The Portland daily press., 1870-11-21

hangs around her neok she vas bordering
whether or no she should succumb to the
temptation, the xoman's passion for fnery
striving hard for the mastery over her better
and purer nature. The power Of the picture
lies in one face, that of the old woman. If ever
painter lmned q contenance that expressed
the ultima Thule of all that was crafty, all that
was wheedling, surely the artist that executed
the features of this old woman has succeeded
in doing so. The white Golf worn around the
head and shoulders only serves to assist in Civ
ing prominence to the features which seem to
stand out from the canvas and actually start
tie the behOlder with their naturalness The
name of the artist is Merle. a member, be-
lieve, of the French Academy. The scene as
represented think is rather different from the
story. for if remember rightly the Jewels were
left on the window-sill where Marguerite found
them. We understand that according to the
French version the old woman is Faust in dis
guise.
At Williams & Everett's there is a little gem
of statuary representing in marble, a child
awakening from sleep, while at his side bird
has perched upon bunch of grapes. The at
titude of the little fellow, with one knee
his head,is perfect, while the pleased smile that
plays upon his face as if he half unconsciously
sees the bird and stretches out his hand to
catch it is full the languor that attends the
awakening from slumber. AT Chlds & Co., is
to be seen the "Nymph of the Wave" by Dex-
oS.y NuNo h6utOOi yOuuR girl III mdrUl0
which, as faithful copy of nice plump girl, is
very well but is not suggestive Of sea-nymph
any more than it is of a heather goddess if we
except the huge sea-shell at his side. Geo. L.
Brown exhibits very fine painting of Rome,
one of the finest we think, he has ever painted
lbarra & Co., are selling out their stock we un-
derstand and are about giving up their store.
NILSSON
1t is rather late in the day to talk about Nil
sson, she has been SO extensively written up in
the great cities. Nevertheless, although the
great critics have gone into ecstaces over her,
I think they have rather overdOne it. She pos.
sesses splendid voice it is true, and what is
more it is probably cultivated as perfectly as it
is possible for the human voice to be cultivated
She comes on to the stage with free yet ma
jestic walk, that carries with it the thought OF
the Swedish hills over which she drove the
cows, simple peasant girl, only ten short
years ago. From the moment she faces her
audience till she leaves the stage she is not
quiet moment. She knits her brows, she
smiles, she beats time with coquettish little
movement of the hand, she mods 10 the leader
of the orchestra and when she sings the voice
must serve as the exponent of the words. So
far SO good. She is a born actress, and in opera
is no doubt without rival in all that goes to
make perfect opera singer. Her high notes
are very fine, pure, sweet and clear, and when
she sings, "Let the bright seraphim" to trum-
pet accompaniment IL WOulu 10 DdrQ at ClmeS
to tell which was the human voice and which
the instrument Her middle notes are not very
good. Her lower notes are fine. She is not SO
very handsome and she uses too much pearl
powder and pencils her eye-lids too much, so
that at distance her eyes look like two black
holes. BY the way, there are plenty of good
seats that can be obtained IN Music Hall at 81
apiece. I think it very likely that Nilsson will
visit your city before her return to Europe. I
understand that she will sing in opera next
January in New York, contradiction to the
same Notwithstanding.
THEATRES.
At the theatres there is a great deal that is
worth seeing. Mrs. d. P. Bowers has been
playing dramatization of Wllkie Collins
''Man and Wife" at the Boston Theatre. The
new comedy of M. P. at the Museum is one Of
Robertson's best, full OF refined wit and humor.
Fechter has been doing good business at the
Globe with Hamlet, and brings out "Lady Of
Lyons next week.
The storekeepers are getting in their holiday
goods and there is much to be seen that is
cheap and protty as well as expensive and els-
CANT The hotels are filled and doing good
business and charging the same exorbitant
prices of two or three years ago. The principal
thorOughfares are scenes of life and animation,
and although no doubt there is the usual
amount of suffering and poverty, you see little
of it unless you look for it, MERcUTro.