraskan
Empire about to substitute the federal divisions
hard and soft shell party cassHcatons of the American
continent 1t becomes to watch attentively the
progress Of this interesting people in the various arts Of
civilization by their superior capacity for whc-t is
thought by certain ethnologsts and philosophers
viii ultimately subiugate to their rule the rapidly degen
Grating Anglo Saxon and Spanish races We have seen
how in Hayii their determined energy great military
genius have succeeded in crushing out the whites and
establishing of the most remarkable empires upon
recordan empire whose conception and inception have
suggested serve limitations both In Mexico and France
We behold there q court distinguished much for its
elegance and refined tastes and liberal but discriminate
ing patronage Of the arts for its profound acquan
lance with the science of government and the noble
models of legislation which it has produced. If
DESTROYS Of witnessing the results of African
spirit and energy in their democratic phase, we
have only to turn to LIBERIA where we will find
powerful republic, like the Rome of old, growing MP
amidst swanes and Seek peer curiously
into the future, we may behold Cuba, Jamaica and
others Of the West India Islands ourishng under the
rule Of sagacious and enlightened rulers of this once de
spsed race and if the phanthropcal and
notions Of the abotionts realised we may probably
see them lords paramount own soil Be their
destiny what it may the wonderful Elasticity of this ae
compshed people will adapt them to it. From the use
which they have made Of the opportunities they have
already had it is evident that they improvse
improve upon every form of political institution known
to ancient modern times 1t is the same in the arts
Emnenty classical in their tastes they have modernised
to great advantage the nomenclature Of Romans and
refined upon many Of the crude artscs notions Of tho
Greeks. The propy@ and friezes of Hayan palaal
checure have been pronounced by competent judges
remarkable departures from the stiff mannerism of the
Parthenon and other estimated models antqu
Borrowing what is excellent from the different primitive
schools OF art, the new, or may term it, Eth
opan style, may be regarded eclectic In its general
character 1t presents popularity 1t is that Of too
prevailing and uniform style of characterization.
As with the Egyptians the lotus was almost the
only floral embellishment made use of, 50 with
the creators Of the school, the palm and the g leaf
constitute the chief decorations Of their nude ntersca
spaces They may be repugnant to modern notions
but they are strictly in with those great
leading natural principles that have been lost sight Of
the corruptions of gross and material age
In the general blindness which appears to prevail with
regard to these facts 1t Is not surprising that
school of music emaAating from the same fertile source
should be growing up amongst us Of which but little no.
tice has been taken by the press although 1t fast de-
thronng In popularity the works Of the great Italian
and German composers. From the modest lyrical eGu.
sons which marked ts frst RISE negro mnstresy has
taken an ambitious deveopement, which rested
satisfied until It achieved the palm Of operate
To Edwin p Chrsy may be accorded the merit Of org
mating the school, and Of sstablhhng II firmly In
popular favor In the original establishment after eight
years Of continuous success unprecedented believe
In the annals Of similar entertainments he il stil
content to rest his claims to public patron
age on the lively little episodes which 80 wildly
illustrate the grotesque peculiarties Of the from
which his portraits are drawn. And we'll he may. We
moro agreeaby spent, or which moro forcbly illustrates
the yJsuW teoss amic of Horace Those who 10 there
may, with truth, say
De time Is nebber dreary,
II the darkey nebber groans
De ladies nebber weary,
Wild de rattle Of de bones.
In the opposition house (wood's) successful effort
has been made to unite the eccentricltics Of these
representations with the requirements of the regu.
lar drama. operate burlesques of sterling comic merit
and presenting the interest of regular story
are nightly played to overlooking audiences of higher
class than used formerly attend these places and who
appear to take much pleasure in them in the
ambitious compositions of the Italian school, And with
all the attractions of first rate company admirable
vocal and instrumental performers, well appointed
theatre and beautiful scenery, candidly own, al
though the confession may appear like heresy to
some, that we enjoy this variation Of our the.
atrcsl pleasures with greater zest than the
duh platitudes Of what Is called scientific
music. One Of the chief merits Of the management
Of this house IL the prompttude with which sezes as