The New York herald., 1870-01-11
Am u S E M e N rs.

uix " ~ NlDo's by an audience iimteu In NUMBERS
only to the utmost capacity OF the house, ana in
quality the choicest theatrical gathering ever
In New York. Dickens had proclaimed him
and fashion mad decreed him the lion OF
the hour; the wonderful magician, who
had transformed Hamet, the English brunette, into
q veritabe Danish blonde ana who, according to
Dickens, had made the sp00ney Ruy Bias "a thing
OF beauty" and 80 JOY forever" But while await
Ing the lifting OF the curtain we notice that the in
qulry prevails among the ladies around u.s. "Wh0 is
this wonderful Fechterr, He is German by
parentage, an Englishman by birth and Frenchman
by education. He was born In London and 'raIsedn
In Paris. The German language and the Germans
romance are his by descent; with the English
as his native tongue he imbibed the Engshman's
practical views OF things. Brought up In Paris his
German and English peculiarlties were thoroughly
seasoned with the French accent French eloquence
and French ideas. Moreover, having undergone the
regular schooling OF painter and sculptor, he Is
master OF costumes and attitudes and at forty i've
he may be said to be In the perfection OF his genius
and accomplishments. On good foundation, have
we not mere the clements OF that extraordinary plant
which blooms on the stage only once in a hundred
years9 We have.
"3ut what is this play of Ruy Blassn II is one or
Victor Hugo's French extravagances OF romance,
readily convertible into an African extravaganza,
Ii is BESIDES the old story OF love and 1.-The ruling
passion strong in DEATH" What says Coleriges lie
says
Whatever stirs this mortal frame,
And feed his sacred flame.
Fechter's Ruy Bias is modelled upon this idea.
King Solomon overdid IL, with his three hundred
wives and seven hundred concubines. Hence his
declarations that "there Is nothing new under the
sun, and that all is vanity and vexaton Of spirit"
Now, with Fecher in spite Of Solomon even In this
sort Of Gu Bias to begin with, a poor adyenlurer
who through his lucky fortunes and cleverness
becomes becomes irime Minister Of Spain, and who;
blessed with the affection OF the unwedded
anc romantic young queen, dies happy, though his
ceath Is bloody and nntimely. You must know that
telegraph goes too fast for your old stagers OF the
stage. Hence, with the most gorgeous mounting,
q sss e 3 ass s ops
louee legs in plain English and nigger minstres
IN rrariS rene, ~" writing wit, eloquence and
poetry the stage have become raner mar ana sen
sations, high seasoned. broad and strong illustrating
the ruling passions Of the age are what we want,
Wallack still makes those old time English comedies
iascna ting but i is the fashion TO 50 to waaoks
and the la dies Will there to study the fashions t
fs SO at Booths In the best days OF the Italian opera
twas not the opera but the fashions that drew those
The house. with the House, is after all the great
attraction particularly with the ladies'. They came
70 see Fechter as q curiosity not to hear him
not Of Fechter 50 much OF tins person and
that person In the audience, and how she was
This was always true, more or less but truer now
tnan than ever ever. slpsrstitions, fancles and romances
b a s aod In The
age is ali Gradgrlnd. 'Facts Is what We want;N
even our sensations pqss represent facts and iacls
srn9S " q Shr sa4 ssns! S es
ter hs been tfnpetsd TO the ecno p.''0 An0 feon'
But mere we are. The play opens. The proud and
aspiring Don Salluste tShewel) has had his wings
cilpped by the young Princess or Queen and he plots
revenge. The ragged, but chivalrc Don Cesar dc
Bazan the Spanish Bayard In "old clo," viii
from all the house greets his first appearance the
valet OF the scheming Marquis, consents In writing
TO % PSs Fny Is
easily led by the nose With promises OF prefermept
tha WIN LIT him nearer TO the queen OF his heaven
exact much or Fecher; but though he has little 10
do and say he does 1t who believes that he is
Ruy Bias, an honest man, but blind as mole LII his
While the curtain is down we WIN note remark
OF tw9 & rom mt the T., people around u.s. "We how do
neck he has. He reminds me In his neck and shoul-
ders OF the great Napoleon eyes. and don't You
loyerY' Cant help It, Madam. Great actors are
geod iyers ana are apt to gst lst especially those
soheck, Alboni and Amodio for instance. It's
the cheese and beer.n "Oh, nonsense
but don't you notice that while Fechter
that there Is yet sort Of German accent twang in
the rounding OF his sentences ~ Eyes, but twang
method Of rounding her sentences, rising and fall
ing, which might be called twang; Janausheck,
readings has twane almost amounting 10 that Of
the backwoods Baptist preacher on the harp Of
thousand thousand :. strings In TACT, the inspired actor or
musical measure, and Is not singing the highest
form Of eloquence ~ But here we are again.
OF state abuses in the 6e Of Prime Minister and YET
by his bond he is still constrained to be the serve
81 % s sna q eo
PEELED to be this menial OF subordinate immedi-
ately after charming conversation with the
Princess, In which she exalts her bswldered lover
to the stars, with the assurance that though
her hand is pledged TO- another her heart Is
the opening flower, and IN the den0ue1,ent OF the
third act ne appears full blown. fne reader
pressure required to reach the American pinnacle Of
perfection. The buzz and hum or an 0vernowing>
assemblage may have been the trouble; but what !
ever 1t was his voice where It appeared TO be fully
exerted and was iully demanded, seemed to be un-
eQyal 70 ths house.
be asked to- to al the r5e o q the &c charming M W young
Queen and she played her part gracefully smoothly
and e the general SATISFACTION, sharing fully with
cali 10 the last. Mr.. shewell's Don Salluste was
evidently the result OF careful study, while the
chief actor was well supported throughout and II he
failed to reach 1.-THE great OF Dickens
1t is because, perhaps, OF the high pressure
American standard OF excellence which he failed to
reach or because OF that infiniteslmal but still per-
ceptble, German twang; or because he was not fully
cOmprehendcd, as, on q frst look at Niagara Fails
we are apt to feel disappointed IN not comprehend
ing the actual wonder before US; or because the
play itself does not give the chief actor enough to
do; or, because after ALL 1t is old story to this
community. not improved In the extravagant
rendering OF Victor Hugo. The BohemaDs,
In selzing upon Mr.. FechLer IN advance OF his
coming and In laudng him to the skies as the most
wonderfully gifted and accomplished actor OF
modern times In every respect, overdd their work,
and imposed task upon Mr.. Fechler which no man
could on his first appearance full. IL would be un-
Just, however, to pronounce definite opinion from
this rs appearance as to the merits OF Mr. Fechter.
Let suce that last night ne gave rs touch OF hs
quality which assures US that he ID equal to, and
will doubtless appear to better advantage IN greater
requirements than the r6ie Of Ruy Bias. M
WALLAcK's TaEATRE.-The revival last evening at
this house Of Mr.. 7, W. Robertsons popular three
act military drama Of "Ours, was sufficient induce
ment to crowd the capacious auditorium OF the
theatre to Its utmost with an audience as favoraby