New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-20


with the shakesperean precept show the very ar.
and body Of the time his form and pressrrrey,
inc drama Of kit" has been msnufactn,aa
according 70 this theory; and In saying tb,.
we indicate with sufficient disnctness its charer ,,
its WORTH Hrcprodnces. with accuracy and v,,.
ehhgserauon certain surfaces of actual eyeydax
me In the West. 1t illustrates the adventure q, ~,
.o"o"'0 IN the pursuit OF vengeance II prem,es tho,
mr. hSeddfnG was a farmer, resident In the sta,o :,
kansas IL shows how his wife and child vera ~.
rom him. by gambler, named Manuel Fond. whom
thereafter, he made IL the business OF his HE 49,,
Spersen with little thrifty dealing In hogs HINT ana
destroy 10 first confrOnts XII and his wroDQer AZ,
iap7e OF years In St. louis bar-room-RH being mar
italy drunk, and Fond being disguised and called h,
new name. Incidentally, in this scene II portravs no.
room customs IL then conveys It's several penonaees
on board Mississippi steamboat depieting by the ra
some actual or possible occurrences on the pier
such as pckpockets theft Of poor purse and
the singing and dancing OF negro laborers II then
presents certain stirring incidents Of the yoyagesmony
"ch are htPs rescue Of young gentleman froui being
eeced at poker" by the treacherous Bond; XII, df.
co'ery OF MS foe and recognition Of his daughters Eonfs
P"e 10 ROD and burn the steamboat; and the etmng
expulsion ana conlagratiOn. II then cOngregaes n,
ehlei characters on island I'm tho Mississippi River
where duel with bowie knives takes pace betwn Ki,
ana bo"d IN which the former kills the latter n then
reutes iatler and daughter, and terminates VIII tina
rescue OF everybody worth sayng-and some who NOT
VI ''o ''uions clearly enough implied this
0'' INC e'ehent OF suspense Spectators
VIM o"o'l ."o" arc ie'ered with anxiety as u how
matters will turn out This il a strong nointlo, ~.
drama Another strong point Is Its suggestion Of turdy
cnaracoe anu Sauy patheuc Me- on the part Of the
teh"orhearted' hohestmnded man VINO f. its
| hero, and whose whole experience aud destint have
been co!ored by bitter bereavement Kit hmse 4 not
an ihpoS'ioe lhuViduaty' More imam that, he spires
and maintains sympathy. But KITS adyentuies are
mostly incfedioie' Inc woes themselves move us pity.
but the direfu spring Of them by no means be Gu
riousy considered It will not bear scrutinyl IL 4.
scoundresm without adequate or reasonable motive,
without nature and without sense And thus w touch
upon the fundamental defect OF the drama-anI M all
dramas of this kind it makes strenuous pretinse of
deiineatins the actual but nfact transcends III rising
not into the roseate atmosphere OF the IDEAL Will her it
would be pleasure TO follow, but into the foggy
regions of sheer extravaganza and fantastic
The social life that it exhibtsf except fely incl
dental bits OF reasm-is such life as exists where
upon the earth The nature 1t untolds IL very rarely
| human nature And these are blemshes fort which
startling Incidents Photographic scenery and frikng
stage-efects, do not atone. Kit" viii have IA day,
andtha day may prove both prOtracted and etunera-
tive but there is real dramatic vitality in tad piece.
and it will inevitably perish In the accomplish ent Of
the business purpose TOR which it was manu- ctured
To say this IL not to ignore its merits Not tO say it
might be TO encourage unwarranted pretensons XIII
is very well dsensaton melodiama. bat it lst not
Gaunt in artistic position to which it has no valid
! title.
Mr.. Chanfraus personation Of XII has aforde a new
evidence Of his gel une and versatile talent Tb work.
I'm all external attributes is faithful copy fro types
that xst; while in spirit it Is deeply and sim
cere and therefore impressive Mr. Chanfrau Las been
very thoroughly educated in all that appertans to the
business OF the stage and therefore he is ifufo Gre
ate illusions and to emphasize effects; and his Al dor OF
feeling and precision Of method would commend TO adj
miration an experience impossible th1n that
of this hae-drven care-fraught, and preposd rousy
afflicted Arkansas Traveller.
DRAMATIC NOTES.
The engagement of Mr.. Charles MathIws, at
the Fifth Avenue Tncatcr VIII terminate wei uhuer
stand or the sd Of June. Those who wish 10 fOy tho
,aI ana nnoorable Measure OF seeing OF tle best
actors of the age should therefore, take adyant5 OF tue
fair accession Mr. Mathews will appear at thJ Globe
Tbeator in Roston on the 5th OF June. The Sumner
theatrical season at the Fifth Avenue TheaeE Ee may
credit a pleasant and promising rumOr-whl oyer the
0apital burlesque OF The Golden tIeece' VII ME-
Mathews In a suitable character
"Randall's Thumb is to be Withdrawn, at
tbo close of ira second week TO make way dc other
nnyeties at WaIaeks Theater Rosedale is H active
nTenaration and Mr. WalIack also intends blng for
ward Mr.. BrOugham's sparkling comedy or ''Ilaylng
with Fire" The Summer at WaacRs bdI fair 10
he lively and 10 present attractions OF a mOreIr ned
and elegant order than is usual in the program ines OF
summer entertainment. Mr. Moss VINO will object the
theater during the summer, Will commence MS season
with Mr.. BouccaultS new drama OF ." Line, lor Inc
Cherry Tree Inn; and this will be rapidly folbwed up
with other attractive pieces. both new and old.