Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-02-16

the number of soldies in theUnion army
from Arkansas over any other State in
the Union,
THBArRIoAL.-By way of little va
riety we give portion of theatrical
eritique, from late metropolitan" jour
nal
Mrs. F. W. Lander, formerly Miss Jean
Davenport, made her rehtree at NiblO's
last evening. The house was crowded
in every part with brilliant and fash
ionable audience. Senator and Mrs.
Sprague the Hon. Charles M. and Mrs.
Walker and their bridal party came on
from Washington and occupied. promi-
nent seats. Editors, divines critics,
judges, authors, actors, artists, million
aires, bellies, singers, leading politicians,
and all the various grades of the best
metropolitan society were appropriately
represented. When the curtain rose and
Mrs. Lander came upon the stage, she
was received with prolonged and enthu-
slastic applause. Having accorded her
this magnificent welcome, to which her
rank as an actress and lady alike enti-
tied her, the audience became not less
cordial, but more critical and the play
proceeded.
Mesalliance is play which has been
produced in New York several times be-
fore, under various titles, and which was
originally translated from the French,
we believe by Miss Davenport herself.
The plot is not very intricate The
Viscount DOrley marries the beautiful
daughter of a poor painter. His rich,
wicked and noble brother and sister try
to prevent the match, and that failing
they try to separate the parties. For
this purpose they prepare duplicate
dresses for masquerade ball, and ar
range it so that Leonie the Viscounts
wife, goes home. with the Marquis de
Brevannes, thinking him her husband.
Of course, the Viscount is informed
that she has eloped; of course, he pur-
sues of course he finds his wife and
the Marquis together. An Immediate
duel ensues the Marquis is wounded,
and Leonie is sent to the prison of the
Magdalenes. Two humble but faithful
friends bring her husband to see her
she convlnces him of her innocence, and
they leave the prison together.
Undismayed by this signal, and, as it
would seem, overwhelming discontinue,
the rich, wicked and noble friends Of the
Viscount demand fresh pack of cards
and begin playing new game. This
time they assail the Viscount, accuse
him of being a lunatic, and bring the
matter before the appropriate courts.
OF course there is great deal of trou-
BILE, distress and confusion. If it be q
very, difficult thing to prove a man in
sane, it is an equally difficult thing to
prove man in his right senses. Who
of us has not his little weakness The
weakness of the Count D'Orley is loving
his wife too well and crying too much
about her. This is brought home to
him much to his disoredit. Sundry acts
Of benevOence are also alleged against
him. If he had not loved his wife and
had been very mean, these facts would
have been equally strong proofs of his
insanity. However, it all comes right
in the end, and Leone and her husband
are happy ever after.
In the opening act-which let US sug
gest, ought to be cut down by half
Mrs. Lander was scarcely herself. In
the second act her voice found the range
of the theatre, she recovered her conf
dence and the audience was reused to a
genuine enthusiasm. After that every
point told. In the prison scenes, Mrs.
Lander was especially admirable. Her
acting is quiet, intense and sympathetic.
She does not shrek, nor scream, nor
beat the air, as is the fashion with star
| actresses now a-days. Neither does she
| affect the statuesque and depend upon
her poses for her effects. In everything
she is true to nature, and uses her art
| to conceal art most carefully.
Mrs. Lander is small beautifully
formed lady, with a sweet, expressive
| face, and voice as clear as a silver bell.
Her motions are very graceful, and she
| has none Of that stage walk or stride
| which Is as great nuisance as the stage
pronunciation. To see her act is TO be
convinced that there is still some hope
| for the stage She carries us back to
those old delightful days when it re-
F, quired brains, not brass, to be STAR
| We do not admire the play in which she
performed last evening; and although it
has always been popular, and always
| will be, probably, we really cannot I'M
| derstand what there is in it to interest
an American audience; for none of the
scenes could, by any possibility, have
| occurred In this country. And yet Mrs.
Lander makes the play intensely inter-
esting. She presented US last evening
with so moving picture of a suffering
but innocent woman that at times the
whole audience were in tears--and this
is an artists highest, greatest triumph.