The New York herald., 1872-08-20
MUS MEN rs.


Two hundred nights In London, the house was
very slim one, owing probably to the excessive
heat. "The Bells" has a very simple story; indeed,
1t can hardly be said to have any plot at all, but to
be, rather, simply sngulary vivid picture OF the
tortures Of remorse suffered by Matthias, man
OF good impulses and kindly nature, who
yielding to temptation greater than he could
bear, has stained his hands with blood. When the
curtain rises. he escaped detection for fifteen
years, and with the money gained by his crime has
thriven until he is the richest man In the village.
He is also the most popular and highly
respected, ana has reached the dig
nifty OF burgomaster His daughter
is to be shortly married to young lieutenant Of
gendarmes and all the future Is bright with
the promise OF an honored and peaceful old age.
But at last the hour OF retribution has come.
Often, of course, in the long interval that has
transpired since the deed that has blighted his
whole life grim memories OF his guilt
have poisoned his peace; but he has
hitherto succeeded in sitting these unquiet
ancies into slumber. But now he has Just returned
has been terribly shaken by an exhibition he has
witnessed OF the power of Paris mesmerist, who
has thrown mey into an involuntary sleep and
what II he too, should bc compelled to pass
through the same ordeal Arrived home he
takes seat at the table with his friends and family,
and while nerving himself with wine on this the
anniversary of the murder-a Christmas eve, by
call upon all good men to remember the blessed
season Of their Saviour's birth. But to his ears
piercingSthe bells Of the sleigh ' Of the poor
Jew whom he slew for his gold-ringlng
iearlully out from the depths OF the dark stormy
night, and recalling hideous memories OF blood.
and death, and guilt. How different the burden OF
these two chimes Just then Jew traveller,
giles to preserve his frmness but fails and sinks to
the earth in a swoon. When he RECEIVERS he de-
before the worst befas him. On the morrow
the marriage contract is signed, and as he
nings down the dowry, the chink OF the gold again
reminds him of those phantom sleigh bells which
at once ring again In his ears, growing ever
they are Sounding rom the midst of he
which are the very coins he took from
terrors Of his aroused Imagination, but rccovers,
and after an evening OF festivty In honor Of his
last waking thoughts revert to the mesmerist: to
the bells that unheard by Others, have sounded so
strangely IN his to the figure Of the
marvellously like that other visitor Of fifteen
years ago. He sinks into sleep however,
things that have so terribly shaken it, and in
dream he sees himself arragned before Court,
he hears the accusation against him read and then
the mesmerlst enters, and, casting him into a
trance, forces from him ful confession Of
his crime He He wakes with the he sentence Of death
lover are rappng at his door, and in the street the
villagers are singing merry marriage roundclay.
they break open the door, they find him at the
point of death. He is borne, staggering to CHAIR
Such Is the story of .The Bells" and there can be
no question that 1t Is one OF the most intensely
vivid and painful pictures OF human suffering ever
to illustrate 1t by novel stage effects. Some OF the
scenery, however-for instance, the opening scene
of the interior OF the little Alsatian lnn which is
as unlike what 1t is supposed to represent as 1t
could well be-is glaringly inappropriate, but the
trial In the last act Is rendered with admirable care
ever, in spite Of its intrinsic excellence and Of the
general merit OF the mounting would have
been utterly unsuccessful last night were
it not that fortunately the last act Is played by Mr..
James Waack without the aid Of the rest OF the
more than equal to his part, and his conception OF
1t cannot be praised too highly. He does not make
Erckman. .Chatran intended Matthias to be-a good
man, with tender and affecti0nate disposition
and keen sense of right and Justice, but with the
! whole life. And in the dream scene Mr.. Wailack
rose to height OF tragic intensity that held the
loudly applauded. But take Mr.. Walack away, and
the remainder Of the company are beneath con-
tempt The first two acts are, indeed, utterly
spoiled by the shameful inadequacy and careless
ness and stupidity Of the support they attempt to
touches OF finished art that are to be found IN the
piece as 1t came from the hands of its authors
worse worse than lost; they are nopeessly ma. marred
of the merit OF the piece II he were read the first
two acts at home, and saw only the third one at
pard or Miss Pateman as Margaret. They
and their acting is absolutely innocent Of tic
| fantest resemblance to nature or even the con-
ventonal nature OF the footights Mr.: Sol Smith
| and Mr.. Glenn make fair Old men, though Mr.. Glenn
has, 1t must be confessed, very singular idea of
senile laughter: Mr.. X. Pateman seems to have
modelled his Solomon to considerable extent
upon GreppO In the "Black Crook. and Miss Sack
EFT, though she certainly does much better than
most OF her companions, ought to abandon further
attemDt
the piece so long the chief part Is sustained by
so finished and sympathetic an actor as Mr. Wallack.
The BOyvcry Theatre-ssThe Polish jew"
Last night the latest London sensation, ''The
Polish Jew, or The Bells" was produced at the
Bowery Theatre. The piece has been some time in
preparation, and as it belongs to class Of plays
which attracts large audiences no pains spared
to give "The Bells' with due effect. The heat OF
a old da H0s
cast for the part OF Matthias, the leading ne In
the = In fact ca the Sy which in many
acting of the Matthias for its success This good
and all the rest works calmly. smoothly and effect
with the best Of his characters, and, Judging from
the audience Of last night, the piece likely to be-
come favorite one at the Bowery Theatre
Theatre COmiquc.
This favorite house of variety and comedy
was opened last night for the Fail season. after
having been closed for several weeks, during which
time it has been repainted, refrescoed and gene
rally renovated Despite the heat or the night the
house was well filed to greet the old favortes
and the new faces. II length and variety
constitute a good programme, the audience had
reason to complain last evening, the bill OF en-
tertanment comprising an abundance OF negro
minstrelsy, dancing, comic singing and new
local play by John T. Poole "CIty Life; or,
Ins and Outs Of New York." which treats
OF the eight-hour system, the troubles OF
newly arrived emigrants, life among the negroes
and the discovery OF Livingstone by Stanley
Stanley's name was received with rapturous ap-
plause which was again and again renewed, and
became uprOari0us when Livingstone was dis
covered In the interior OF Africa South Fifth ave.
nue) and brought lace to face with his delverer.