Washington sentinel., 1856-06-05
SENATOR MALyOLIO.

w no uutH not Tedu MS lWcHtn NiSuI
and admired the excellent illustrations of
Boydell?
In this play Shakespeare gives to us strik-
ing phase of vanity, that silly vanity which
magnifes triaes into importance, and makes
its possessor the ready instrument for every
trifer to play upon.
We have in this play Malvolio, the Steward
to the Countess Olivia, man of peculiar
vanity and his fellow-servants being deter
mined to play him a scurvy trick, bait his
vanity-his weak point is his "yellow stock
ings," cross-gartered. He is made to believe
that whensver he appears before his mistress
in these "yellow stockings" that his mistress
casts upon admring and favoring glances, and
that all he has to do is to buckle up to the
Countess in his yellow-stockings," and his
fortune is made.
He greedily snatches at the pleasing bait,
which promises so pleasurably to convert his
mistress steward into her lord and master. He
him believe that his "yellow stockings" are a
talisman to endow his mind and person with
irresistible attractions.
He accordingly adorns himself "to DEATH"
and putting on with scrupulous care the "yel,
low stockings rehearses in private, no doubt,
the speech and gesture, which, by the aid of
his yellow-stockings" are to raise him from
steward to be lover and lord of the Countess.
Thus clothed with the talismanic "yellow
stockings" he seeks the Countess. The illus
tration shows the Countess seated, and in front
the hero of the yellow stockings" and in the
rear, and on one side the wicked conspirators
peeping on. He opens with modest speech,
but the expected effect not coming, he gently
thrusts out a leg, neatly shrouded in "yel-
low stocking" the pleased look lighting forth,
anticipated triumph beaming in his counte-
nance, while the gigling conspirators are look
ing on. Success not following this move, a
change of position, thrusts boldly forth the
other yellow stocking" position after position
Is taken, and everything that could be done
with yellow stockings" was done. He had
been led to believe that they were taismau
making amends for want of grace and edu.
cation, and to give him a charm and power
with his mistress, not less than they. Alas !
he was doomed to learn that their value Was
only that of yellow stockings"
In listening to the speeches of a certain Sena-
tor, one is almost inclined to ihink, that Shake
speare in sketching Malvolio was peering
through the vista Of time, and catching the
features of Charles Sumner.
His yellow stockings" are quotation-ouo
tation is to him what "yellow stockings" were
to Malvolio.
de appears to think no matter how feeble or
dlsJoined his speech; how incongruous its ma.
terial how antagonistic his premise and con.
clusion. He will put on his "yellow stock.
ings," and everything shall assume grace
vigor, and proportion. After laborinp in the
parturition of some of his own homely ideas.
he hastens with a glad countenance and
joyouss heart to throw over their shoulders
some beautiful garb of quotation, rs If the
beautiful mantle gave to the deformity thatit
covered an excellence corresponding to itself,
while, in fact it only makes a greater con.
trast
Malvolio was not more infatuated with his
yellow stockings" than Senator Sumner with
his quotation monia. 1t is to him the talisman
that yellow stockings" were to MaIvolio. We
have sometimes smiled at the resembling self
complacence Of the two, the one on the exhibi.
ton OF his yellow stockings" the other of his
quotation.
Mr.. Sumner has so long been Juggling about
the jewelled thoughts of others, and exposing
them to the admiring gaze Of many crowds.
that he has come to fancy the honor is his
own. As well might the donkey pride himself
on the value of the gold in his panniers, when.
in truth, his only share is to bear the burden.
Strip Mr. Sumner Of his quotation, and he
would scarcely have feather in his pinion
with which to fly.
dis claim to craftsmanship is like Malyolio's
claim to his mistress love and favor-his /" vel
low stockings"-his quotation. Had his ma.
rents the prescience Of Shakespeare, who has so
truly limned his countenance they would GER
tainly have christened him, "Quotation Sum.
ner," the hero Of the "yellow stockings" His
friends have played upon his quotations. as
did these of Malvolio upon his "yellow stock
ings." The one came as near being the hero
Of the countess, as hath the other to the stature
of statesman. The means in both cases
about proportionably the same.