New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-09

no need OF my gong " EuoP' '''''io n'" eohes "
me-
Passing TO different branch of the fruitful srb-
iect. we come to the dramatic Secolections of the
| author from which we take the fun sketch ts
THE TRAGLDI,N COOKE.
The arrival of Cooke in this constitutes the
erest epoch IN the progress OF the drama, and j. the
p.rod al which the historian of the American stage
tuIns 10 contemplate the wonders Il scenic power
On the night ot the 2lst of November, 1910, Cooke
supearrd at the Park Iheaer in Richard the Third
before an mprrcrd,n'edy crowded house. His vast
renown had preceded him but every anticipation was
more than realized. He had reached his ily.ipurth
wear vet possessed all the physical energies Of thirty
The old plavgoers discovered = mine oi wealth in
Shake speare now first opened. His commanding
person his expressive count,nauce, his elevated front,
his eve his every feature and movement. his iutona
tions showed the great master who rclpsed all pre-
decessors. His capacious intellect, his boldne,s and
orpinatv M once convinced his heerrr~ at the SUI
periority Of his study and his matchss cnmprehen-
sion of his great author The critic pronounced him
the first Of living actors. II must suffice nj tins time
o observe that this remarkable and performer.
during his whole in the several cities Of the
Union. sustained his dramatic reputation unmparcd.
The -ad inrmitv which too often laid hold If him.
the casual detrment of his great abilities. dealt
with by the public more III pity than IN anger; and
indeed he seemed To be times be0, ed the more for
the dangers he had passed Dunlap appears through
out his whole biography 10 have delighted more 10
record biz inebraton than to unfold his great profess
sona powers. Perhaps il was easier 10 describe
debauch than to analyze the qualities of sublime
genius.
fury, il might be pronounced fooshnes- to Offer
passing remark on Cookies peculiar merits in por-
traying individual character Cibber has said, tn:
momentary beauties flowing from ar harmonious elocr
ton cannot, like those of poetry be their record
and everybody has felt the force of the observation
| had seen little Of the stage before Cooke and
must therefore hold in comp0rison in the little that
utter, the impressions experienced from actors Of
l.. 1,to lab a.lfV,rt -
Western world, was q most impas~oned exhibition
His aquiline nose was Of itself Il legacy here. The
reVengeu jew made his great and successful impress
sion with Tuba and in the trial histrumph was
complete. Iago, with Cooke, was )re palpable and
consIlnmate villain than with any other actor have
subsequently seen. think have seen better Mae
beth; the transitions of Cooke scarcely inme-
date enough for the tim1, hesitating, wavering mon
arch His Sir Giles Overeach not terrifically
impressive 5 that of kcan. His ktely was an intel
lectua repoSt. His Lear verified the opinion of john
son concerning that tragedy. There is no play"
says he, (Which 80 much agltatcs our passions and
interests our curiosity" Cookies Sir Pertnax for
comic force. versatility of features Establishments
inmitabe pability of address, aud perfect persona
ton of character Is acknowledged 10 have surpassed
MacklinS. 4 like tribute il due to his Sir Archy
NJ Sarcasm. believe that no actor in any one part
within the compass OF the entire drama ever eNccled
therein to an equal degree a. did Mr.. Cooke in the
Scotch character. The impression created by il.
repree ntation is too deep to be Obterated while one
surviving witness remains. II his greatest per-
Torrance, and was rendered the more acceptable by
his wonderful enuncation of the Scotch dialect. In
Of my medical visits to him at the Old Tontlne
his fiji st residence in New York incidentally spoke to
him concerning his PRESERVATION of Sir PcrtnaX, and
stated all the town had concluded he Scotchman
ihey have the same opinion of me in Scotland,
said he; Z" ain an Englshman." And how, Sir, did
You acquire 80 profound knowledge of the Scotch
accentuation | rcjoned. :" studied more than two
and half years in my own room, with repeated inter-
course with Scotch society i'll order tn master the
Scottish dialect, before ventured IT, appear on the
boards ip Edinburgh, Sir PertinaX, and when did,
Sawney took me for native 1t was the hardest task
] ever undertook
Cooke Justly demands greater space than this
cason warrants but the able critical pens OF the time
have COMMUNICATED his achievements, and the yete-
ran Wood, in his personal "Reminiscences ot the stage
has dealt with him imparally and dellneated his
character with great fidelity. He was of kindly dis
position Of great benevolence, and filled with chart
table impulses. His strong mental powers were i'm
proved by reading, yet more by observation ana a
study of mankind Self-rcaDce was HE distinguish
ing quality few ever at any tame able to over
come his dete mnation. His resolves scarcely ever
Welded. When not Influenced by the goblet, his con-
vesaon was instructive and his manners urbane; he
had tear for distiess, and hand of lberalty TOR
want lie was great original, and had the logic
within himself to Justify innovation. Ills master was
nature and he would subu il 10 artificial rhetoric.
He thought much of Kemble, and everything of Gar
rick both of whom he had perform. He cher
ished an exalted idea of his art, and demanded defer
ence from the mental and the noble He was thor
oughly inbued with the value of FRANKLIN aphorsin
I" IL YOU make O sheep of yourself, the wolves Will
deyour you.' lie tolerated no invasion of his nights.
And vet that one stain on his character, hs mania for
drink Ia periodical disease, often OF some duratlon
dethroned his high purpose, and at times degraded
him below the dignity of man. la that condition no
violence was ike his abuse OF kindest trends, eA-
.ravagance beyond limits, obstnacy nvincible On
the return of right reason, he would cast whitening
glance at those around him, and ask, hat part IL
George Frederick Cooke placarded for tonight =
Altar ono Of those pata strOphea which have
alluded paid him visit at early afternoon, the bet
ter to secure his attendance at the theater He was
seated at his table, with many decanters, all ex-
hausted save two or three appropriated for candle
sticks the lights in full blaze. He had moi rested for
some thirty hours or more. With much ado aided by
Price, the manager, he was persuaded to enter the
carriage waiting at the door 10 take him to the pay
hOuse. II was stormy night. lie repaired 10 the
green.room anC was soon ready. Price saw be was
the worse excess, but the public were not to be
disappointed. :" Let him, says the manager, only
get before the lights and the receipts are secure.
Within the wonted time Cooke entered on his par,
the Duke of GlOster. The pubic were unanimous IN
their decision that he never performed with greater
satisfaction. A. he left the house, he whispered,
g Have not pleased the Yankee Doodes J" Hardly
twenty. four hours after this memorable night he
scattered some $500 among the needy and SOLICITORS,
and took refeshment in sound sleep.
We might continue our selection of specimens to
On indefinite extent; but our limits are exhausted,
and we can only refer our readers to the Discourse
itself, which forms one of the most valuable con-
tributions to the antiquities of SewiOrk that for
a long time have been given to the public.
Tie Knicke6Ocker for January is issued by Mr. John
A. Gray, who takes the place Of the late Mr. ueston
as publisher of the magazine The editor commences
the new year with his usual yvacty, although, II we
| mistake not, he has completed about quarter OF
century in catering for the manifold tastes OF The