The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-06

ma III In Lnclr 30 duInlL ever saw
good actor; but they are positive that in the days
OF their fathers there were giants and exc giant
esses in the land. or such colossal proportions were
Carrick, Barry, Palmer, Henderson, Quin,
Wellington, Pritchard, Abingdon, Give and
host OF Others These were, indeed,
acters worthy of the name the plays they acted In
were works Of the highest GLASS; and plays and
players alike enjoyed golden estimation In those
halcyon days. 1t seems almost pity to disenchant
pleasant an illusion; but the interests of truth
are paramount, and the most philosophic OF stu
dents can scarcely forbear smile when he contrasts
the OBSTACLES Of O generation who never saw what
they applaud 80 rapturousy with the cynicism OF
cOntemporaneous chrOniclers 1t Is notorious that
when the Kembles were in the zenith OF their glory
they were not only pulled to pieces by the Hunts,
Hazltts and Lambs OF the day. but they often played
to wretched houses, and at one period OF their
career they were altogether deserted by the town
In favor OF boy named Betty for the express pur-
pose of seeing whom in one OF Shakspeare's plays
the House OF Commons threw over the business OF
the nation and adjourned en- D,dsse to Drury Lane.
And as for
GARRICK AND HIS CONFREREs
II You would understand In what pitiful estimation
they were held by multitudes Of their contempt
raries you have but to read the trucuent attacks OF
Sam Fo0te, Tate Wilkinson, Dr. Hill, Charles Mack
lin, Kenrick, Davies, Fitzmaurice, Williams, and
legion OF others hardly less violent to say nothing
Of the snubs" Of Johnson and the sneers OF Horace
Walpole. That Garrck was a man of magnificent
genius and, moreover, one OF the sweetest sound
est, most generous natures that ever existed does
not now admit Of doubt. Cleansing 1t from the as
pensions of Murphy, Davies and brood OF SANDER
ers, Percy Fitzgerald has done full justice to the
memory Of the best actor ana the best man that
nown among his contemporaries bore no proportion
to his merit Pelted all his life with rancorous PAM
phlets he had to endure all manner of calumnics
and at one time his popularity had waned 50 low
that is matter OF history that he played to house
with not more than EGO in it, and that he and Mrs
Pritchard together did not draw more than f25. SO
much for
THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE BRITISH DRAMA,
and so true is 1t that whether upon the stage or
elsewhere, no man is to be accounted happy until
his DEATH And s for the dramatic literature Of the
ages OF Garrck and OF the Kembles, do not hest.
tate to say that with the exception Of the comedies
of Goldsmith and Sheridan and one or two other
works, 1t was paltry in comparison with the plays,
bad as they may be, OF the present day. The pom
derous dramas OF Hill, Murphy, Cumberland, Kelly
and the drowsy brood of parsons who were eter-
nally scribbng for the stage In Garricks time were
but shade less contemplate than the dreary
twaddle Of the Reynoldses Cherrys, Montcrefs et
hoe genus on,ne who succeeded them. The dramas Of
such writers as DIR. Westland MarstOn, MI. I. w.
Robertson, Mr. W. ). Gilbert and Mr.. Charles Reade
are gold to lead in comparison with the "bosh"
Of 9a' o @s' But what sase Of Is
it not an acknowledged and incontestable
principle Of dramatic criticism that everywhere
pense OF the PRESENT. II Is amusing to remount
the river OF Time and observe how relgiously tins
rule has been adhered to from the earliest era to
drama to-day falls short OF Ben Jonson's utter con-
demnatiOn of the popular drama OF his time-the
Augustan age OF the DRAMA as we now call 1t.
Hearken to the savage invectives OF the author Of
"EvERY MAN IN HIS HUMoR."
Come, leave the loathed STAGE
When pride and 'mpudence dn fashion knit
Inditing and arraignng every day
s fs'as ,Ss' 'hs syys saIl PLAY Ssn
Run on and rage, sweat eensure and condemn
Say that thou pour'st them wheat,
T%e .sf simple %' sS ry s to waste
On such as have no taste
To offer them a snrfcit OF pure bread
No.; give Chem 7, grains r. Snil she ira a sv,
II they love lees and have the lusty wine
Envy them not their paates with the swine.
In this fashion, through several equally sledge-
hammerlike stanzas, hardy Ben JOnson thun-
dered out his views on "the decline of the draman
and II seems likely enough that critics, great and
small, will go on at the same pace till the last syl-
liable Of recorded time. 1t is sad delusion but 1t
is to be feared that there Is no help for it.
Holding these opinions there IL little chance,
should hope, Of my being suspected OF favoring
old and ridiculous venture to express
disapproval OF newp play, entitled 1.-TWO Hundred
Years Ago. which was brought out at the Victoria
Theatre few days ago. 1t is not because IL is new,
but because IL Is utterly nonsensca that II deserves
reprobatiOn. The author, 'llustrious conqueror OF
common sense treats the Muse OF History in the
most contemptuous manner-caricatnring cele-
tod hlir
and altering historic names, dates and places 10
suit the exigcncies OF preposterous love story.
The feuds OF Cromwellians and Royalists are repre-
sented as having taken place In the year 1872, and
to the year, rather than to 1858, the date fixed
by historians Is referred the death of the Protector
who expires upon sofa Of the pattern now in vogue
In passionate scene between two lovers who have
had quarrel the gentleman reproaches the lady
In this sublime strain I'll knclt at your feet like a
crawling worm, and you sc0rned me like a lamb in
the fangs OF a VOLTA statement In which the clc
gance OF the dcton is to say the least OF it, fully
equal to the beauty and Justice OF the imagery. The
"dcnouement" IL magnificent In the last scene OF
all we are treated to picture OF Norwich Castle,
revealing views OF various apartments In that
massive structure where people are varously EN-
ployed. The walls Of Norwich Castle are probably
four feet In depth IL they are an inch; but who
cares for that AgeDteman IN the play who wants
to pass rom one room 10 another simply scHes "a
frai chair, such as you might buy for two and six
pence in rottenham Court Road and Herewith
batters down the mass OF mediaval masonry ~
easily as he might knock down house OF cards.
Then everybody adourns 10 The roofof the building,
and they all begin TO fight ike devils. There - q
hand-to-hand conflict upon the leads with swords,
inuskeis and batte-axcs, aud finally man. whose
room is deemed superior TO his company, II chucked
contemporary over the battlements into The Toss
beneath; and so ends the piece the curtain falling
aind a hurricane Of applause The audience were in
transports OF admiration the FIRST night, and one gen.
4 temau IN the ccsacy OF his delight, SHE'D from
the upper gallery ginger beer bottle at the head
OF musician IN the orchestra. "What is gentle.
man without his recrcations ~ asks somebody In
one OF Miss Austns novels. A gentleman Is nm
questonably entitled 60 his rccrcaions: hut In the
/ interests OF music, not Of humanity II may be
doubted whether those pustimcs shonid take the
shape OF ginger beer bottles SHE'D M the heads OF
/ in0flensivc fddlcrs. SDyQ deftiy,te a,,,s
ANOTHER BrRLEsQUE
At the Strand they brought out last night n now
! burlesquc, by Mr.. Du Tcrreaux whoever he may