New-York tribune., 1867-09-19
THE DRiHA.
JEFrEYgONs "'

week of his en- ngagcment at the Cis mFc i"e""' ~
personation OF Rip pa, Wtnke has been witnessed y
large audiences and greeted with great enthusiasm We
are glad to record this fact IL speaks well Tor pabs
taste An Is not lost when In time Of scccsspl mea.
ocrity such work of art is properly appreciated no
Sr Jeersons success genuine triumph in the art Of
actpghe arr cr tho illustration Of which the stage was
founded and by yirue which the stage exists s AZ
least has no recourse TO red nre, burning seeaDoaes
boI,er explosions sensation headers, railway 'rai aud
stuffcd calves Working with heart ana braln al" ,si
inr the spell Of genius. he ho,S.s the mirror up 4.
nature, and through the p,dum of true art delighl
and teaches. and ennobcs humanity Delights-ta,
hs acting continually wins the response OF happy su
ter teaohes-for his personation Rip fo Wike sae
gests clear picture OF old time society and inoucates
broad ana gentle views Of human experience ennobes
for the blended humor and pathos OF Mr. Jcfersons
nature as revealed In this performance, powerfully
stimulate sympathy with a that Is best and sweetest In
human life. 1t s impossible to and understand bic
Rip Van Wnk,e without being happier wiser and better
for tile contact Of fine nature rtthat aceQmplshes
this result is certainly worthy Of all praise 1t like
wise worthy OF serious rejection. Every con-
dition Of good acting is fulfilled in this performance.
| The conception is distinct as well as true,
| and the execution is without flaw. The kind,
lazy good natured, dramdrinking old Dutch spendhnit
Is reproduced thoroughly and perfectly. Not an i'm
pressive heroic figure, certainly Not a man who,
either in himself or his experience has great moral sig
nifcance. But delightful parsonage, for all that Far
more delightful we think, portrayed by ME- Jefferson
than as described by Irving For the comedian-avang
himself OF the evident opp0rtunityhas deineated Rip
Van Wnkle as Of very superior nature He is not
conspicuousy intellectual indeed but bis temperament
is of that fine fiber that everybody loves He passes h
time in dleness he dsspates his property; he runs "
large scores at the tavern; he s thoughtless
and careless, and jolly; but he Is the friend o
the children the dogs know him, and wag theI,
tails at his approaehj everybody has god
feeling for him, though nobody may have good word
for his way of life We all know this order oil
man. He is generally as poor as church
mouse He never did bad action in ail his life
He is continually bcfriending the weak ana the lowy.
He always wears smile upon his face-he reflex OF hh
loving gentle heart Ambition does not trouble him
His wants are few He has cares-except perhaps
now and then, when he dimly feels that he may have
wasted time and talents when the shadow OF the sor
rows OF others falls darky his heart This rare,
however; for, at most times he IS bright as light and
clear as wind" Nature has established with him kind
of kindred that she allows with only chosen few. IL
him shakcspeare's merry ideal Is suggested. The sing
ing birds are his musicians the flowers fair ladies, and
his steps no more than delightful measure or adance
This manner Of man Jeferson's Rip Fds Enkk ap-
proxims,es That is the of the inuenee which
it exercises all sensitive hearts No one would
think Of setting him up rs modeL But.
man exists We work hard, most OF US, we are 80 full
Of care aud trouble borne down with sense OF duty
so anxious regulate the world and put everything To
rights that contact with nature that not jos for
all this din OF labor that lives In an atmosphere Of sunny
ideness and the very embodiment OF goodness aud
Innocence and mrth, is positive relief This Is the
chief feeling with which Mr. Jederson's personation
Of Rip Van Wiake inspires The halo Of genius Is all
about It, II we come particulars Of the acting IL Ia not
difficult by what means this effect IS produced
Perfect sincerity true humor true pathos vivid imagns
ton o gentleness Of temperament that Is akin with
yioets and peaceful brooks and slumberous,
summer Clouds and soft music heard upon the waters ON
sart nights of June-these the springs OF Mr. JEFF
fersons art. How merry he IL, with his boon compan
ions how tender with the children; how quaint In out
whiting enemy; how natural In enduring his wifes
rebuke how manly and pathetic in feeling her bitter
and rushing forth into the night and empest how
Light and human in his strange interview with
the ghosts; how perfectly truthful In the waking from
the long sleep; how daZed, and sad and nexpressby
plantivc, yet how full Of huinor, in his talk with the
innkeeper OF the generation when he asks about
his friends and his old dog; how sweet and touching
in the fathers recognition Of the daughter;
how consistently and truly Rip Van W'nkh
from first 70 last The stage is honored In
being able 10 point such gem OF art The generation
Is blessed that see and enjoy 1t. Only one sad
thought comes 70 we muse over this triumph In
dramatic artthe thought that much excellence must
with him. Legend may keep its memory for time alive;
but legend grows cold No art can mmortalixe
Acting All the more then, let US remember to epjoy
while yet they remain TO the few creations OF dramatic
genius that give uster 10 the passing age. Prominent
among these creations, IN time, is Joseph Jesrsons
Rip Tan Hinkie.
MADAM RIsToRI's FIRST APPEARANCE.
Last evening was very pleasant one ut the
French Theater The house presented uncommonly
cheerful appearance. Many familiar faces appeared In
the audience Fashion has evidently begun transplant
her court from odorous and solemny besu
fal seashore to the marble halls of the metropolis.
Madam Ristor greeted by the earnest plaudlts Of
cultivated. refined, and tasteful assembage. Such .
company indeed, is naturally attracted by her acting.
Except upon the score OF beauty and physical
power-which are apprcciabe by all the word-she ap-
peals directly intellect and culture. And IA an honor
to city that she finds here such ready, hearty re-
sponse The welcome extended TO her night should
her that the woman not less than the actress has
won abiding place in the esteem OF this
community She appeared as Medea-a eharac,
ter that she personates with equal accuracy and
power Both character and personation. howeyes
are well known that elaborate description OF
them would be inappropriate here. We cannot omit TO
recognize thoughnor can 1t be recognized too often or
too fullythe spell Of bounteous and beauteous woman
hood that Ristori upon all hearts In this ne
and glowing, and deeply imaginative performance.
Nature has been very liberal TO this actress Not aone
in sumpuous physical gifts does this but in
the aboundng life that pervades her every action No
narrownes nadequacy thwarts the expression OF her
emotions. swhstever she thinks feels she Is able TO
utter and her symmetry generally enables her to
utter it in accordance with the laws Of art Criticism
however may busy itself with controversy as TO the
limits OF her intellect, her imagination, and her
sensibity-s perfectly satisfied here In her ex'
ecution there Is nothing indefinite at any time As to
this particular personaton Nedeo il seems TO US that
both conception aud execution Of express and ad