The New York herald., 1871-03-30

New Era for Dramatic Art in America.
A new era for dramatic art In this country
was inaugurated last week at Boston by the
intelligent and enthusiastic welcome accorded
to the principles on which FRANCOIS Dalsarte
has founded and built up the science of dra-
matte expression. An eloquent exposition of
those principles was made at ST. James Hotel,
in that city, before large audience Of cul-
tivated and distinguished persons-including
actors, lawyers, teachers and clergymen-by
Mr.. James Steele Maokaye, Delsartes favorite
pupil, a young Now Yorker, whose engage-
ment to appear at the Theatre Francais, al
Paris, in the r6Ie of Orestes, by which Talma|
won his greatest triumphs, was prevented by
the war, and whose return home gave the
New YORK HERALD, In its issue of October
20, an opportunity of first making known to
the American public the name of Delsarte as
the dscoverer of scientific basis for histrionic
art. In Europe the fame of this great teacher
of Rachel, Malibran, Sontag, Pere Lacordaire,
Pere Hyacinthe and numerous other celebri-
ties, in the science of expressing and dellneat-
ing human thought and emotion, was long
ago established. Stage managers have
sought his aid in producing effects, and
it is we'll known that the spectacular success
of 'Le Prophete" was entirely owing to his
advice and superintendonce. The greatest
living sculptors and painters have for years
been in the habit of submitting their sketches
and models to his criticism. A prominent
French writer says :-"As an orator Delsarte
has had at his lectures enthusiastic audiences
of academicians, literary men, artists, savans,
politicians and fashionable women. AS a
singer and reader he has moved to tears the
most sceptical of assemblies. He made Spon-
TIM and the great Spanish Catholic, Donate
Cortes, tremble and weep with emotion. At
his concerts ladies Of the highest aristocracy
sang with or accompanied him on the piano.
As 8 teacher his pupils are princes, princesses,
amateurs from the highest circles. The prime
deans Rarbot and Qaryalho ows 10 him their
chief power: He has reeeiyed many medals
and decorations for his valuable discoveries
and inventions" De!sarte has greatly suf-
fsred BY the Frapco-P -Prussian war, and the
two main objects Of S!rr. S!rr .Mackaye in preparing
and delivering lecture on the profound ss!yy5'
tenn, to the construction of which the old macs
t,O has devoted his whole life, were. first, to
afford him an agreeable surprise by sending
him the proceeds of the lecture, and, secondly,
to interest American culture and wealth in the
system itself to such degree as to justify the
establishment in New York of Conservatory
Of Art, over which Dalsarte might be invited
to preside.
The Boston journals vie with one another in
eulogizing the lecture of MIR. Mackaye and in
particular the extraordinarily effective illus
trations by which he enlivened it. But al
though it doubtless served good purpose in
exhibiting the possibilities and requirements of
true histrionic art, still it must have been
somewhat unsatisfactory. The lack of cos
tune and dramatic accessories must have i'm
paired the effect of the lecturers illustrative
recitations. While we would gladly listen to
his exposition Of theory which has been tri-
umphantly tested in Europe we could not rest
satisfied until it was developed on our metro
politan stage. We understand, eed, that 1t
was Mr. Mackaye's intention to make his dfDat
in New York this spring in an original play
calculated to afford full scope for the illustra-
tion of his school of art. The purpose was
abandoned only because the piece was not
completed IN time to admit Of the careful pre-
r,ration which lts Importance demands, and
its proacton has been wisely Cd VI. vi.
the opening of the autuninal season. AS an
actor we shall expect this promising pupil Of
Delsarte to be much more influential than as
lecturer in promoting the objects of his gene
rous ambition-to demonstrate the necessity of
a scientific basis for dramatic art and to win
for dramatic art universal recognition of its
true moral dignity and power.