The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-12

From Our 0sOn Correspondent
~ New YORK, Jan. IL, 1870

a NEW YORK, Jan. IL, lofU'
MIR. Fechter.
win assume that You are not Indifferent TO
hearing about Mr. Fechter at first mouth from
one who was all there, instead OF at secondhand
through the New York newspapers. l hardly
think a larger audience was ever assembled at
Niblo's. II had been said that Mr.. Fechter would
be a fashionable success, but the audience on
Monday evening partook more largely of intel
lect than Il aid of fashion. The short scene be-
tween ssDon Salluste" and "Don Cesar" prelu-
siye TO the entrance of 'Ruy Blas"-for Ruy
Bias was the play of the evening = was
paid very little attention. by the audi
ence, who manifested none of the expectant
disposition TO be thrilled, characteristic of
American audiences assisting at debut, until
Don Sallustes" attendant, obeying direction,
went up the stage and summoned "Ruy" on.
Then profound hush fell upon the vast assem-
blnpe, and Il was known that in another instant
, Mr. Fechter would be facing them. There was
q momentary pause--a pause just sufficient to
give one twist more to the highly-strung nerves
l of the observers--and then spontaneous thun-
ders burst from every part of the house, as
.Ruy Bias" advanced from the wings, and bow
ing to the house, stood experiencing all the
emotions of a metropolitan 'recep." Critical
rs the moment was-for nothing is less true
than that an experienced artist experiences no
nervousness on a first appearance in strange
city--he manifested no symptom of confusion,
but at once addressed himself to the business of
his part. can understand why he should be
called the representative actor of the romantic
school. 1t is because no other actor possesses
the faculty of dashing off the expression of emo
ton with such picturesque rapidity. He is more
like painter of rapid and brilliant sketches
than of large and laborious pictures. His "Ham-
let" will be an impassioned aud impulsive cole
gian, rather than the philosophic Dane of tradi-
tion. There are no intrinsic beauties in his
elocution as SUCH He never declaims. He is q
forcible illustration of how completely the genius
of eloquence, like any other kind of genius, may
be of set rules. "Ruy Bias" is not a role fitted
to display the intellectual character of an
I actor, but in it Mr.. Fechter gives nc
indication of the capsbility of being intellec-
tual in anything else. His acting
is melodramas most refined and exquisite ex-
preston. In reviewing another performer 6
Interpretation you might say that he had thought
out his part; in reviewing Mr.. Fechter's you
perceive that he has felt it. Mr.. Fechter is pic
turesque in much the same sense as a hot
bloodcd man is more picturesque than cold
/ bloodod one His face his hands, his figure are
incessantly at work, depicting the ever-changing
emotions supposed to take place in the soul OF
the character he has created. As Mr.. Beecher
would say, he has tubfill of feeling in a
buckets capacity, and feeling perpetualy ''siops
over" AS "Ruy Bias" Mr.. Fechter ''slops over
all the time. As for Miss Leclercq am at a
loss to understand why the newspapers
should speak OF her in the eulogistc terms
they do. She is an ordinary actress, and an ex-
tremely good-looking woman OF thirty-fve. She
has an abundance of beautiful auburn hair and
acts judiciously, with thorough acquaintance
with stage business. I could mention O
dozen native American actress who would
rank above her. Finally, Ruy Bias was
put upon the stage at Niblo's In the most exc
cradle style style totally unworthy the repu-
I tation of the theatre and of Messrs. Jarrett s.
Palmer.
That Demi- Semi Obituary.
wrote last Saturday in regard to Colonel Du
Sole. / hereby amply apologize for it. If he
ever finds me out think he'll forgive me- He
Is not dead, but is slowly and painfully recover
ing from malady whish threatened to speedily
remove him. hope he may live as long as the
bamboo and that the enforced rest his GONZALES
cence win secure him will send him back to his
( editors desk with all s,powers recuperated.
La Coterie Tomorrow Night.
'La Coterie of New York" is to give its second
annual masquerade ball tomorrow evening at
Il the Academy of Music, under the care of the
gentlemen connected with the offices of the
principal hotels in this city. There are to be
three bands of music, orchestra, promenade, and
military, together with tableaux vivants charac-
teristically grouped, in two hundred costumes,
so az to represent the five senses. Nogentleman
is to- be admitted to the floor unless in fancy cos
tune; all masks are to be lifted at the door of
the Academy before the wearers are permitted
to enter, and to be permanently removed at mid
night. sLa Coterie" may not be so popular a
the French balls, but it win be more "piert.'
The Rev. Horace Cook.
OF course "telegrams' will have informed you
long ere this that the Rev. Horace Cook, pastor
of the Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal
Church, of this city, has accomplished the sane
timonious seduction OF one Of the sweetest
lambs of his flock The lamb was attached to a
Sunday school belonging to Mr.. Cooks church,
and such was its affection for its shepherd thai
everywhere that Horace went the lamb was sure
to go. 1t has gone with him-ran away from
the parental roof-and the "guilty pair" are now
probably getting religion at the fashionable
hotel of some distant city. Mr.. Cook has a sol
about fourteen years of age, and the girl he ha
run away with is just about three years tn,
senior of this boy. Think of it ALI BABA.