New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-04
THE DRAMA.
rug FoURTu AT THE THEATRRs.

II is not unusual for the American Republic
10 make noise in the world but the Fourth Of July,
! IL makes than a common pOther. The usua snap
ping fixing, booming, and banging VIII take place To-
day and the theaters will do their share OF l0uh rejoicing
Several Of have kept open until nowln despite Of
heat and bad busnessfor apparently the sole purpose
OF participating In the patriotic merry making incidental
10 this glorious anniversary Strange 20 say however,
not a single play will De anywhere presented, that has
the least bearing upon the topic Of the day. Not man
ager bethOught him Of the obvious eHpcdieDt 81 pre-
sentng Mr. Peter Rchngs in the apotheosis Of Washing
ton-with Caroline rs Columbia. Nor shall
"Putnam or the Spirit Of &C." Even those fearful Old
dramas which, in other days used to be brought forth,
on such this 10 illustrate the superiority u
rural virtue over arstOcratc vice" ROsina Meadow"
to wit and Charlotte Temple" ct ID genus
let severely alone. Neither Uncle Toms Cabin
'The Octoroon will remind Of the horrors Of Slavery
"Our American Cousin" IL nowhere visible. "AIl, all
are gone the old familiar faces" and the stage
the FOurthOfJuly, 1870 with occasional inapt
melodrama, few farces little burosque, and lot 81
calcium lights. Those managers who keep open house
do mainly 10 turn honest pelny by aording places
Of resort for peasure-seekers from the counrya trio
less eager multitude hungry for excitement and
easy unless present where something j. going On.''
Half dozen theaters offer attractions this section
the public Those who so to
BOOTHS THEATER,
whether in the afternoon or in the evening
will see rhe HugueDOt In the person Mr. Waller make
his celebrated escapes from the Catholic foca brilliant
embodiment OF sparkling vitality, dasling through
smoke, and flame, and crash Of steel rattle OF mus
kerry and five acts OF meo-rama aud landing al last
on the brink OF holy matrimOny. It's bright piece.
"The Huguenot" and its abundant incident and busting
action keep the mind in pleasant excitement and inter.
ested suspense Moreover the hero, In the manly
bodimen presented by Mr. Waller appeals to sympathy
with honor courage daring, and devoted love. good
type, surely, to be contemplated Independence Day.
OTHER types Of excellent character and conduct may
be found by the'spectator Of
MISNIE's LUCK AT wALLACK's,
where Mr. John Brougham is nightly scintil-
lating like irstclass frework, a rafting. good
humored, witty phanthropical journalist, occupied
the noble work Of saving poor girl from the evil
clutches Of sin and shame one need not go back for
herosm to the stormy days Of Henry Of Navarro There
are dragons to fight just fierce the dragons OF
old; only the fight goes quiet places, and with
accompaniment OF plume, or pennon, or shining shield
Mr. Brougham, in Mnne's Luck" depicts the life OF
the poor and the struggles Of virtue 10 lift Itself tho
light through the soil Of vice. I'm great cities. There
much in the play, therefore, which 10 every
day perceptions; and its lessons and pictures
forced by good acting and good scenery Wallack-
stage "Mnnies Luck" is 10 be played every night this
week. but it will give place next Monday 20 "Frtx. or
Our Cousin German" in which Mr.. j. X. Emmett will
make his first appearance on the New-York stage
Moral lessons rather cloudy perhaps, and certainly
ROBBED in smirched attire, may also be cleaned from
Fernando AT THE FIFTH AVENUE.
This piece enters, tonight upon the last week
OF its present unMr. DAILY having determined to close
the at the Fifth Avenue Theater next Saturday
night. Beyond question Fernando" il the dramatic
curiosity OF hour and doubtless its closing represen
tatlons will be witnessed by good many people. They
will not il TO the best advantage though because
Miss Ethel who acted Fernando and Miss Fanny Dayen-
port who acted George have retired from the piece,
and taken away two Of its most attractive features.
Last Saturday evening these parts were sustained by
Mrs. Laura Phillips and Miss Linda Dietz. The for
is well known former member OF Wallacks Com
pany, and very spirited representative OF those char
in which vyacity OF temperament is conspicu-
quality. Playing Fernando for the first time, she
naturally gave thought and care to accuracy ~
form than animating spirit The result was polished
but not touching performance over the whole char.
acter Of Fernando there a delicate tnge Of m0urnful
ness, like the first shadow OF twilight In lato
Autumn day, ike the first subtle hint OF death that
steals over the pure white Of the lily. IL is the souls
consciousness OF SIM nature born for goodness That
ethereal touch-which the charm OF Miss Ethels
personation-seeIned wanting in the performance %
which refer; and without it Fernando IL nothing
more than a sweet woman in temporary and trihing
trouble. Such fernando Mrs Phillips personated-nor
must we omit to say that this view OF the part has
certain Justification onedOes not look beneath the let
ter of the play previous article referred TO thu
subterfuges of adaptation which have weakened this
drama. The barren fact that Fernando as perfectly
pure woman, has waiter in gaming house. l. FAR
slight sustain the weight Of tragedy ana anguish
which is subsequently reared upon 1t. The fact that
ClOthiide, another perfectly pure woman, has been
coolly treated by a gentleman under engagement 20
marry her. is far too weak to furnish adequate motive
for the scheme Of mplacabe vengeance which she sub
sequenty forms and prosecutes. These are obvious
points OF weakness though, and must occur 90 every
thoughtful spectator We will not dwell upon them,
NOR Will follow the impulsa which prompts
us once moro TO reiterate our oftre-
peated objection to this, 10 all plays
that hinge upon sexual topics. Those who will
take the trouble 10 think will perceive that art has
nothing do with the that certain moral lessons
and truths OF universal knowledge and need no Nus
traton; and there limit TO the foulness which
the stage can intrude upon public observation, once
be conceded that every aspect Of vice. crime and horror
il the legitimate theme OF the drama. passing aluson
10 these matters, say, must suffice; nor need We
lnger upon the general subject except TO make brei
comment ON the GeOrqene OF Miss Linda Dietl Til,
young lady is de6utdHte She acted some months ago
at the Union que Theaer and our attention wac
especially called her. at that time She has now been
engaged in Mr.. Days company, not only for the last
nights OF Fernando" but for the next regular season
1t is not our TO advise young people To 90 upon
the stage Indeed, believe that no one should ne
encouraged to adopt art, in any form, "a PROFESSION
unless 1t be perfectly certain that the inclination thereto
IA rooted not in concetwhch is generally the ease WIN
aspirants for the artists laurebut in genuine impulse
arising out OF a consciousness OF latent power mus
find its outlet in some artistic pursuit Wh,n however
we see the choice OF an life seriously made We are
never slow to recognize its integrity Miss Dez has our
best wishes in her career. Her DEBUT showed VIII
and unframed ability. The part that she playeds one
that almost acts itself Her performance. Therefore Won
good deal OF applause the value Of which might ea'ly
be mistaken Miss Detz has much to learn but most -
linz Al