The New York herald., 1870-09-23
GEEEACH.
Goetle,. "Faust,, and s.Gre,eher..

SOetue>s ''Fuusr'' ana ssGretcheBsO
Another star. pure, bright and OF sercncst
beauty, has arisen above the American horizon in
art. Fraulein Marie seebach. heraded by those tes-
timonials only which true genius heeds-the spon.
taneous unbought praises OF conscientious critics
and the loving words even OF her rivas-made her
drst appearance In New York last evening, arter
stormy and fatlguing passage over the
Atlantic The probation that she thus had TO un-
dergo on angry seas was no untimely hint OF the
difficulty likely attend her In the effort to please
audiences which nave become even more fastidious
and closely critical than those of Paris and Berlin
such choice have they had here OF the very noblest
talent that otEer countries yield, and 30 often
too. have they been deceived and disappointed
by INFERIOR importations from abroad. The
lady, no doubt, felt this, and she, In
common with her warmess friends, looked
forward to the debut at the French theatre, in
Fourteenth street, with quite peculiar anxiety
Moreover the selection made for her first night In
the American metropolis was calculated to test her
powers to the uttermost While "Faust' Is one
OF the grandess intellectual creations OF Goethe t Is
at the same time 30 replete with dialogue, in the
opening act teeminy on the one hand With profound
metaphysical speculation and on the otner with
scathing satire OF ways and things that belong
10 Time, region and civilization very different
from ours that nearly every listener the careful
scholar is apt in spite OF himself to feel cor. ain
WEAKNESS that occasion may transform to positive
impatience. The "Hamet," like grandeur and gloom
OF "Faust" and the Satanic wit OF Mephstopheles,
are felt TO be inadequate compensation, ON the vtst.
Ole stage for the long delay before the heroine of
the drama Is mace TO appear Gretchen
(Marguertej Ii not seen uatil the second act, and
although the first act Is superb Introduction 20
what follows when studied In the readers closet, 1t
rather blinds than whets the eagerness OF the
crowded theatre by its great length and Its abstruse
philosophy. Again the public had 10 complain last
night OF practice quite familiar la Europe but un.
popular with us, which consisted Of lowering anu
raising the curtain ut the end OF every This
may have served to disguise the pauses, technically
known AZ "waits," and to set OIL each fragment OF
the play as separate tabeau, but It, at
last became monOtonOus and teazed the audience
by breaking the continuity Of thought too much,
and distractiog lxed attention. Then the stunning
and humping behind the curtain while 1t was down,
the hoarse calls heard for behind Its mys-
ferrous green expanSe, the objurgations In English
more pr0fane than either clerical or elegant. the
rattling of chains and the stentorlan blowing OF
noses were not precisely calculated to keep up the
great German poets sentences. while In the
corridors the continual buzz Of those gifted
young gentlemen the monotony OF whose voices Is
sweeter to their own than any other sounds Of
rOrla nnic on too often given the chance to be ra-
peated by these stage Interruptions.
But the powers Of Miss Seebach were superior 10
all these drawbacks Artificial annoyances ana the
mistakes OF others could not prevent her brilliant
genius nom rising to Its proper place at last It. I'm
the words OF Faust hlmself slightly adapted to suit
Cab lhr die herrlich natur zum Koenigreich,
Kraft sic zu fuhlen, IN geniessen."
The first act passed on finely. with the slight i'm
| perfectlons OF arrangement already noticed, Mr.
DOmbr0wski moving looking ana acting the din.
cult role OF Faust th the instinct and accomplish
ment Of the true and Mr.. Harry very admirably
Intellectual power Of the tempier, the CONFUSING
scene, the terrible compact between the proud yet
credulous philosopher dIsgusted with his own lore
and with the burhen OF lie, and the laughing nend
| VINO while tearing away the drapery Of faith and
truth from before The scholars mental gaze,
paints ravi5hing pictures OF the employment
that the senses without heart may ind In the beau
tiful world. Point. after point was appauded, al
would have made the contrast OF his Transformation
| to glowing youth anu pleasure afterwards more no
| At length. with the second act, Marie Seebach
came upon the stage One look az her heauteOus
eountenanco; once glance from an eye full OF intel
movement or Inaideniy grace. ana the tri.
ulnph was won: AS impassioned as Rachel,
expression and in decided gesture az Jana1schek. {.
the new aIts!e-new to America, although re.
nowned IN an the capitals OF Europe-was new
AZ 80 late an hour-the drama not concluding
ths n near ;nat to give
mands. We reserve 1t, therefore, for other occa-
slons. when the wealth Of MISS Seebach's magni.
fcent repcrtory shall have been further displayed.
We can only say that, independent OF the storms OF
applause with which her finer scenes were greeted
from first TO last, and the costly floral tributes that
were heaped at her feet on the stage sne won the
admiration or every heart In the house:
and to win the heart while Rratfying
the intellect is the nOblest trumpR
OF all Addressing the artist we may say, as Jules
Ganln once said IN the first flush OF Ristors early
taught our proud philosophy, our self.sats.
fed criticism, by the spell OF your soul.
thrilling voice, the radiance or your
inspired face. the noble gracerulness OF your men,
now noble, now humbly loving, that genius mas
powers grander and oftier than ALL"
Mr.. Gruu Is entitled to the warmest thanks or the
American public for the 'gem OF purest ray serene,
that he has set before them and can but antici.
pate Tor him the high success MS enterprlze merits
and for Miss Seebach the highest need that Amerl.
can taste and appreciation can bestow.