The New York herald., 1874-09-08
esPassfOn's Perils,"

This Is the name of q piece which has just been
put ON the stage here in two OF theatres. 1t Is
designed to be dramatic representation OF the
principal events and scenes in the B ookiyn scan
dal. 1t argues badly for the morals o, the commu-
nifty to say that the Bowery Theatre was, last
night we'll flled, though not uncomfor tably
crowded. to witness the caricature OF subject that
has been as well read and understood as any other
that mas ever come before the American public.
But why this city should be further inflicted with q
stage renewal OF this scandal Is passing strange.
And why religion, even in its weakest manifesto
ton, should be held up to ridicue in o Christian
community and the purest affections OF the human
heart should be dragged IN the gutter with stage
effect for the Denent OF avaricious managers and
the qualification Of prurient public taste is al
most tnc0mprehensiOe. Bad as tho poorest specl-
men OF Christian may be- his equal il hard to
lind outside Of Christendom. But perhaps the
stage has determined to "get square" with the
pulpit for all the evil things that have been said
against 1t in the past by the latter. And fearing
that It may never have so good q chance
as the present the great scandal has
been seized upon and dramatized. II any
thing were needed to justify the fears of the chief
pastor implicated in that horror OF the evil that
It's publication would entail on the youth OF Amer.
ica this representation OF it would be sufficient
TO be sure some OF the most sensational points in
the real drama are left out and Others more likely
to take with Bowery audience, are introduced.
Hence instead or the poor Mrs. Thornton CTilton)
writing her retractOn on sick bed she sits at
table and rattes 1t OF as If she used 10 that
sort Of thing. And the pastor, Rev. Joel James
Bayham, instead Of touching her ankle imprnts
kiss on her cheek, ana wnlle in the her husband
Frederick thornton enters wild with rage, and
threatens death and destruction to wlle and
pastor. But he suddenly bethnks himself OF q
better way, Gains MS temper, seizes little
faint and overcome with sorrow and fright, iaiis
on the floor and Nellie alias Besse) bathes her
M Se s and fe curtain
too decided Hioernian "brogue" to pass for the
character in the real drama whom he is designed
Severity. intended for a couple OF women
who sailed away suddenly from this
the or spsg se
especially as the latter has a military husband,
who delights IN the title OF colonel, totlng her
acter In the entire cast that comes within forty
degrees Of the real characters In the original IN
those free lovers There is wild caricature of re-
porers IN the person OF one Jerry Fitzitem, whose
chiel business seems to be to drink gin cocktails
money from everybody VINO viii lend him dime
or dollar. He comes In attired in the shabbiest
acquaintance readily and drinks gin and
beer with the the male @ ,s actors & as It were
IN 5ne s aea Tse pot tSs
and the wife OF Thornton before her marriage with
the latter. but Is also shows the hypocrisy OF
that rather than lose her hand and heart he would
go to heaven ner way. And this sentiment was
duly appreciated BY the audience with Kisses.
Ss the pastor comes to tine house
toe ns or S ss
the wife and pastor 20 OF arm In arm-a very un-
Likely thing too by the way Then ,S enters the
with having transferred her affection from her
husband to her pastor and inttmates that some
pened between them. The husband jumps to his |
1eet repels the insinuation and cries out, 'itls
false, woman" at which the audience cheer Justify.
The mystery OF the PASTORS possession OF the
long letter, from which Thornton had published
extracts is unravelled by the writer or this
drama He brings the "Mutual Frendn and Mrs.
her the letter, which he hands over, and she |
hastily sends for her pastor and gives 1t to him.
The pastor Is at her house while her husband has |
gone on 10 the parsonage In search OF the docu- |
ment which he suspects has been transferred. |
Jerry Fitzitem, the reporter, seedy and bibulOus,
for ever IN want OF whiskey or the price Of it, Is the
only character who deserves or receives applause
In the entire play And he does this much by his
smartness OF repartee and otf-hand wit as by his
wretched caricature OF the reportOral profession.
Indeed, there Is nothing IN the entire drama from
the prologue to the END OF act ILL.,, scene 8,
that deserves approval either for its truthfuness
TO life character or its faithfuiness to the
duces the audience to the death chamber OF the
pastor, who dies broken hearted, alter which the
separated husband and wife become reconclled
and the curtain drops on the poorest at
tempt to perpetuate an abominable scandal
that ought by this time 10 have satiated II
not nauseated the hearts and the nostrls Of the
most Drurlent scandal lovers in the land. The au.
dience, 1t must be admitted, sat more patiently
and decor0usly under the inniction than any au-
dience we have ever seen In like circumstances,
and showed their estimate Of the scenes by with.
holding anur0VaI 0ilannrAVnl ia n n IN