The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-04
NEW YORKISMS.
H'oHt Our olUn Correspondent.

The event of last evening was the opening of
boolh's new theatre, situated on the southeast
corner of Twenty-third street and Sixth avenue,
although the advertisements insist that it is on
Twenty-third street. between Fifth and Sixth
avenues. Let us hope that this solicism is in
Difference to the inhabitants of Twenty.third
street. which is usurping the prestige formerly
due TO Fourteenth.
MIR. Booth cannot complain that enough has
not been said of his theatre in advance. News
paper notices have been showered upon 1t as
thick as pellets in a stage snow storm, and
sufficient encomiums have been lavshed to
MI folio. The architects have been wor'
shipped; the superintendent of construction has
been glori6ed; the mastermasons have been
fallen down before; the roofers, the plasterers,
the iron and granite workers, have been indi-
vidually Compimented; the artists in doors and
windows, the decorators in fresco, the mosaic
hoorers, the Italian marble cementers, and the
designers Of chandeliers have come in for no
small need OF praise; the plumbers the gas
men, and the s!eamheaters have been hattered
10 the top of their bent; the chair manufaC-
turers have been set upon pedestals for public
contemplation; the stage carpenters and
machinsts have become the criterions
of the metropolis; the costnmer stands ready to
be apotheosized the scene painters, an more
particularly the act-drop artist, have had an
extra etc nifty of fame thrown in upon the
several they have already enjoyed; the up
holsterer and the purveyor OF furniture and
appointments have experienced eulogums
such as are pronounced upon greater men only
after death; and the introducer of the patent
electrical light dwells amid the radiance of a
splendid notoriety. The principal members of
the stock company are, with the exception OF
Miss McVickar, we'll known to New York, and
therefore to the United States. Miss McVickar
only arrived here OH Tuesday, and last night
made her first appearance, believe before
metropolitan audience. She is very
Interesting improvement upon the young
lady who recently supported Mr.. Forrest in
similar round of characters. Miss Fanny
Morant is brilliant secessionist from
WaNack's, and Is engaged for roles
of which the ''Nursen in Romeo and Juliet
may be regarded as the exponent. Mr.. Mark
Smith is another Wallackian graduate, and
Edwin Adams has wisely carried his Dead
Hear. to bury 1t with the irrepressible "Mer-
cutio."
Between half past and o'clock last even
sing the intersection of Twenty-third street and
Sixth avenue was as crowded with carriages as
the vicinity OF the Academy of Music ever was
on the most brilliant ball or opera night of the
seas n. ! hardly think that the liqaid condi.
tion of the streets detained at home a single
holder OF seats. The scene inside at O'Clock
was similar in brilliaLcy and enthusiasm to
that at the Walnut Street Theatre upon the
occasion of Mr.. Booths first appearance several
seasons ago. Ii was such an audience as would
elicit The remark that the best people were
there, and the remark would not be construed
to mean manly people Of fashion aud wealth
alone. Scores of people were present whose
best claims to consideration were that they were
fashionable and wealthy. Men and women
distinguished IN the various worlds of science
of art, of the three learned professions,
and of pure social status, formed large
proportion OF the assemblage. There was no
part OF the house that was not graced with
ladies dressed in the newest fabrics which, in
passing from the sempstre5s' hands, had become
The expostions of the latest styles. Every
prominent Journalist, whom circumstances per-
mitted. was present, and the entire audience
was o shining and fragrant symbol of very
advanced stage of refinement aud intellectually.
Com eQueRtly the applause incidental to the
appearance of every artist was OF quieter
character than marks most such occasions, but
In its place was substituted tho.e profound and
inarticulate yet intelligent murmurs that warm
silence. and those brief and rare magnetic out
breaks VIII ch indicate the re:icence OF good
breeding and the dbd,,don OF enthusiasm striv-
ing with.ODe another.
Mr. Booth performed neither besterno: worse
than he has done scores of times in the same
character. Mics McViclsar is young, fresh, and
earnest and as Is inevitable, has caught some
thing of the mannerism OF M. Booth, who has
probably been to some extent, her Instructor.
1t is no hyperbole to say that the play was
gorgeously placed upon the stage one of the
innovations of the cast is that the system of
making f9urdntes transact the pant Of pages
and OF so introducing the leg element into the
legitimate, fHs been discarded, and the respective
pages TO "Paris," "RomeO," and "TYbaltn are
repre- tsented by so many youths. recognize no
familiar names among the inferior members OF
the stock company, and am therefore compelled
1 to ,lieye that the rumor respecting the en-
ga ,emeit of a number of aspiring amateurs
MY be true.
i From the pening OF Mr.. Booths theatre, we
i lay expect the commencement of a Shake
spearian revival throughout the United States.
1t WAS his certainty of the public inte.
Z rest that would be awakened in this line which
induced Mr.. Lester Wallack 10 bring out Much
Ado Abou Nothing, and the same reason is
spurring on the managers OF the grand opera
house TO the production OF The Tempest, There
is no knowing hpt that the legitimate drama
will ere long have a helping band to classical
music, and Italian opera tower above the spark
ling ruins of opera bOute.
You will have heard ere this of the arrest of