The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-31

Mr.. j. M. Bellows Readings ut Associa-
tiOn Hall.

lke00tnG0 A01OGt0S
tiOn Hall.
| II large, highly intelligent and extremely ad-
miring audience be an assurance to Mr.. Belew that
his merits as el0cutionst are appreciated AT this
side of the water, he had abundance OF comfort
from last evening. Association Hall was filed, and
the best society OF the city represented In the
audience 1t seemed to matter httle as whether the
acoustic properties OF the hall were Of the best or
the worst; there was that quality In the readers
voice that scorned all adventurous aid and could
make itself felt and understood as well in q barn
as In ballroom.
or late we have been getting great many
gingerbread importations from England, lecturers,
readers, actors NC. They have come among US
with much flourish Of trumpets and carried away
with them ample tokens Of American patronage.
In the imported chat we were favored with some
few grains OF wheat. Santley, the singer, was
something to be grateful for; so was Tyndall, the
lecturer; and now we have Bellew, the reader, who
can certainly lay claim to superiority any
veteran Murdoch.
Mr.. Belew arranges his accessories in a more
elaborate and artistic ;ashion than did Dickens,
over the front Of the stage he places at a height
OF about fifteen feet an arch Of globe-shaded gas
lights, curtained from the audience by strip OF
crimson damask. Behind him is a crimson screen
for a background, and Immediately in front desk
shrouded in covering OF the same color, b0rdereu
face and well developed form Of the speaker are
thrown out with striking vivIdness by his arrange
ment Of light and shade. His voice IL OF splendid
every articuate utterahce OF human emotion.
"The Bridge OF Sighs'' was incomparably rendered
familiar Lines people have been reading since
meaning from the touch Of this mans won
intonaton that cropped out everywhere IN
his best readings. Mr.. Bellew has the finest and
most powerful tones Of Murdoch, Henry Ward
Beecher and DR.. Chaplin, His reading is 80 careful
that we are vexed with ourselves for heretofore
throwing away twice money and applause on the
sloppy STUFF We were pleased to think e0cutionwhich
SO many OF our native artists insist on Offering to
every Winter rs a first class article His pro-
was Is ReSaT TIL s
Lions" Leigh Hunt; "coxs Diary" rhacS,
NEWS rom ehe1 soSer srS%nSs
"Brdge of Sighs," Thomas Hood; "The Charity
Dinner very comica piece, written for Mr.. Bel
lew, is a sketch of public dinner in London given
by gushing phianthropists at the London Tavern
Light Brigade.n
Organ and chorus) was introduced with excellent
effect and the "Balacava Charger was inter-
spersed with trumpet and organ notes. There was
an even blending OF pathos and humor In the Sc
lectiOns, and thus the varied interest nthe read
ings was continued to the end.
The applause given the brilliant eOcutiOnist after
every piece was hearty and prolonged, as though
the audience desired an encore We cannot speak
too highly Of Mr. Bellows first effort before an
American audience. His manner is perfection
itself. He gavanizes with q thrObbng life express
sions OF the poet and the dramatist dead to US
from our familiarity with them or Indifference
towards them. His Interpretation Of Hoods most
touching lines, zone more unfortunate" stamps
him as an artist OF the first rank. All lovers OF
genuine art will quickly recognize in this gentle
The next readings come OF on Monday at Assocla-
ton Hall