The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-23
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.


The great theatrical of the week has been the
presentation at the Holiday Street Theatre in sty
uneXamped in point of beauty grace and gorgeous en-.
belishment of the popular and really artistic spectacle
OF the "Naad Queen Our condemnation of the nmsv
pontess, and almost vulgar spectacle of Lalla Rookh1
time since produced this theatre was so swpcn
ing, that feel it pleasure be able with truth
and not only with TRUTH but for the purpose subserv
ing, as we believe great end in moralsto speak in
terms of the warmest praise Of this production
Specaces like the Naad Queen embodying as they do
the eternal principles of beauty, and appealing to the
highest powers of the intellect must necessarily exercise
beneficial effect. We, few years ago, elaborated some
views for another journal the aesthetic influence of arr
spectaces and the experience of time has only strength
ened us in our judgment. We, therefore, oc-
casion in degree to reerate them and give them
fuller uterance.
The influence of truly chase and beautiful specacles
-spectaces in which there is harmonious blending of
the natural and the supernatural the latter appealing
the high sense of imagination and thereby evoking o.
rather awakng the poetic instinctcannot be recogni
zed or properly appreciated by the superficial OBJ
server yet there is no more effective of refining
and sofenng the elevating the improving
the modes of thought and the morals of people
The good is the handmade and companion of tbe
beautiful. Let but the mind become imbued with the
soenng graces of the one and the love the other will
follow Just as the alteration of the Deity SPRINGS from
the growth of a true and pure religion in the soul
To the man of the world the mere utilitarian, the
Imagination has no those that baneul He
cannot for moment suppose nor perhaps he taught
believe what all history proves, that the character and
literature of people greatly influenced by their
local superstitions and traditions, and the habits of
thought begoten by early initiation into the realms of
romance. We would speak to him in vain of the marvel
stores the truly exquisite fctions of La Motto Fououe
or the weird tales of German writers-memories of which
dwell with through life while other greater events
and tales are obterated and lost would attemnt in
vain prove to him that the feelings of real life may be
purified and strengthened by the establishment Of fancy
and that the spirit OF truth and tenderness which sleeps
in every human SOUL only he fully aroused through
the power of the imagination. Yet all this is known
and felt by the student and faithful observer.
The American people, though not thoroughly romantic
by means unmaginatye race unfortunately
they are dependent upon other iands Tor those mystic
traditions and supernatural legends which greatly tend
to foster poetic
Germany is the true and peculiar home of mysticism.
Every mountain and valley and stream has its history,
which tells OF the wOndrous deeds antics of nymph
dryad, naiad demon. The Rhine-that glorious old
river whose name alone stream of poetry to in
undate the Herman BRAIN and flood tide of patriotism to
course through the German heart-that river. upon
whose shores hundred thousand voices inspired by
love of atherand sent up to the silver welkn the i'm
Sic sollen ihn NIGHT haben
Den freien, DeutSchen Rhein-
the Rhine above all is invested with world or 1aoand,
ry interest Not foot Of its banks or span of ito W.
tiers but has been the of en sports the reye of
sprite fend and all the wild marves of faerv or de-
mon lore In its placid depths, linked tradition tells
sleeps the accumulated wealth Of ages guarded bv see
less genii the mnions of strong yet beauteous
Who may essay to depict the gorie that the
regal dweers of the deepg Well their haunts prove
enchanted spots, and well and wisely hath the German
poet mortal youth Of the pers that best the
sacred stream
To the Rhine, to the Rhine, oh, do thou not CO.
My son, counsel thee we'll %
Too sweety thy stream of existence would fow
Thy heart would too joyousIy SWELL
From thy bark how salute thee the castles so bright
And the of cathedral renownl o'
In the mountains thou climbest the dzzjest begbt
And into the torrent look st down.
And the nymph rises up from the watery plain.
Oh, if but her smile thou shouldst see,
Should pale lips of Lurlei sing their sweet strain
Then lost oh my son, wouldst thou be.