The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
PRETTY ACTRESSES.

original and primitive upon more grounds than
one. That the species always existed we have
sufficient evidence, but its developments take
so strong ard decided q Iart in the modern
shape, that, except In wide lines we cannot
assume that the parent is altogether represented
by the offspring. There are, of course, points
of resemblance but they are few, and not at all
of character TO be partlculsrized Some of
them we may Touch upon, but others do not
admit of 6isquisition. without recalling the
"palmy days of the drama" to give an authority
to the opinion, we are inclined 10 believe that
there never was time IN the history of the
stage when our actresses exposed themselves so
much beyond the degree required for the honest
purposes of their art as, the present.
The female gentlemen of our burlesoues dis
play themselves in a fashion which indicates the
level to which the profession has fallen, and the
manner in which their saucy attitudes are ap-
plauded serves TO show that they have indeed
succeeded in making the taste by which they
are enjoyed. When famous French novelist
habitually dressed in coat and trousers, it was
SAID of her that the disguise would have been
complete if she had only been a little more
modest; and when young lady now struts her
plantation dance, wriggles the jockey step, or
indulge in the reflection that the representa-.
uons would be the more perfect for about as
much reserve as would render them decent. It
is not much for us to boast that our dialogues
are free from the brutalities Of Wycherly or
Vanbrugh, if we supplement street music with
gestures systematically unchaste, and encourage
women as undraped as acrobats to illustrate
by their department quite as much mmodesty
as would season a comedy of the old school,
The costumes worn by actresses in our bur.
lesques are evidently designed without the least
ahectation even of coquetry. The singing
chambermaid, with her apron and front pockets
moves in legitimate circle of influence: her
mods and walk are fair business: she uses a
woman's grace to enlist our sympathies in her
part, and perhaps slightly in her own prettiness:
but it is quite another matter when she wears
her pockets differently, when there is nothing
for the sex 10 retire into and when with an i'm
pudent daring she upsets at strut every notion
we might have had of that feminine sense which
ought to distinguish a lady. 1t is a bad feature
in the pretty actress, too, that in many cases
not only does she look to the gallery for an
plause, but she may oceasi onally be detected
ogling side box i'll which the occupant is
carefully retired.
We are not the least concerned for the snecial
repute of actresses; they have quite enough of
advocates in the press. The critics have ex
hausted the epithets of praise upon them.
Funny writers are funnily complimentary:
writer's the reverse of comic are solemnly
tender with them-lugubriousy atfectiouate.
What the amount OF virtue amongst them NAV
be we have no way OF determining, and a great
deal OF private virtue is quite com patible with
the degraded Viciousness of branch of art;
SILL the actresses are, beyond doubS, spoiled
into style OF exhibition which places them on
the very confines which divide the pure from
the Impure; and IT they choose to play there,
1t can DO them no harm to learn the exact posi-.
tion they have been induced to assume.
1t is possible we may be reminded of the
"Garter" motto, but there is little faith now-a-
days in the guilelessness of White Quakers, or
in the flimsy reasons behind which any other
form of imprudence disrobes. Stage Dianas
may regard their Greek and natural integu-
ments as quite consistent with the accepted
reputation of the goddess, and IN doing so
may loop up single garment until it as nearly
as possible defeats the object of a garment
altogether; but they must be prepared to have
second Interpretation placed upon the mode
have seen feminine Apollo within a few inches
OF being Bevidere, and a female Jupiter who
could, with slight change, have appeared as
Menken. In fact heathendom histrlonically sets
its face and legs against the innovation of cloth
ing to within tunic such as Mrs. Leo Hunter
proposed to adopt and such as Mr.. Leo Hunter
incontinently objected to. Even this tunic is
being curtailed, and is folio wing the wake of
the bonnet OF ordinary life. When the mart
demands long gown, the invariable rule now
followed in such a distressing case of OBJ
structed talent, is to have the gown tucked to
the knee at one side at least and the strate.
gems by which that side is kept to wards the
audience proves how genius, even when tram
melled, is able to take advantage of any little
change for the employment of its choicest ac.
complishments.
But 1t is not on the stage alone that onr
pretty actresses figure so attractiyely. ColIev
Cipoer regretted the exigency of the dramatic
calling by which the instant graces of the
player were lost to the world; but he know
nothing OF photography, or of the camera sort
OF graces which the lady performers of our
time are secure of transmitting TO posterity
You may buy theirportrats exactly as Won have
seen them perform. If there is a slleht differ.
ence, the difference gives you the benefit of
more than you noticed behiud the footligbts
The pretty actresses are fast driving the nets
OF the ballet to a desperate rivalry of atti.
tudes. In truth, they have already done as
much for the carte shops as Enslish dancers.
and it is only the Frenchwomen who can baat
them on their own ground and, we must
admit give them odda Nor ara ro,, lor. = 4,