The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-21

His First Appearance Rs rngomar At the
Academy of M sic LsNt Evening.


mar before large audience at the Academy Of
Music. The performance was in every respect a
success, and the triumph was as complete and the
ovation as enthusiastic as those which he won IN
Othello.s
When, In 1912, the Baron de Munich. Bellin ghausen
under the pseudonym OF Frederic de Hahn, pro
duced 'Der Sohn der Wndness' Identical with the
English "1ngomar," the French "Fils du Desert"
ana the Italian "Fglo dele Selve'Y, he vindi-
Gated the power OF pure and noble love
to subdue the heart, moduate the tempera-
ment and revolutionize the habits Of one who
was, In many things, little better than barba-
rian His lngomar is semi-civiliZed chief.
who even in his sleep, dreams OF pursuing and
capturing, OF crushing and killing, of triumph and
booty Curses are at home in his mouth. He is
des 2otic and yrannical His Will Is his all-sufil-
Gent logic He worshps liberty, youth and
strength, and thinks strength only is free. All
that lie expects, when he shall have grown white
haired and inflrm Is to sit under tree and await
the summons OF the gods. He thinks that vigor
only Is life, and that lie without it is like
sheath without blade, CULVER without arrows.
He has no pity for cowardice, not even in the old
and decrepit, and despses the egOtsm that clings
to life. The hunts the rude banquets, the oombats
and the dangers OF his adventurous life content
him. His ideal OF womanhood is barbarous. He
playing the coquette from the cradle up. At first
he is so indifferent TO Parthenia, who has volun-
tary placed herself In servitude him to redeem
her father, that he would send her away because
she Is OF no use. He boasts that he never knew
fear, and first admircs Parthenia when
her pride masters her tears. But he still regards
her as chattei, and wishes she could make swords
instead Of wreathe cups with roses He is first
brought to think tenderly OF her because of her
semblance to his little brother. who has died. The
exhibition of this soft place in his heart is artully
employed by the dramatist and is in keeping with
the undercurrent OF graci0usness which makes It.
self felt from time to time. He is prone TO think OF
the use OF things rather than their beauty and ad-
mires cups and vases as utensils and
not because Parthenia adorns them with flowers
BY degrees he comes to praise her Orkmanship
and swears by the beams of the sun it peases him,
But he wakes to sense OF Parthenia's purity
slowly He strikes his sword and calls 1t his WIFE,
He Is almost woman Halter, not because he has
been deceived, but because he has not yet seen
any woman worthy to be loved. The conversation
between him and Parthenia is ingeniousy led ND
to love by q consideration of the differ.
ent methods in which wives are woocd
by the Greeks and the wild tribes he governs He
Knows no love beyond cOmradeship and the SEN
sual appetite But, bending beneath the ndefna-
bic influence of Parthenia he begins pucSing for
ago, he forbade her to pluck He even prom.
ises to bring the freshest and best per1umed. By
his reference TO his little dead brother it is shown
that he was always the servant Of those whom he
loved, and thus the lncrediblity OF his seemingly
sudden change is soltened Passion is first woke in
him by Parthenias singing "What love is wouldst
thou be taught" He falls into reverie whence
1t is impossible to rouse HIM. He tries in vain 10
break the chain that binds him. THAT chain ia
love, and until now he has never iet its power
He Is thrown into an agonizing tumult. His soul,
Tor The first time, is wounded with the clash OF
Tic Of IA.ya
seeks to reconcile his past life with LIS
present FEELINGS by wishing partnenia were lis
dreamily to the burden Of her song,
Two souls with but single thought
Two hearts that beat as one.
AT last, in an excess of savage passion, he informs
Parthenia that she must be his. His wild habits
gaining the upper hand lie reminds Parthenia that
she IS his slave; but is struck dumb by
sword and preteTring death rather than
submission to his embrace. He weeps he WHO
had despiseG tears and wincing beneath her scorn
of his yolence gives her her liberty. In the midst
OF all this conflict he is conscious of his superiority
hg comrades and wlsn ne he{ to tee too He
land and as he does So she carrying his lance Ahid
shield ana oefsnY a ser basket Of berries the
eAcn nt Of suf5ess y snd drametst ss
ever introduced. When finally Parthena is
about to BID him adieu he wishes that he were sunk
with his shield in the swamp, that Massilia were
at the bottom Of the sea, that ships sailed over It's
towers, and that cane and reeds rose instead OF
cI-
ings He beseeches her to STAY with him. Size
tells him that he is bright star yelled with MIST
rough gem before the artidcer has fired its tire.
mulous rays, that he worships only strength that
his sole argument is his sword and that order and
law are foreign to him. She reminds him that COM
mon law and sweet customs must ind those whom
love has united, in order that esteem may purify
and preserve the warmth OF youth. He quivers
beneath her words, and the lingering savaeery or
his nature constructs them into insults: but with a
heart as great and beautiful as his native forests
be conquers himself asserts his own worth, ana
aptnn yulo1n U1lII
a Greek. He grows dOce, accompanies
her home, and implores her father who
had once been his despised captive. 10 teach
him. He dols his hides trims his hair and beard,
conducts the plough, works at the anvil, and even
delivers up his sword He meekly endures the
taunts OF Particulars mother; but he cannot mas
ter conventionalisms. He worships the candor Of
the forest still, and cannot become obsequons to
the Tlmarch. He refuses to betray his recent CON-
rades and is willing to forego all the gifts and
honors promised him, Parthenia into the bargain,
rather than act the spy. Driven forth at last by
the people of whom he hoped to become one, he
learns with ecstasy that Parthcnia Will accompany
him. Unconsciously to himself he has convinced
her that all Is comprehcnded in the gift OF heay
eny he nras,me there are some ro,es wit, ,,c,
than with others Ingomar may be one. But
all that ne MAJ, mas yet done ne has done
assert Of any particular character that that is Sal
WINS par excellence. Until he shall have acted
Hamlet and one or two other parts that are as OPP
posed to Othello day to night, it would be fool
ish to attempt to limit the extent over which his
capabilities stretch. But his acting last night DEM
onstrated that his Ingomar is his own as uniquely
as his Othello. Through every snuosity Indicated
in the foregoing analysis OF The processes through
which lngomar's discipline passed this great actors
genius triumphantly and afiuently wound. Yet
the part is not one which will take as deep hold
upon public sympathy az bis Otheo. The scenes
are too pastoral, the sentiments are too IDEAL the
spirit is too far removed from the vitalities OF
every day life. The whole drama Is symbolic, pre-
figuring the eXalting and refining effect OF
love upon a magnanimous nature. brought up
among savage surroundings. Signor Salvini is the
ideal son OF the forest. He makes possible the
noble savage, who, like the golden age has existed
only in the poets BRAIN Forest and sunlight and
wind and wave have their broad and generous
effects in his physique and action. We have not
space this morning to go into further details. It
will suflce to add that one OF the most striking
effects last evening was that wrought when IDgo-
mar is about to OFFER violence to Parthenia, and,
threatening her life, she excaims, "Take it," and
holds her head ready Tor the sword. Pamonte pro-
duced an impression second only to Savini. She
was greatly and deservedly applauded, and Sgnor
AlessandrO Salvin was excellent as Myron. The
sul ho a4olAn alsshH MaHA