New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-03
RACHEL'S FIRST NIGHT.

It our purpose to present each morning ofthe -
pearsnce of Md'ue Rachel In new character, sucn
preliminary picture as may perhaps be OF some smsA
service in enabling those who for the first time MAKO
ACQUAINTANCE with the French Drama, or who may
have forgotten the intimacy ofther youth to sPprosoe
the evenings performance with fuller knowledge o.
both the author and the play.
MdIle Rachel offers graceful homage to the Amer
lean audience before whom she appears for the frst
time to night in selecting for her debut that master
piece Of the great Cornele to which pertains the dou
BILE glory Of having aroused storm of enthusiasm
its first repre- sentaon two hundred and fourteen years
since and Of having revived that enthusiasm with In
creased fervor seventeen years SINCE on the night on
which she cutched with bound the tragic crown.
The enthusiasm of l6il was paid to the genius of tho
dramatist the enthusiasm Of 1888 TO thst Of the
tragediepne. On the 10Th of June, 1885, the names
of Corheille and Rachel were ntertwined
CORNEILLE AS A DRAsfAT1Sr
CorneiIle was of those beings OF strong IN
dividuaty who puzzle ordinary analysts OF men. hm
imagination was that OF poet, his understandngtns1
of oeican, his mind that ola Frenchman, his heart
that of child. Thus in this counterpoise OF qualities
bis imagination Is 20 systematized and 30 chastey
Gagged by his logic from all irregular bursts OF pssson
or flights of fancy however beautiful or bold, thai
that which II less severely classic might awaken sym
patby, in its cold ststuesque symmetry ELECTS only 3D.
miration. This admiration for the ideal without SYM
patby for the characters is however to some e1'cm
humsnized in him by the sincere simplicity OF tns
chd-ike heart which 80 often warns bis IN ferstand
ing into surrounding the ideal with tender tdoughiai
touches, that appeal TO sentiment without cisshing
with logic. And although the first impression OIL al
who read the plays of CorneiIle will doubtless DO but
one ofcod admiration they win find on more ntmsn
acquaintance glow gradually into q more genia iees-
ing. Then his French mind made him paragon Of
intellectual taste. His glory to introduce com
mon sense and the highest truths upon the ssge-pre-
septed here In antique costume there with coury ps-
lance. again under the mask Of comic scene or In
strains Of gallantry and romsnce-but truth wths',
nfusng profound solemn feeling elevating the soul
of his audience purifying the fevered atmosphere Of
the stage and creating noble aspirations In tho ns-
tional heart. Thus VIC find Louis the Fourteenth 50
elevated by the magnanimity Of his Augustus toa'
before the play was over he set free the captive
Rohap, for whom all the beauties OF his court hed
ple AIDED In vain. The holiness Of his CHINA moved
the great Condo to tears bis sertorius filed Tmcnns
with wonderment Madame de Sevigne was In ecstscy
over Horace. and the Cid finds dwelling the lips~
every child in France.
Then the character Of the people to whom CornessS
spoke must DO, be forgotten. Toe French sre e'se@
tally dramatic In their daily life To reproduce IN u
evening on the stage the eIctelDen, o. pes'o,s
which et,ed them during the day would weary with
GU, interesting VIVA. delights them is to soc persons.
tons Of passion striaed OF eIcnemen'' ,%p
.ha,,,DsJ hv reasoc, and neontinence and voiuoa"S
Al ,,,,su.io, trsmme!ed and confined py se'0'
..,hs,i,.l hau;csdes. They have anseur perform,
sness every hour Of the day in France. Every "0Ia
and ss. aud grin and hown Is perfect ple's o. ~
,,y Ybuni,ious Of sentiment. and explosions OF eeD
ton are the very esments upon which ct home .os.
sa.a,s Is daily ssd, bu, what to ,hsm bring, INC
u surprise V 10 behold sentiment w'tnoa' Wv $3.50.
al .eaia.!en, emotion without tho crash Of eAps'
The slsaamx q passion With reason. reason WIN
s,.,s ~,.ss x,,a ,as., .ast with decorun' dsso.u~
sss .lSpssl,y-ssansa .ss's exhibited IN tho aiss.
=, m ~. sws.,. in every phase Of thought and M
and s.AIsi,ss vaA ,hs nsss s1Sssiis charm q ssA