New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-16
THE DRAMA.
JANAUsoHEK AS CATHERINE THE SECOND


which cannot be told without certain measure OF
lxty That Of Mr.. Albert Lindners tragedy OF Cath
ernc the Second seems TO be story Of this order His
tragedy at all events is long We will say that
it TOO long. though for do not clearly how it
could judicOusly DO much curtailed; but 1t con-
tains passages which. in the representation Of It,
the spectator inclnes to 90 to sleep. This seems to
indicate that its subject is undramatic. That fancy
will be the verdict of most OF its critics. Catherine
the Second" historical play In five 1t swritten
in mingled blank and prose. 1t introduces eleven
characters, exclusive Of auxares. Its scene ia laid In
St. Petersburg II presents historic picture Of the last
days of famous Russian Empress; and that picture
ia considerably heightened by the Incidents and the coors
OF romance 1t depicts the centious despot at the age
OF &c years dwelling savlsh court and conspring to
effect the diplomatic overthrow and conquest OF Sweden
1t puts forward Swedish noble, Duke Suedermdntdnd,
IA her arcn opponent It's action concerns game or d.
| plomacy What that game is we will not. in detail.
unfold lest we become az prolix Mr. Albert Lindner
Suffice it TO say that Catherine Wishes to join IN marriage
Gsrls King OF Sweden, and her own grand daughter,
Princess Alexandra. and that her enemy, the swedish
Duke desires to prevent the making OF the royal match
And the latter succeedsth0ugh his means are none OF
tho incest He employs. indeed son of the Empress,
YuyisG by name, the fruit Of Of her amours, igno-
rant Of his parentage and reared In exile This person
age is a good youth and fond Of preaching Tho cumi
nation Of the play is in the confronting OF these two per-
sons This effected In act fourth where the dramast
| has cOntrtYed distressing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tHo SON
shot in prison, by the order, and in the presence,
of his unwitting mother. Catherine Is then
informed OF the dreadful TRUTH and the tragedy temi-
mates it'll the public ayOwa OF motherhood followed by
her deceaso beside the coffin OF YrieG. 1t will be seen
that situations give scope for the manifestation OF
the strongest possible emotion. Janauschek improved
the opportunity In truth she played from first to last,
like one born the purple" Catherine may not have
had heart IN life but she has in the pay-and it
beats superby In Janauscheks bosom There were mo-
mcus progress Of the persOnaton when the tiger
nature was in kind of sad dcsoate lehargy besot
by tender regrets and awed by remorse. There were
other when 1t reused into full. thrilling and electr-
cal life In all tho actress magnificent II will be
no fault OF hers the tragedy fails 10 take hold upon
! the popular miud-as think will be tho case. In
| the miscellaneous acting. there no eminent or
very considerable merit To speak long speeches III
bonbastc manner, and then to stalk off, on sth legs rs
II on stills. appears 10 be favore German idea OF act
Ing good deal OF this was done. the occasion, aud
IL was udlcrous Very little effort made TO give the
new tragedy n suitable scenic setting Historical aeeu'
| racy and completeness OF detail would unquestion-
! ably add great deal 10 tho effect OF
the play; and concentration OF interest ana rapid
y Of would be 90 II still greater inyigorator
If only they were possible The great point in drama,
OF course acton with all the necessary and only
the necessary words THIS point Is not made IN cain
arnc the Second" Janauschek was called before the
curtain the end Of the last three actsand very warmly
| spp,uded There was n numerous audience present,
Notwithstanding the rain. "Catharine" may be seen
again evening Saturday, close her present
engagement. Janauschek viii appear as Medea
wALLACK's THgATRR.
"Thc Rivals attracted large audience, on
| Wednesday evening, at wallacks Theater. and was
heartily enjoyed such excellent comedy ought to
be- when oIceIlenily played Last night Masks and
PAGES" repeated Tonight we may sec " Loves
Sacrifice" and TO morrow night The Stranger Tho
/ I.., fark Mon.
day and Tuesday "Biow for will be deferred till
the old pieces have had their run. ..
EARTH AND MAN.
At Aemania Hall. on Tuesday evening
Prof Adolbhus Iohde gave private view Of his gcoos
cal exhibition entitled Earth and Man" Tho entertain
mort lasted about two hours. and thoroughly en-
ioyed select company Of scientific men. members or
the clergy Journalists aud other persons Prof Rohdes
illustrative lecture was read by MIR Charles Rosenberg
who gave pleasant and effective expression tO learned
aud appropriate Discourse. Earth and Man" does
not disappont expectation. Considered rs q work
| OF art, IL Is beautiful and admirable. Considered
as pictorial representation OF the facts aud
theories science deeply impressive II delights the
eye therefore aud 1t feeds the mind Tho starting pont
ia the exhibition chaos: the closing point Is tho living
world Of today with its supreme deni1cn. The
subject OF the intermediate stages Il physical develop
meut through the millions Of that have been CON
sumed in tho growth Of the earth to Its state. In
1
within Itself and those stuous and patient eyes. search
ing backward the past read that grand record line
by line, tho vast paliinpsest OF the physical crea
ton Altogether. then, Prof Rohde's exhibition tells
tho story OF the world. Not tedious
style neither with ycrbagc and prodigal waste OF time,
but picorally aud dramatically in this wonderful
tale unfoded. Tfty-seven pictures coDdense and com
prise Il ALL They show tho formation Of tho ear;hba
fret thin crust that covered tho fiery mass OF life;
the bursting outward Of masses OF inoandescent matter
the kneading 10 speak, OF tho materials 81 earths
structure the first appearances OF vegetable lfe the
suseoont gernnation OF animal lfo the great geologic
periods due succession each having its peculiar orders
OF vegetable and animal the awful monsters OF distant
ages the structural changes In fish, Bird and beast tho
appearance of the earliest abOdes aud mechanical
implements Of the human race, as shown In the sub
marine remains OF tho Swiss lakes and finally. the
great triumphs OF man in the noblo civilization OF
ancient Greece This magnificent procession Of the
clements Is scarcely needful 10 say comes home to
the mind with awful and solemn force To look upon
such pageant and be unmoved by its grandeur and its
significance - to be souliess and duh indeed. We sep
aIate this exhibition. OF course, from all religious
questions and interests IL deals. for the most
part with incontroyeriblo truths Of physical science,
as read In the earth ITSELF expounded by OF the
deepest students and wsest men who have over lived
with spiritual matters II does not assume to cope
The first cause behind and beyond chaos, untouched
and unprecedented The mystery Of the future, too re
mains a mystery stin. What learning can read Is duly
read and then the book IL closed The presenter, we
believe adopts the well known theory Of Darwin TO
the origin Of species; and, In 40 far as that
theory 10 introduced into his exhibition, " Earth
and Man" stimulates the old dispute, upon which,
Of course. would be idle for us 10 enter. Let us
emphatcaly say bowevor, that Darwins theory is not
yet proved, and that no spectator OF Prof Rohdc's
admirable paintings will need TO adopt 1t against his
convictions Much may be learned. though. OF that
great theme which Pope has told ne In the proper