The New York herald., 1871-12-20

Lecture Before the Long leland Historical
Society ON Francois Delsarte by Jnmes
steele NIackaye. -t@
Mr. Mackaye began his lecture, wnicn was deliv-
cred last evening before q large and appreciative
audience in che chapel of the Packer Institute,
Brooklyn, by citing the eulogies OF Delsarte
by Lamartine Girardin, Fiozentino, Berlioz and
other eminent French admirers OF the Jiscoverer OF
q scientific basis OF dramatic art. In response to
the question, ''What is his science OF artfn the
lecturer gave an outline OF the system and
Its objects. He sought to correct the impress
sion that 1t is too radically transcendental
and mysterious. The truth Is, he said, that
the Delsarte system is very mucn such mystery as
llght ITSELF While 1t cannot be understood In q
monientit 1t uminates every question to which 1t is
applied. As q science 1t Is wonderfully simple and
concise. 1t aims at something higher and
more important than the mere presentation
TO the public OF some 0nes personality.
It seeks to make the painter, musician or actor
vacaie his own personality that he may the more
b the 1ea a e or
by teaching the pupil now to express pas
sion or condition OF being according 10 Its natural
intonation or innexl0n : In short. the most appro-
pirate physical presentation OF the mpassioned
against the hasty conclusion OF certain
crisics-that art, under the influence OF this
conclusion would oe as Illogical and absurd
as to suppose that the science Or thorough bass,
which IS purely mechanical, would be rulnous to
musical genius. Delsarte studied every phase OF
human nature under oil possible circumstances
making the minutest notes Of gesture, express
life to this study, too intent upon &C:
cumula!ing knowledge to To-. give himself elf
publication. This task he lett q trust for those
VINO should come after him, and Mr.. Mackaye, In
m, s ne nas 81 20 r. 70 m
declared that his life would begin IN earnest when
he should have prepared the manuscripts Oh Del
sarte for publication In English.
Desarte's science OF art consists OF three great
studies:-First. careful ANALYSIS OF the human
q profound observation or the human body, Its
organs, agents and proportions; third. q
portion 1%atu form and % movement Again, there are
three distinct but essential natures In man-Frst,
the vital or sensitive nature, by virtue Of which we
ture, by virtue OF which we think and understand;
third. the affective or moral nature. by virtue
natures is found IN the other-the vital
in the mental or Judgment; the mental In the vital,
h e me VITA vital m or the
the moral or intuition the moral n Ia 'ne % or
faculties Of the being are produced py the
various representations OF q sensitive, renective
vded into three divisions by anatomy. and each
performs separate function IN ression:-First,
the limbs which act as agents OF The vital nature and
condition OF that nature; second, the head which
by its movements reveals the subtle or excited
action OF the mental nature; third, the torso which
reveals BY Its movements the earnestne5s or ndner-
ence or the moral nature. Again, In the head
limbs and torso are found three agents OF expires.
sion. The head Is divided into eyes, mental agent;
the nose, moral, and the mouth, vital or sensitive
In the limbs found three distinct JOINTS agents.
in gesture having the same relaIion to the in
waru ma1. In the torso we also find three distinct
zones OF expressi0n-one vital, one mental and one
moral
After giving series OF striking Illustrations OF the
elements OF the art and OF Delsartes system OF
aesthetic gymnastics, Mr. Mackayc eoquenty un-
folded the grand purposes OF the science. He expa-
iated upon the potency OF the theatre as an lnstru
ment either for the elevation or the degradation or
mankind and upon the responsibility which rests on
ali OF us regard to the stage. The remedy which he
proposed for the degeneracy wrought by evil hands
into which certain provinces OF the stage have
fallen ia the establishment OF q school OF art which
shall draw dividing line deep and clear and
broad between the legitimate and the ilegitimate
drama The purpose OF Delsarte was TO lay the
foundation of a school OF art which should pract
cay convert the theatre into great and Denehcent
school OF manhood, one In its purpose with the
pulpit, working side by side with \, ably and
ilobly, for the glory OF God and the good
OF man. Delsarte was an ardent lover OF his
Kind, an enthusiastic noper and worker for the
progress OF humanity, reverent and faithful SER
want OF his God This science OF art ls the grand
est promise we have for the growth OF at from the
sensual towards the spiritual. Tho lecturer con-
cIuded with the hope that from the seed planted BY
this system In the fresh and fertle soil OF America
a rich harvest OF beauty, goodness ana truth may be
reaped, to the honor Of Delsarte, the Messiah Of