New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-27
THB BATTLB OF THE sUPERNUaBRABIEs.


THE BATTLE OF THE sUPERNUMBRARIEs
The presentation of great historical
drama like Orchard Third" upon the
boards of small theatre, and with small
company, is apt to puzzle the ingenuity O
the theatrical manager. The big villain o.
the troupe may be ugly and truculenl
enough to fill the role Of the crook-backed
tyrant, the leading lady may be an ire
proachable Anne, and the young gentleman
who is to personate Richmond may be an
honor to his tin-foil skirt, and prompt to
march into the bowels of the land to any
desired extent but the armies who are to
cause Bosvorth Field to tremble with their
multitudipous feet are different affair.
To marshal contending hosts when you
have to compose them only bakers dozen
of seedy "supers' is a problem which
might daunt the stoutest heart. But il
must be done and so the ragged squad is
first marched on for the purpose Of captur-
ing Richard, and then for the purpose Of
capturing Richmond, lin which latter de-
sign, by the way, they do not succeed any
better than General Mcclellan and by
being led rapidly around skillfully dis
posed fat, and rushed in first at one wing
and then at another, they are supposed TO
suggest to the Imagination an immense
battle. To those. however, who know how
the affair is managed, the effect is anything
but impressive. and not only the intelligent
critics in the pit, but the gods in the gallery,
are apt to jeer at the simple sham.
The little squad Of disOrganizeTs 10 New
Orleans who, under the inspiration OF their
own envy and the pay of parlor P, are
attempting to divide the Republican party
of this state, and secure the defeat. of re-
construction and the regular state ticket,
are managing their little theatrical display
in the same style. They have a small
booth, and a most pitiful array of players.
Not since the time when to Polonieus
''came each actor riding on his ass" has
there been a strolling company of such
seedy guise A bakers dozen of political
hacks of easy virtue, ready to pitch their
sorry tent, set their shabby scenery and
"ply their vocation, whether it be to pro-
duce "history, tragedy, comedy, pastoral,
scene indivisible, or poem unlimited"
Stimulation is their profession, and their
previous history and experience have ad-
mirably prepared them. The bakers dozen
includes choice variety, Men who in La
fayette square in 1865 publicly denounced
impartial suffrage and Republican cen
gress, men who have always pretended to
advocate impartial suffrage and TO
support a Republican congress; men
whs have been graduated from the
rebel cause, and men who claim
to be martyrs to the wrath of the rebel
army compose the motley squad, and con-
tribute their divers talents to the slender
stock; and each brings to the troupe that
valuable faculty for assuming any part
which makes an actor Of general utility"
Their show is open, the curtain has been
raised, and the parade has begun. They
do more than attempt to personate two
armies they produce three, the Exchange
alley army, the Wells-stilIe army, and the
ghostly army of Cutler. Their scenery is
skillfully disposed, the "fats" are not want
ing, and by rushing back and forth, before
and hehind and hither thitber and Won
with beating of drums and blowing Of
trumpets they mimic the fury of tremen-
dous opposition and terrific conflict.
Indeed, the battle is more than terrific, it is
triangular.
But the intelligent observer is not de-
eeiEed He recognizes the actors under
their shabby DISCUSSES, smiles at their
feeble attempts at stage illusion, ana knows
that in the language of criticism their play
is bound to be effectually damned.