New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-09
THE DRAMA.
JEFFERSON AT BOOTHS THEATER.

Che boartIest enthusiasm Such work OF aft 70 i .,
serson's personaton Of Rip YGa Ri"kIs 40 ~ a.
At all must be to speak Of it from the hesiS -
nom the head There are hundred peau,o'
nOu "0 =, - rear.on,s acting Of it, which sat
-, a. ,,ay,,ent and fascinate the sehSo Va
symmetry But underlying all tneso ,a,,oate
there il a magical sweetness OF TEN and
blending OF humOr. pathos' gehuehess' i.a Soon
dreamy repose-which awakens the quioAes' "Lu -
est svmpatby This subtle spirit Is the po'e Iagr
40, yLrosontatiop All possible labor-and MI 'enV.
son suns ND in this performance the culture ~, .bo4
many years Of professional tol-eoulu nos are n
charm Its the heavenly gift IL Is lho ie
-, t,,,ersou with such fine and far-reachihs 0hN
u "h"' - tonobt strain that sheds beauty on
49, ;, =, ,bc nresence Of this power, cIlVlClsn nae
-. &C artv and that Is the duty OF IeooHn
Non An that can 40 III 49, -
repius which enchants US, Is TO greet d" WV $500
and gratitude. With reference, however, " '' u" 80
ont of this power the function ofcriucism Is dlueI'
80 II can describe and define, and therein do justice
A. ore measure TO the conscience the method ana inc
EilI of the artist In depicting Rip Van W'k MI Iei
ferson attains the perfection Of the actors ar"nch -
20 deIineate distinctly individual character III N"u
representative phases Of experience through
ats ges of growth till the story of life Is conPlo'ey
told II understood Of course that both the
nnd the story must be powerful, interesting anu
dramatic-so that art may have an adequate suIy'S'
Whereon TO work The condition IS amply iulhIo" ~
this case Rip Van Wii,kLe, as drawn by lrVing-"ho
legend from German sOuICt-lo a N"N'''1
of man. uncacuated to inspire interest in himself IL Is
the adventure that peases, and not the adVehtuief
But RiD Van WtRkie, drawn by Mr. JEFFERSON, Is su
perior sort Of manpartcuarly in the emotional nature
who, under almost any condition Oh circumstances
voud strongly attract and deeply impress lie Is un
educated but his mental powers are line ana s'ronB
He ia drunkard but he is often sadly ana touchihgy
conscious Of bis weakness and Elm. His sense oi
honor is high ard keen; and his 4o'o VI
rectitude is natural and sincere nc s'oin9
ALI meauness with the spontaneous disgust OF manly
nature He is an artless humorist, who continually
makes and enjoys cOmca situations He has the sense
Of imagination II not the faculty He knows the woods
and the waters and his spirit is imbued with their Wild
ness and sweetness. He has aectonate and fntLiu
heart for all that good and pure He Is picturesque
persop and in manner All the children love him. and all
the dogs know him for their trusty friend Ihefe Is put
ope reproach against HIM he a drunkard But he Is
inst the sort OF drunkard whom everybody would so
on forgiving, to the end Of time Even MS
mucl-tred wife,-ughteously indignant at DIS
eonduct,-repents, in the very act OF giving
1t, the rebuke which drives him from her hreslue
into the night This character Mr. Jefferson
makes graphically distinct and thoroughly bewitchng'
I'm drama that is singuary bounteous IN opportunities
for the actor More variety Of situation has seldom II
ever been crowded into single play and each situation
IS natural Save the ideal ghOsscene and strongly Ora
matte The result is that Rip under many lights
and learn him and love HIM root and branch He Is
familiar 70 us in his solitude, as hunter; in his fes-
tive hours with boon companions; in the sweet
society of innocent childhood; in the calm
and in the storm OF domestic me- III nan
reoute hashuddering contact with beings OF another
world I'm the ygor Of manhood and in the decay Of age
An the geeul enjoyment Of hghthearted, nonchalant
ease; and in the quiet and pathetic prostraton
Of broken spirit And all the time 1t is the person no
less than the experience rough which he passes that
takes hold upon minds Those supernatural surround
ings that sleep Of years in the heart Of nature that re-
turn OF the weak old the home that knows him no
more that meeting with wife and child ana re-
uniting Of the ties Of love-all these things
indeed, by whomsoever experienced, would fire the
Imagination and melt the heart But experienced by
the Rip Van Winke Of Mr.. Jefferson, they acquire an
amazing vitality and are borne in upon our apprehen
sion with an Irresistible force and sweetness Inc reason
IA obvious This actor knows human nature, first bl
keen and farsighted intuition, and next by ample ant
studous observation; while long experience IN the Noca
ton of art pursued for the love Of art has made him
master initiative skill Thus results that he can as
sume the interior spirit Of character and at the sam
time invest It with all Its outward manifestations Of
sonal popularity His Rip Van Wiakie develops exter
nally from a center OF fact All that he says an'
does and undergoes has the effect OF absolute
nature The identity is complete The Illusion IS per
feet There many felcities in Mt Jefersons actn
Of the part that might be singled out in illustration
his superb method The interview with the children
the parting from his home the with the spirits
the TO the village; the recognition Of his daugh
ter-these continue TO be the great points OF the repre-
sentaOn; and the student OF acting would appreciate
the hneness and force of the art displayed, let him.
either Of these passages, consider the complexiy AM
depth of the effect as conTasted with the simplicity
the that produce It, 1t is Of the whole work tina
we should Judge. however rather than details; and
II details are seen to be exquisite in finish, The
whole is found to be massive and admirable, in truth
and beauty. II is the Of stage in these days
1t fingers in memory, like some happy hour Of youth
sweetens thoughts Of life. 1t redeems stage that
has been soiled by all ignOble use" AS think of IT,
we oeem to breathe the fragrant odors Of the forest and
hear the musical pash Of woodland streams There
wonder that it has everywhere taken such hold upon
the public mind and heart. Like all really great works
It entrances every order Of intelligence Booths Theater
has been crowded each night since Mr. Jefferson began
play there and, long as be remains, the dramatic
rage Of the hour Will be d" Rip Van Wrinkle"
DRAMATIC NOTES.
"Green Bushes" tonight, at the Grand Opera
House.
The Zavstowsl1 Sisters are presently to APP
pear at Woods Museum.
Uncle TOMS Cabin" is in active preparation,
at the Olympic
Operations, we understand, are next week to
be resumed at the Tammany.
John Brougham lately took part in perform
Anee In San Francisco for the benefit Of Mr. Neil Warner
BOucicaults "FormOsa or the Railroad to
Ruin" is TO be acted at Nibos Garden after "ATTahna
POgue Is Withdrawn.
Mr.. Lester Wallack is understood to be on
his way home from England, organize matters for the
new season at his theater.
self" at Wallacks-with Mr.. Owens as John
UHt, HccOry, DccOry Dock, at the Olympic, " Ariah
naPOgue" at NibO's, and the WOrre Sisters in "Lalah
ROOkh," at Woods Museum, may be seen each evening
until further notice.
SUICIDE BY HANGING.