The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-19
Tho DrnInn In RnsSin


An English review has the following, in the
course OF long article on the "Modern Rus
sian Drama:"-
Very few of the travellers who every year
fit through st. Petersburg aud Moscow take
the trouble to visit the theatres devoted in
those cities to the national drama. And those
whom curiosity does lead there seldom stay
long; few minutes are sufficient to give them
a general idea of the actors and the audience,
and they are soon G ad to get away. Nor is it
TO be wondered at that the Russian stage eX-
cites in them so little interest for it is difficult
even for the most sympathetic spectator to
enjoy play written in a language of which
he does not understand single word, and
there is something excessively annoying to a
stranger in the midst OF an audience melted
to tears by sorrows which he cannot compre-
hend, or convulsed with laughter at jokes
which for him have nOt the slightest mean
ing. Consequently, we know very little in
England about the merits OF the Russian
dramatists, and indeed, most Englishmen are
unaware that the Russians can boast of any
thing like national drama. Yet that is the
case, and the plays which are produced at Mos
cow for the benefit Of an exclusively Russian
audience, would well repay stranger who
understands the language in which they are
written, for the time and trouble 1t cost him
to become familiar with them. They are,
for the most part, thoroughly national,
writer's, and devoted to the illustration of that
kind of life which is led at home by the ma
iority of those who come to see them. Much,
therefore, is to be learnt from them with re-
spect not only to the habits and customs of
the Russians Of the present day, but also to
their thoughts and feelings. And 1t is only
by means of writings of this or of kindred
class. that foreigner who does not reside in
the country has chance of forming correct
idea of what the great bulk of the people are
like. Representatives of the upper classes in
Russia are to be found at every European
capital or watering-pla and it is not difficult
to form at least an approximate idea OF their
characters. But middle-class Russians, with
few exceptions, can only be seen at home; and
as they, for the most part, speak no language
but their own, it is almost impossible for a
foreigner who does not live among them to
form any idea Of the views they take OF life,
or of the trains of thought which pass through
their minds.
With one class only the dramatist is for
bidden to meddle. He may laugh as much as
he pleases at the army or at the civil service,
at courtiers, lawyers, or merchants. But he
must be careful about alluding to the Church;
none of its ministers may he represented on
the stage. 1t would be considered sacrilege
to admit an imitation of any Of its sacred vest
ments into the wardrobe of a theatre. Even
in historical drama it is not allowable 10 in
trOduce clergyman OF any descrlptlOn q rule
which involves the patriotic dramatist in con.
siderable difficulties, the Church having played
SO important part in many of those troubloua
times which he would naturally be most de-
sirous to illustrate. On this point the censor
ship is inexorable; but upon most others, ever
where to our eyes the writer seems to be verg
ING upon forbidden grounds, it allows al
amount of latitude which may well astonisl
those who entertain the common notions sbou
Russian restraints upon liberty of thought AM
speech. 3, 80
10 be found in the ingenuity of their plots
They are, in fact, entirely devoid of origins
eentrivances or startling situations. Thh stor
generally unfolds itself as the piece goes OF
With a simplicity which is characteristic OF
very tender age in art, somewhat resembhn
that which mar ks the dramatic productions
india or China. There is very little compos
tion in the pictures the artist exhibits, whic
follow each other something after the fash'o
nj nanoramic illustrations. But as represei
lions OF Russian family life, they are nj
devoid of interest. There Is certain