Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-19
Lon don Stage Forty Years Ago.


much entertained with al article OH thu
"Lon.lcn Sage Forty Years Ago" writ,en
by plav-ga"r If that tine. The krMBLL,
wcro thcu an institution they carried upon
their shoulders Venice Preserved, Macbeth,
Henry thc Eighth. Isabella, Pizarro, The
Winters Tale, King Lear. When the Ken.
bici Mcre announced to appear. every avenue
leading 10 the theatre door was blocked up
hy a deuce mass an hour before the time vi
opening. The bcxes presented n noble a.
pect, gorgeous embodiment Of beauty, fash
ION, and magnifcencc Of attire. The second
tier contained such ladies and gentlemen as
had not time nor Inclination to make heavy
toilette; they appeared in bonnets, c!oaks,
,urtouts. &c, nc. Tho third tier was occn.
pied by theatrical persons, critics, editors,
and those who are on the free list, and who,
SAYS the writer, from motives Of dclicacy, and
certainly in very good taste, declined occu-
pyiny the best seats in the house, which are
paid for by visitors 10 the theatre. In the
first gallery, AS it was called, were the do
mestics of both sexes, and in still higher
gallery, a heterogeneous mob OF chimney
>wecpers, pick-pockets, DC. From tioor TO
ceiling the house was regularly crammed, 70
witness the tragedy OF Macbeth, the Tharc
bv Mr.. Kemble, Macduf by Mr.. }. kemble,
Lady Macbeth by Mrs. Sddons. The wri-
ter observes that John Kemble always insis-
ted on the insertion Of the proposition in the
play-bil, remarking that Macbeth was not
krmbie, nor was kemlle Macbeth, but as
Mr. kcmble was 10 perform the part OF
Macbeth, it must he announced with truth
A. well ~ grammar Ii is said that the pub
lie liked better 10 see John kemble alone. in
one OF his siashiug parts, than IN the letters
Of competition. A very graphic picture Is
given Of John ke,ntle in Curioanus. He
wa- powerful iii the display Of patrician
feelings, and when he stands for the consul
ship in the market place. and withjraws his
hand from the attempted grasp oi those citl-
zenS who promised him their voices. every
BODY p:tied hin,, and the sheer will which
he accompanied the expression OF "SreSt
VICES" was rc,cr"ei more iCrclhic ~ a!5
aG.I.ng hs hanG Lci,r, h:s Ease I" prevent
their yule; yo"e, Com rauci:ing !,:.n through
IN re senses than one. His quarrel witt III"
the ,,ibuncs. wkeI. lie threatened . shake
Brufus out of It's clothing, anu locke: as II
he meant to do it, WAS unanimously arp!ao-
ieG, and when, III has last interview with the
mob, he disdains to ask for freedom, and de
sires them to pronounce the steep Iafpe'an
death" and further on. eXclaims, The fires
Of the lowest hell fall on the people. call me
traitor the whole ri: rose Ut him, nine long
rounds d applause, mingled with scores Q;
braves in uncaYthly yoc'tcrat'cn. vlbrated
through the house, and it was fifteen m!n-
utes before the business OF the scene could
proceed The custom had just then CEN
mencea of calling for the tavorte after the
failing of the curtain, hut kemble never con-
formed to that absurd fashion.
The same writer gives some Interesting re-
mlisce.ccS corucctcd with the decli;!e Of
the drama, and the cultivation oil !CreiSn
music. During the war with Napoleon, ana
while the continent Of Europe was closed
against Great Britain, very little was known
to the middle classes Of Engilshmen d Tor
ciyn music: they were content with Braham
aud Mrs Burlington n singers. and with
Bishop aud Shields Is composers; nothing
hut native talent was tolerated at the thea
tres, and 50 great was the prejudice Of John
Bull against foreigners-with MI of whom
he considered himself ut war-,s,at John
kcmhle'S engagement Of the then cce'ra-
TED MADAME Catatni, 10 sang forty nights a.
Coyent Garden, was one ii the causes VI
the q. Y. row, and when lie made his peace
with the public, Ai- canccliing that engage.
roer, was a SIM .,,nl noa When the ront;-
nent was openci again by the yi,tory Of.
Watcrluo. tie per;-up tide Of continental
travel hurst forth again from the iast-:nchoI-
ed isle, and the read from CALAIS 10 Paris
was covered with moving masses, comprising
every grade OF society. Foreign music was
heard with delight and the great 0Tt'Sfts OF
italy found their WAY 10 London, and III the
coy.jss n},eratiy"c Of the Kings Theatre, or
Italian Opera, we're soon enrolled the names
Of .tnbrog etti, Fodor, Camporer, and Garcia.
whilst IN support 0f the ballet, Mercandctt
aud Angioini stood foremost. hen Ihc
English travellers returned from the cnnt'-
uent, they are said to have been Gulcd Of
their excessive John BuiiiNln. and !ull OF
aficctaticn, minced their words aud inter
larded their sentences with hutcherei French
and ncumprchcnsible Italian; could no! en-
dure the bnrc Of sitting out an English play;
thought Shakespeare good Of his kind but not
10 be compared with Mozart or Molierc.
But tor tic sudden and successful appear
ance of Edmund kean, Drury Lane Thea
tire would have been deserted. The writer
comes to the conclusion that the decline Of
The drama was consequent on the decline Of
Napoleon, and tina; if it had not been
put on the shelf 1T Waterloo, Shaks-
peare would not have suffered that fate at
London. Some brilliant stars have since
appeared acready and Fanny kemhle
twenty wears ago--but even then, the ltalinn
Onara was 50 much the fashion with the
Queen. mobility and gentry, that Mhcrcady
would be deserted by the fashionable crowd,
who would 90 10 the Opera 70 see the same
piece inr the twentieth time.-Rich. DtS.
RAILROAD HOTEL.
Ff1HT subscriber has rented The above HOTEL,
i formerly occupied by MiSs O'N,", IN the
Northwest corner OF Faycl.c aud King streets,
where he is ready 10 accommodate the ruh'ic win
Board by the Day, Week, Month, or Year, on the
most accommodating terms.
His table will be furnished with the best the
market can afford, and MS bar with the choicest
liquors, dc.
Persons travelling by the Orange and Alexan-
dria Railroad, and Manassas Gap Railroad. Will
ind this Hotel very convenient, IL being short
lis'acc from the Depot of said Roads.
crt l3--et JOHN ". RYAN
NOTICE TO GARDENERS AND HAIRY
IN MEN.-The subscriber sill rent \ lease 10
!. .pniis III. tenant, l;:at "GN kr, vi TRACT OF
LAND, called "BLtDHEiELb.' situated III
rectly west Of The Aims House. This :aru e"r-
tains about T!ilRTf-flfE ACRES. aaa il ad