Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-01-19
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From the Galveston Union, December 2I.l Y
Some critic has hit the mark--snuiied
the candle as it were--in saying that
Mrs Chanfrau sacting in Dora is SO nat
ural that it does not seem to be acting
AZ all. A little incident served, not re-
ally 10 increase the lnaturalness OF her
acting. but to make it apparent even to
the dullest apprehension. The child,
who IN this play, as in well regulated
and enterprising families is an inpor-
tant personage, startled by the strange
Surrounding, commenced performance
ON what is Familiarity known as the
family organ" much to the amusement
If some quantity Of the spectators,
whom we shall not characterize, but who
are contrasted by Shakespeare with the
iudicious." Well, Mrs. Chanfrau, with
ont passing 70 the least degree out
of her character, paeified the little
one by those genuine touches Of
nature which the child so unerringly
Earthquakes from their counterfeits.
If Thorwaldsen was justly proud that
child had told what character he intend
ed TO represent in his most celebrated
statue, and if portrait painters are com.
plimented by childish recognition of
their likenesses, certainly Mrs: Chan
frau may claim credit for the fact that
+" williams boy" who vailed at the
strapceness Of the theater, as the son of
Andre nache at his father warrior-gear,
refined his pipes to glee and wreathed
his face in smiles at the authentic mother
Of the mind, seen cleaning through an
entirely stranger form elothedin the ha-.
biliments and assumption ofthe actress;
The scene as. given by Tennyson--anda
initiated in the PLAYS as follows;
------.'' Let me take the boy.
And will set him Ii my gncles eye
Among the wheat; that when hts heaIt Is glad
of the full harvest he may see the noy,
And bless him for the sake Of him that's gone.
And Dora took the child and went her way
a cross the wheat, and sat upon a mound
That was unsown, where many Poppies srew's
And made little wreath of all the flowers
That grew about, and tied 1t round his hat
To make him pleasing in her uncle's eyes.
If the general impression made by
Mrs. Chanfrau was different from that
made by the great tragedian who but re-
Gently preceded her, it was certainly not
less decided, and exhibited itself in
much liyelier demonstrations, the real
merit Of which was amply suficientto
TO overtop some of those homogeneous
bursts Of gptIawing from portions Of the
audience, in response to such pas
sages as the very natural and touch
ing expression Of an old mans de-
sire, in the presence Of the girl
whom he loves for her virtues, and
for the sake of an atonement which
she makes possible to him, to see grand
child, mothered by heraelf upon his
knees hefore he dies. One would think
that none but those who never had
mothers could make motherhood a jest.
Let it he sacred, whether as memory, as
present reality, or as hope moving in |
the unvoiced depths of the maiden's
heart, or trembling over aged lips in
PRAYERS that children's children may
bloom like flowers about the tottering |
passage to the grave,
Mrs. phanfraa commences an engage !
ment at the Memphis Theater next Mon
day night. - 49, =