The New York herald., 1871-12-18


The Irrcpycssiblc Nigaer Of Ronance-nHis-
ccIlaneons ItemS.
LONDON, Dee. 2. 1871.
A. the Gaiety Theatre, last Wednesday evening.
Mr.. Dion Boucicault experienced . most enthust
astlc reception the occasion OF hts return TO the
London stage from which ne had been absent loo
long, not for his own comfort certainly for the en-
jOymcnt OF the town. Four years have elapsed
since Mr.. BOucicanlt last troa the metropolitan
boards and II Is not too much to say that during
that long period no Irishman worthy OF the name
appeared there. Upon the stage the conventional
lrishnan was for generations o prime favOrite.
There, AZ all events those wretched sectarian and
political quarrels which are the banc OF his exist
ence In everyday life had no innuencc Those
social ana conviyia qualities with which Nature has
30 marvcllousiy endowed him had full play in the
mimic empire OF the drama. and Paddy stood forth
In all his native fun. jolllty and good humor-'the
life OF pleasure and the soul OF whim." In almost
every COMEDY Of note written during the eighteenth
century an lrlshman figures censpcuously. He
was an indispensable member OF the dyamatts
perso,a9; and no play had much chance OF success
which had not strong flavor OF Celtic wit Of late
years our Hiber1ian has been stranger upon the
stage; the reason, doubtless, being that there are
now 80 few actors capable OF impersonating him
In fact, the Irishman vanished with Tyrone Power
was there any comedian upon the London
boards who had any pretenson to be regarded
as suitable successor TO the admirable
actor who--alasi the day--wen down In the
President Never having seen Power am not
able TO say whether Mr.. BOucCault acts as well;
but comparisons are proverbialy odious, and there
can be no doubt but Mr. BCuclcault acts with de-
hghtful zest, spirit and humOr, and That his per.
formanco Is most exhllarating ana enjoyable. The
piece IN which he elected to appear the other eyen
ing bears the title of Might and Morning." and
the playbil not only describes 1t as "ncw," but
attributes the authorship to Mr.. Boucicault blmsef
II "Nignt and Morping' be indeed what II claims
to be, "a new comedy by MI. Boucicault," /" what on
earth can that French play be which Madame de
Girardin wrote many years ago under the title Of
LA Joie Fat Peur," and OF which "Night and Morn
ipg'' Is little more than translatiOaa This prac-
tiCe OF adaptcTs arrogating to themselves the glory
Of having originated The WORKS which they simply
manipulate TO their purpose-not unfrcquently
spoiling them IN the proccss--las gone too Iar and
deserves rcbuke. Having given to the wor q some
one hundred and fifty plays In many OF which he has
established his right 10 the praise OF originality, Mr.
Houcicaut might assuredly have left Madame de
Girardin In peaceful possession Of her charming
little drama. Surely 1t cannot be pretended tnat
by staining his cheeks with walnut juice, alter the
manner Of the Gypsies, and giving him another
name Brown becomes The father OF Robins0ns child.
The nonOrs OF parentage were cheaply bought at
such q rate. know that II were q father and any
one was steal my child-but there, let not nnaG-
naion dwell upon 80 fearful q contingency. suffice
1t to say that II any man were 10 appropriate
.ne Offspring q one o 81 ny oese era lay e
what should dor Well am not man oil extreme
measures; should De sorry TO adopt marsh course
but womb eat his heart III The market pace-that's
all. More than that would not Seek 10 uO. can-
not nelp thinking that Mr. Boucicault has treated
Madame de Glrardn somewhat sbaDbily. IN lie
French piece the interest centres in a venerable Old
lady, whose son Is presumed TO have fallen III Dattlc
10 the inconsoaDlc sorrow OF ,as PADDY would say
ems only motnern In point OF fact ne in ques
ton is lost but, on the contrary, alive ard Wig
orons: ana alier he has been mourned for dead and
all his relatives have mace themselves black as
ravens on HIS account, IN he walks one tue sunny
morning, staiwart and prosperous GenJeman 10
the Infinite amazenlent Ot an Old man servant who
had been devotediy attached 10 MIN irom boynOOd.
Ihe4orG attempts Of tiio various niemoer5 OF the
family frsC conceal the true state OF the case
anu then TO oreak the news with sucn delcacy and
caution 10 the old lady that the lo7lu Intelligence
may not prove the death or her through excess OF
rapture constitute thenceiorward the whole bus-
ness uf the plot. Mr. Bouclcant changes the cnief
mUurnCr from the m0ller Oi the absentee INTO MS
wife an alteration wscn seriously Injuries the vrai
semb ance OF the story, for widows manage sope.
and. as Mr. Weller profonndIY observes, ..are in
consoiabie only until MS successor appears. but
OF a son. All the characters are Hoern-
cIZed and tee OLD servant play III The original with
such consunlnate aoily ~ mr hesnisr = now acied
with no litte skill by Mr. Bouccault, who IS ater-
nately humorous ami pathetic, and IN eacn lse las
iull command ovel The sympainies of the audience.
Never vas the anguish Oh wiuowhood depicted mtre
polgnant!y tnan in Miss Aua Cavendlshs inipersona-
lion OF Mrs. Desmond never before saw a widow
SO inconso'aple, and completely was ] carried
away ps the Illusion OF the scene tnat II II haS not
been Tor the strong renonsIances oil lady VINO
was sitting ny m, side ana who taxes an unaccounL-
ape interest in me- should certainly have gone TO
tue stage door on the conclusion ol the piece ana
offered my hand and heart TO tle widow as The only
mn I'm IN
tOok iully an hour and q half OF eXpostuiation ON
the part OF my lair neighbor to dissuaie ne lrom
"wiow'' tae pl:y Is no widow at all. put gifted
and accomplished maiden, lor whom II Is 10 be
store. MI. and Mrs. HoGcicault Will appear together
in new play callei 'Ehe' on Monday next.
Eoth arIsts mean 70 proceed meS, sear 70 as tnS
Will unl q farewell engagement oI Euadred
nights duration at the Galey Theatre.
Al the Lyceun a new version OF the .Juii Polo
nais' OF MEi. Erckmann ana Shatrian has Dcci.
produced under the tniinaOuiary tltie OF "fne
Bclls,n and seems likely eEougn TO nave run Inc
interest of this play Is painfully powerful, consist
Ing, as Ii does in the main OF a most olgnant and
narrowing picture OF the mental anguish Of u
murderer, whose memory ana Imagination
are perpetually haunted py visions oi MS
opuent circumstances; but IN less prosperous days,
when, in iact ne was on The verge o. pankruptcy,
possess himself OF whose riches ne had s!ain the
mau in cod blood, fiinging his body afterwards
into q Hmeklh Ill the nope VI thus ussiioyiH9 All
trace anu evidence OF guI. But conscience not
so easily appeaSed, ana though fortune 1av0rS INN
and he has one darling daughter, upon wnom he
Destows his ili-gotten galnS Tor marriage p0rlon,
he Is utterly miserable. AT night he dreams that
ne brought 10 justice, aud all The incidents OF
criminal trial pictured 10 MS distracted lancy.
But what most tortures MIN Is the luaginarv ring
Ing his OF the bells OF the sleigh III which his
victim travelled over the snow on the night o. his
murder. Inese oelis have an erect a. appalling 10
the BurgomaHer as that OF the alr-drawn dagger
10 Macbeth or Of Iiat Of The rllantoms wnlcn struck
terror into the guilty soul 0 kicnard In Inc dream
and al Tie circumstances Of the trial, the mind or
the murderer at last gives way; the strain upon his
nervous system becomes too great Tor endurance
and tie dies agony, Ito guiity minds terrible ex-
amplen This Is all very dreadful; indeed, any
thing more ghastIy cannoL be easily imagined, hut
IL furnishes Mr.. Henry Irving with malnlhcent op-
portunitles Tor the display OF tac tragic passion in
which he prominently exccs. Mr. irving splendid
recitation OF Tom Hood's most pathetic poem
OF 'Eugene Aralnn gave promise oil ms
capacity 70 mpersonate with signal ability