The New York herald., 1866-10-09
RIsTo Ri!aaHa



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JsdssA-The Quesa or Tragedy In New
4 sf Mr Character. e.. ,.s.-.., ,a.,.
Rstor appeared last night In less Sensational drama
II ws may that term In connection with her name
than those or modern construction In which she has
already presented herseIr-MAry Stuart and Eliza
bsth-yet she was none the less grand the simple
daughter OF Israel tho Queen OF England and the
Queen Of scots The house was not as crowded ss on
previous occasions from which wc judge either that
the subject not attractive or that the spectators
in we're not fortunate In the class OF people
who comprised the audience there was little change The
elegance OF costume beauty and intellect was
everywhere present
Nothing could have been finer than the enmbe OF the
piece The costumes wsrc history; that OF Ju-
dith In the tnree last magnificent the group
ngs and tableaux exceedingly good, and gave
no little charm 70 scenes which otherwise might have
boon tame.
With few trivial variations The biblical story told In
the Book Of Judith forms the subject of the tragedy II
opens with the horrible crisis the fate OF the people
Of Bethua when lingering death by thirst suren
der TO the Assyran General Hoofcrnss becomes the
alternative The aqueduct which supplies the city with
water Is cut or Judith discovers spring on the monn-
tain top but II Is found to be poisoned by tho troops OF
Holofernes as all the wells in the vicinity Tho dire
resolve OF the Jewish widow risk her honor and her
life In an attempt destroy the centiogs acpsIe the
oppressor OF her people Isl familiar psrt Of Bible his
tory through which tue author of the drama conducts
In the first and second Here Judith appears as the
psnitcn, recluse one who rarely visits the city" but
sackcoh and ashes preserves the memory Of her hus
band Manses and offers up prayers for the safety Of
Israel in the solitude OF her home attended only by two
female slaves Here she nurures the sublime honght
to free her country and herself for the sacrifice
She prepares TO try the influence OF her transcendant
beautymade more brilliant by the cooperation OF
Divine powerupon the gorgeous barbarian Holofernes
Desolaton has faen upon inhabitants OF Bethulia
Beleagured in their rock bound CITY by an army OF
hundred and twenty thousand warriors commanded by
one whose name Is terror from the Euphrates to the
plains OF Damascus, who has swept Syria and Mesopo-
tamia and Lydia and Cilcla in the Of Nebuchad.
nezzar, 'fhc king Of all the earth the children OF Israel
arc pershng Treason, and cowardcc too have entered
into their councils Alone and sustained by he,pury and
her faith Judith seeks the camp Of the unsparng CON
queror resolved TO him death by her blandlsh
ments, and trusting TO Heaven, to tho pride Of her
lineage and the protecting shade OF her husband TO pre-
serve her from pollution The camncss and dignity OF
Ristori In the early OF the play while judith IL
secretly preparing herself for the ordeal which duty
calls her. but from which her pure shrnks por.
tray all the grandeur Of the heroine the sefdevoton OF
the martyr and the sensveness OF the chas,e woman
with marvellous fidelity Strengthened by the conscious
ness OF her own purity and her trust In God she re-
Dukes the taunts and suspicious Of tho high priest elders
and warriors The nerceness with which she meets the
Of love from Gothonei whom he discovers
her nuptial garments sparkling with dlamonds-half
concealed by black vcilprepared for the adornment
Of her person. and surmises her intention tho
camp Of Hoofcrnes, is grand. "Close thy lips Il am
al nf
md unworthy suspicious The finale OF this act thrilling
and majestic IL s, only prepares for the superb
acting which follows.
Thus far Ristor Is the calm, dignled and resolute
predesned agent OF the salvation Of the Jewish people
In the succeeding acts the purpose OF her divine nspa.
Jon Is carried ont In the tent OF Holofernes
comes the struggle batweon the womsn--shrinkng
u disgust from the embraces which she unwingly !n-
vokes Offering Establishments that she revolts romand
he selfdevo,ed heroine who IL content TO suffer al for
he good Of her people. Risors genius higher as
no dreadful tragedy approaches which, in the Murder
u Hoofernes Is destroy the Assyran armv relieve
he suffering Inhabitants Of Bcthulia and Sion from
nnihilaon The na act restores Judith TO her people,
whom she their safety, and presents the
word Of HpjofcrHs 70 The High Prssi In order that
hay Be offered up Upon tho altar Of the God Of Judah
With sublimity grandcr than that which marked her
acnaces and hcr triumphs she pels the insinuation
hat she could havc accomplished her purpose and
et return pure and when she cxclams, "Look up and
9azs upon me. Here h no trace Of infamy. I am
stained with blood but not by poution tho eecs Is
u magnificent
Although thsre is not rapid succession Of fleets
N this drama In Medca, Mary stuart or Elizabeth,
We question whether Judith is not the grandest part
which Rston has yet impersonatsd. Tonight she ap
pssrs as Elizabeth In Brooklyn, where on hcr last
appearance the receipts the Iarges, realized dur
rg her entire For the benefit Of suburban res
tents Rstori viii give Mary Stuart! at matinee on
Saturday, the nrst OF the season.