The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-08
LrTHRATURH.
REV1E or VIEW BoOKS.

Mr.. Boxer enjoys the distinction of being
the only American author of the present day
who has written an actable play that is not
beneath contempt as a literary performance.
Why our poets and best prose writers should
so completely cut themselves away from the
drama it is not easy to tell and with dramatic
literature, as it is now, at its lowest ebb, it
would be most gratifying to see writer of
real ability devote himself to what is certainly
a noble style of composition, and endeavor to
raise it to something of its former dignity.
Most modern poets, however, have shown a
sensitive dread of the theatre. Lord Byron
purposely CONSTRUCTED his dramas so that they
could not be acted, and Swinburne appears to
have had the same idea in view in his
ChdSteLa9d and Queen Mother, two works that,
with little pains, he might have made first
rate stage plays instead of merely dramatic
poems. Shelley it is true, was controlled by
no such squeamishness, and in his Oencj he
specially avoided the temptations to overload
his subject with poetical ornamentation and
adhered strictly to his purpose of writing
drama that would act WELL He produced the
finest tragedy in the English language, out
side of Shazespeare-onea admirably adapted to
the stage, but which has been excluded from
the theatre on account of the unfortunate
subject. Bulwer remains as the only writer
of first-rate reputation who has made
real and successful effort to occupy the stage,
unless we except Mr.. Boxer, most of whose
dramas obtained fair amount of popularity
on their first production, but for some reason
or other they have failed to maintain them
selves in the regard of the public.
In looking over a new dramatic work by
Mr.. Boxer, therefore, we are inclined to
consider its acting capabilities as of even
more Importance than some other qualities.
In this respect Konigsma1b appears to have
the same inherent defect as most of the other
dramatic writings of Mr.. Boxer While it
might succeed as a novelty, it is doubtful
whether it is sufficiently strong in its plot and
situations to maintain a permanent hold upon
the regards of the playgoing public. AS an
acting play it is fully equal to the majority
of the novelties that are brought out at our
theatres in the course of a season, while as a
literary work it is out of all comparison above
them. The play, however, cannot be called
q strong one. The subject does not lack
BILE to rise above a certain level in working
out his theme The scene of the
tragedy, which follows very closely a we'll
known historical incident, is laid at petty
German court, and it is occupied with the
miserable intrigues of a worthless woman to
compass the destruction of a man who has
discarded her affections. 1t is hard, perhaps,
to tell Why but this play, like Schiller's
CdbdJe and Li6b and Lessings Emilia G0yOtH
is belittled by its surroundings 1t is impos
sible to feel a real tragic interest in the jeal
ousies, plots and counterplots of the
princes and courtiers Of little seven-by-nine
German principalities All the genius and
fiery energy of Schiller and the fine poetic
taste of Lessing could uot make either
C05dle md Lje6 or EmtLjd GdI0tH more than
mere bandbox tragedies. 1t is but just to Mr.
Boxer to say that this sense of ittleness is
not so apparent in K0nigsntaTb as in either
of the works named, probably because it is
based on a real tragedy, but it still lacks
something of the dignity that is indispensa
BILE in a tragic work. Mr.. Boxer does not
seem to have derived any inspiration from his
subject: his blank verse is smooth and flow
ing, it is studded with poetical thoughts, ant
while the drama is evenly good throughout
there is, even in the eliminating scenes of the
tragedy, lack of energy that makes them ap
pear tame and feeble.
That Mr.. Boxer can write energetic verse
powerful in its tragic interest, is shown 10y
his spirited poem entitled ''The Legend o
the Hounds" The story is told of bruta
Cornish squire, who, because his hound
show themselves laggards in the chase before
a company of cockney visitors, throws then
one by one into the blazing mouth of the
Colebrook furnace, not even sparing Flora
the favorite dog that had on one occasion
saved his own life. The subject is a horrible
one, but for genuine poetic vigor of expires
sion it Is unsurpassed by anything that ha
yet proceeded from Mr.. Boxers pen. AS
specimen of this remarkable poem, we quott
the following description of the squire
death-bed:-
''IIe spoke: where's Flora?' None replied.
That's strange? and then he weakly tried
TO peer around. Gone, gone! then
Must fOllOwp With dreary sigh,
AS one accepts n coming fate,
Foredoomed him from the earliest date,
The Squire turned slowly ON his bed
open the curtains; raise my head!
For must look my last tonight
on Coebrook Furnace. What a light
Circles its head! What angry reeks,
In blue and white and yellow streaks,
Roll DER II, hasnlng nigh and higher
Whene'er they feed the raging fire!
Give me some drink.-Not that damned stun,
But whisky! have had enough
OF doctors potons. Let me slip,
With honest liquor on my lip,
out OF this life. long to iee:
Better may come worse cannot be-
AS he was ordered thus, the nurse
Held long and oft the liquid curse
Tyat tna at.fra afu mon no n1aan1 had,