The New York herald., 1862-09-24


Lin coin, Nixon, Forrest and Hsckett-
The Great Theatrical Men OF the Day.
The Presidents proclamation, published yes
terday, has frightened the country like burst
of sunshine. Men look through the wretchsd
but transparent negro in it, and see clearly the
end Of the war. Old Abe has evidently risen
in his stirrups and surveyed the field Of battle
as Mcclellan did the contest at Antietam creek,
and he has determined that the war shall be
over in ninety days. Therefore like Roderick
Dhu, be blows a tremendous blast upon his war
bugle, and the whole land gladly re-echoes
with the joyous notes. 1t is said that he had
some difficulty In beginning his performance.
One member of the Cabinet objected that the
bugle was cracked. Another didn't like the
President was broken winded and unable to
raise solitary toot. All such remonstrances
were, however, in vain. Abraham Lincoln put
his foot down, pufed out his cheeks and wound,
his horn as cheerily Us ever did one Of Robin
Hoods merrie men, arrayed in the Lincoln
green Of the Presidents ancestors, and sporting
in the depths of Sherwood forest
The people listen and rejoice. The Presi-
dents bugle makes this rebellion stagger, as
the horns of Joshua's priests upset the walls Of
Jericho. When Mcclellan began his triumphant
march through Maryland, the country took
heart and commenced to enjoy itself. As vic
tory after victory crowned our arms, and this
proclamation of the President began to be an
ticipated, the enjoyment became more general
and the people more lively. Who now can set
bounds to the popular exultation, when the
President has definitely and authoritatively
settled the period at which the rebellion is to
be ended, and when our army Of over million
of men is to sweep over the South like new
broom over dirty floor? Jacobin committees
and Governors Of New England, or any other
States, cannot delay this happy consummation.
The President will silence them, as he has
silenced the members of his Cabinet, and if he
were to make raid upon the rear of both
Governors and Cabinet members, and forcibly
eject them from his presence, no one would
weep. Indeed a new Cabinet would be no bad
idea in connection with this new policy. That
matter must however be left with the Presi-
dent, who is several feet taller physically and
several miles higher mentally than any of his
present advisers. II is enough for us to dance
with JOY and shout with poor, ragged, rampaut,
dirty, delighted Greeley-who don't yet see the
point-"God bless Abraham Lincoln remem-
bering to forget how Justify Greeley cried
"God do the other thing to Abraham Lincoln"
a short time 60. The Opera House and the
theatres have been crowded before; but they
will be jammed now. No wonder that every
one wishes to get rid Of his postage stamps and
see play. The theatres, quite as much - the
churches, are places of public thanksgiving and
praise, besides affording equally excellent
opportunities for the ladies to display the
latest fashions in dress and the last new thing
in bonnets. A victory, and the theatres are
crowded. A defeat and the theatres are empty.
There you have just the same distinction IS be-
tween the Te Deum and the Miserere, or be-
tween JEFF Davis fast day and Yankee
thanksgiving.
1t is interesting to notice how new enter
prises flourish in these Arcadian times, and how
old favorites come popping up to the surface, as
good as, and even better than, If they were
new. Here Nixon deserts his miscellaneous
and the vast house is crowded by thou
sands, anxious to hear sweet Patti sing and to
see whether or not she walks like other people.
At Niblos, Forrest, having played Shylock in
private all about the country, returns to act it
in public on his favorite boards, and is larger,
loudor mora yousculor opd mora nonular than
ever. To Niblos, also, comes Hackett, the
greatest of our native comedians. not more
witty in Falstaff than in propria person9, and
acting Colonel Nimrod Wildfre none the worse
that he occasionally tries shot at real deer
in his own forests in Ohio. These two great
actors-Forrest and Hackett-draw the largest
audiences ever assembled in Niblo's theatre.
Their tragedy and comedy are never old, and
people who have seen them hundred times
before 60 and see them again unweariedly,
as an Englishman never tires Of roast
beef, Yankee Of pumpkin pie, an
abelitionist Of the negro, Greeley of ly-
ing about Mcclellan, or Wendell Phillips of
hearing himself speak. They, with Mr.. Nixon,
are Lincoln's most efficient assistants in putting
down the rebellion. They amuse the people,
and persistently show up the bright side of the
war They are living exponents Of American
genius, and their large audiences prove how
lightly the burdens Of this contest weigh on the
shoulders Of the people. The London Times is
great deal more troubled about us than we
are about ourselves. England and France feel
our trials much more painfully than We do. We
cannot suffer much from the approaching taxa
tion, or the advance in the price of the monopo-
ly companys gas or the rise in silks, musins,
broadcloths and sugars while we laugh so
heartily at Hacketts fun, or applaud so noisily
when Forrest tears passions to tatters, or listen
so delightedly to PATHS melodies. There is no
mistake about it: Lincoln. Nixon, Forrest and
Hackett are the great theatrical men Of the day,
and are equally and deservedly popular. While