The New York herald., 1873-12-07

tell ron that there is no one, Win tue
exception, perhaps, Of Mr.. Trolope VINO Is
so prohnc and at the same time 80 popular The
atrabilious critics OF the saturday Rectc thought,
in their own generous manner, 10 do her harm by
branding her stories as sensational, which per-
ceptiye people soon came to understand meant
that they were full Of flesh and blood interest as
distinguished from the washed-out goody-goody
twadde OF Home Lee or MSS Katherine Saun-
ders. Not that Miss Braddons novels have even
the smallest approach to .'strong liking" In the
shape Of pruriency; they are alike free from the
luscious, yoluptuous nonsense OF Ouda ana the
coarse crudities oi Miss Broughton. Their tone IS
invariably healthy, their plots well constructed,
but not unduy enamored, and their writing-when
the author Is out OF reach OF her Lempriere and
DR.. Smiths Dictionary OF Classical Antiquities
sound and pleasant. Moreover, II Is well known
that, unlike many other authors who have not sue
ceeded nall SO we popularity aud pecuniarily, Mss
Braddon ls sngularly devoid OF literary envy and
jealousy; that she is never heard TO speak Ia de-
traction OF brother and sister scribcs and that
she is as simple minded now as sne was when she
contentediy submitted her copy 10 the decision OF
thOse WnOm sne has passed IN the race In the
crowded house do not think that there was one
person who was not sincerely anxious Tor The sue
cess OF the kind-hearted, clearneadeo, thoroughly
English lady
THE AUDIENCE.
II was grand opportunity Tor any one wishing
to snow stranger some OF the literary celeDrities
OF London. In addition to the regular Journalists
there were present Edwin Arnold, the poet, ana
Justin Mccarthy, the essayist; Octave Delepierre
the Belgian Consul and writer; Shirley Brooks, the
editor OF Punch, and Frank Burnand, the brightest
OF his stan; Charles keade and Dutton Cook, the
novelists; G. NJ Fem, the editor OF Cdssetps Adgd-
zine; John Maxwell and William Ilnsley, the pub
lishers, and dramatists, including Palgrave
Simpson, Falconer Reece Frank Marshall. inc
author Of False Shane,n and A. ". Dubourg,
Tom Taylor's coaborateur IN "Sew Men ana Old
Acresn
is founded on the story told by Boccacio, Cnaucer
~ hnr nff hA al ms
how that beng OF low estate was courted and
married by prince; how the princess wicked
cousin persuaded hlm-to prove, as IL were, his
wiic's patience-to innlct upon her every possible
annoyance and indignty to the extent oi declaring
that he would be divorced from her and would
marry another lady IN ner place; and now, In the
end, OF course, vice IS foiled and virtue riumphs,
and they.two live happy ever after. IT Is slnguaS
that woman OF Miss Braddon's tact should nave
selected such an undramatlc story. into which even
her knowledge Of stage requirements and her
blank verse-which lis decidedly above the average
nave been insufficient TO put ie.
THE ACTING.
There is only one dramatic situation throughout
the piece and that is at the emo OF the second act,
where the prince banishcs his vile ana ne'tels
him, IN spite OF all his cruelty, she st shall love
him. This, treated by an actress oil TIesse and
depth combined might have been made much OF,
but Mrs. Rousby has neither iresse nor depth. nor
tue Ialntest power OF DISPLAYING the emotion re-
quired. She never iorgets that she is the "Beautl
u Mrs. Rousbyn OF the Stereoscopic Company;
her method OF expressing passion Is to open her
large eyes wider than usual and to put her hair
back from her lace with her hands and as to grief
or paJnoS sne utterly lals IN It's expression. Wnen
Miss O'Nell played Juliet, she used, it sald 10
weep real hot, scalding tears but Mrs. Rousby
does nothing so unadylikc or so dlsc0mposlng to
the features. II IL time that this sham OF "eminent
artlSteo ana ''charming actress" should explode.
Mrs. ROusDy has a remarkably handsome race OF
the statuesque type; her hgure IS not good, her
movements are ungalnly, and as an actress she is
decidedly third rate. Mr. Rousby better suited
with the character of the mean spirited little nus
creants than with the dashtng heroes which he de-
lights to essay and or which he IS physically and
artisucaly untitled. Miss Braddon's COsmo ls
Shakespeares lago bettled, and MIR. RousDy's
performance OF IL was like the late Mr.. Charles
kean's performance or Iago seen through the
wrong end OF the opera glass. The scenery was
very splendid, aud the dresses, notably those Of
Mrs. Rouspy, were very gorgeous aud III the best
taste
was very loud and very noisy-savos OF applause
recalling OF the actors summons OF the authoress,
| who lrst bowed from her box and was then led
across the stage. But IL was success deStine, an
outburst on the part OF the pubic to show their
genuine admir- ration of Miss Bradaon herself not Of
the work that had Just been presented to them.
The play was generally felt TO be TEDIOUS and Will
probably not have long run. When Miss Braddon
next ties her hand at the drama-it VIII not be
long for she Is an indefatigabe worker and has al
ways had leaning TOWARDS the stage-she VIII
probably eschew blank verse and the middle ages,
and give us q story OF own day, with plot OF
such subtiety and dialogue OF such strength she
never tails to incorporate into her novels.
LITTLE TON TUG.
AT the Opera Comique Mr.. K. &. Burnand has
produced burlesque based on the old operetta OF
| THE Waterman which will probably rival his
writer OF genuine nonsense-whicn when good is
better than the most elaborate wit--to equal Mr.
Bnrnand when be Is at his BEST as he is ia this last
attempt