Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-18

America, we rejoice TO believe, will
be comparatively short.
mot AS BAD AS TRAYIATA."
From the New York Times.l
1t is not worse than La Traviata, ("
and not so bad as Camille" Mr..
BOueicault probably feels himself
much indebted to the anxious moral
lists who are always on the lookout for
something wrong, and led the public
to believe that an entertainment with
a strong infusion of a forbidden flavor
| in it, had been prepared for their re-
| ceptiOn. These defenders of virtue
| misled themselves. Mr.. BOucicault
| introduces us to some characters who
are generally kept in the background
by less courageous dramatists; but he
cannot be accused of pandering to
vicious tastes. We may fairly pre-
sumo that he aimed at nothing more
than to present lively drama of mod
ern life; and if we measure his work
by this standard, it must be pro-
nOunced a success. Mr.. BOucicault's
felloW-dramatists may cry out that he
is immoral, but they cannot accuse |
him of being dull. g FOrmOsa" is a !
play which interests the audience from
first TO last. FOrmOsa is one of those |
young women who sprung up from no |
one knows where, and are suddenly |
seen in the midst of the London world |
driving the prettiest grays in the
Park. Her portraits are to be found |
in every shop window, and the strict
est Of families are not above adding
them to their albums. We are favored |
in Mr.. BOucieault's play with an in
PRODUCTION to this typical "sOiled
doves" nest, and are literally al
lowed to see much of her companions, |
male and female-perhaps a little
more than we should have preferred
from choice; but Mr.. BOucicault
knows his public, and he need not be
afraid of appealing to their decision.
FOrmOsa happens to be the daughter
Of a retired pugilist, who is acting as
g coach y to the Oxford crew, Just be-
fore the University race. She saves
puts her father into business,
retires into private life" and falls in |
love with Captain of the OxOnians,
Tom Burraghs, (Mr. G.. ThOrne.) But (
two rascsls, who wish to get Tom and !
Toms money into their power, hap
pen 10 recognize her. Under a threat :
)f exposure, they compel her to Join
IN plot for Toms destruction. She I
S further moved to assent to this l
'ourse by jealousy, for Tom in reality
Gves young lady who has not had
FOrmOsa's experience. The tive ras-
,als-One of them, Major JOrum, is a !
,apital creation, and was admirably
played by Mr.. c. Fl. MOrtOn-inveigle II
Tom further and further in debt and
the scene where the old 9
tory of the spider and the fly Is en-
Icted being FOrmOsa's house. This 5
enables us to meet her L
riends and form fair opinion respect
ng the disposition of her domestic q
fairs. At last the snares are drawn q
Iosely around Tom, and he is arrested Il
or debt on the evening before the
ace. In an exciting scene he is res q
ued by the Cambridge men. For Il
nOsa returns to her parents, Tom mar q
les the innocent lady, Oxford wins .
he race, the rascals are taken charge n
f by the police for forgery, and, alto o
ether, there is no reason to complain =
f the neglect of any of the proprie- q
les rs ordinarily Interpreted through Y
he wholesome medium of the drama, Z