The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
FREE LANCE AGAIN.


Players" The number OF dr07nutts persona strut
ting about In society Is truly alarming and TO an
inquiring mind the question naturally arises where
actors are to end and audiences begin. No amuse-
ment now In vogue appeals so largely to intellect,
taste, grace and refinement private theatricas.
Its universal adoption denotes social aspirations
beyond the ballroom, for even fashion requires
certain amount OF mental stimulus when compati-
Die with external gorgeousness. Thus general 80
clety raises itself to somewhat higher level, ex.
IRENE fashion is preserved from dwelling inanity
and really clever people develop their talents to
their own and the audiences satisfaction.
But Americans are not actors by nature.
Superior in this respect to the English.
who are less initiative and more awkward, we are
vastly inferior to the French and Italians Indeed
1t was not until the introduction OF private the
atricals that we learned Americas deficiency in
ladies and gentlemen 80 far as breeding Is con-
cerned. and breeding is to the man what polish is
to the diamond. In trying to be distinguished
men and women Of position" give the impression
of coachmen and chambermaids. Base coin is
readily detected on that stage which truly holds
the mirror up to nature. Most observable is the
absence OF tone, and the voice. that organ by
which gentility Is most quickly gagged Is fire.
quently vulgar or pitched in the key Of the
wretched American twang. Little care is given to
would send Lndley Murray to his grave were he
not already ''salely slowed" Our standard is so
low that few know how, or, knowing, take the
pains to speak English purely. Amateurs should
pay more attention to this very important part Of
their business.
Acting Is q good school wherein to cultivate
those graces Of manner and movement in which
Americans are sadly deficient. We belong to the
class that believe the senses were given for enjoy
ment discretion; that the eyes were not intended
to be mortified; that in the original plan nature
designed mankind to be pleasing, and Hogarth's
line of beauty to reign supreme. In enthusiastic
moments we believe there Is poetry of motion
which does not mean the saltatiOns of French
dancing, but we find few examples of it IN private
life. II human beings were reduced to torSoS their
chances OF comfort In society would be greatly en-
HANGED. At present they seem to be suf-
fering under an eclipse OF extremities.
Arms and legs are always in the way.
They are treated by their unhappy posses
sors as necessary evils, as species OF fungi or
unnatural outgrowths, rather than as members Of
utility and beauty. Arms seem to be the especial
betes notreS Of both men and women; either they
describe an acute angle sharp enough to defy
Betsy Trotwood or they are pinned TO the sides
after the manner Of trussed fowls. A dignifed
bearing and firm walk are rarer than Congressional
honesty. The great panorama of Broadway sell
herself properly. She bitches in her gait, or shuf-
fes, or turns In one loot or sways her dress, or
as as IN Two parts the waist
alone are necessary to overcome these Migrant de-
fects Venus was not fully herself without ner at
tendant graces, and 1t would be well for American
women, who are attractive IN many ways, to take
lessons OF this goddess. Everything that tends to
beauty life is worth learning AS personal DEF
stage, 1t is to be hoped that amateurs who have
love Tor art per Sc may cultivate it, If for no grander
motive than vanity. The defects we specify are not
those fair ones "that best conclliate lover or
admiration.
grievous lack Of judgment in the selection of
plays Is the prominent Characteristic OF ordinary
private theatricals. Assuming amateurs to be
ladies and gentlemen it is natural to suppose that
room. Facts demonstrate the reverse OF this
hypothesis, the rule being to choose the most diff
cult Of old English comedies or the most artistic OF
the French stage offers many charming examples,
are pertinaciously ignored. The .Proverbes' Of
the Theatre Francois need little alteration to 1T
them for private representation To drag such
plays as 'London Assurance" 1.-THE School for
salon is as presumptuous as IL is out of place yet
the error is frequently committed. The
oiiensiyeness Of portions d;;o OF these comedies
or less correct of past manners, they interest.
The public goes to see them it goes to see GER
greatly admired on artistic grounds but do not
create desire to hang them up in libraries and
boudoirs. How amateurs, with any pretensions to
the modern mysteries.
Another classic in high repute is 1.-THE Rivals"
In Its modern stage dress this threadbare comedy
becomes t0lerabe, but in private, where Herod Is
systematically Outher0ded and unities rarely con-
an IN an nj ms ana
the sckly sentimentality of Julia and Falkland.
There are no theatrical nuisances comparable with
these two characters. Still another favOrite Is
1.-THE Honeymoon" fine pay-for artists.
Amateurs dash headlong into the 'Geading busi-
ness" with an assurance amounting to sublimity,
and were Pope now alive he would modify his
cOuplet, rendering 1t thus
man must serve his time at every trade
Save acting-actors all are ready made.
So ambitious are most histrionic fledglings that
none can be found to inform my lord the carriage
waits. We have known private managers to
while Claude Melnottes by scores stood near. Soon
1t will become necessary to write plays especially
eaney Seroc and ali
The volunteers laundering after brigader gen.
eralship is no greater than the amateurs yearning
to be hero and heroine in one.
Egotism is the Scyla and Charybdis OF private
theatricals. The unwise, unmerited dattery of
ordinary Juanas and Duke Xranzss are talked
into believing themselves equal to the Kembles,
and the great god II AMI is worshpped with a
they look down from their Olympan
heights on professional actors and deign to critl-
spirit Of II am holier than thou" Occasionally,
when grown too great for private amusement, the
amateur treads the boards in earnest; quickly i'm
partial critics stick pins into the human balloon
and tremendous Is the explosion thereof. 1t Is but
0 repetition Of the old fable, wherein the frog
came to grief by emuating the size Of his burly
neighbOr, the OK.
But, In spite OF Scyla and Charybdis, private |
theatricas are productive OF more good than evil,
and far greater advantage may be derived from |
an elegant amusement when common sense enters |
into Its management. Meanwhile let amateurs re-
member that acting is noble art, not to be tOyed
WITH but to be undertaken In all earnestness; that
It took Garrick and Siddons many years to attain |
that amateurs are not the peers OF
hard working genius, and that II is not well for |
them to be wise In their own cOnceit though such |
ignorance be temporary bliss. FREE LANCE.
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