The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-27
Readings Of Prof. Raymond.

HeauinSs Os Rrof. raymond
The Shakspearan readings given by
Prof. II. r. Raymond of Brooklyn, II. y,
at the Congregational chapel last evening,
may be rightly placed among the hest en-
tertainments which the season has afforded
in Rutland. The audience was quite large,
filling the spacious hall Of the chapel
nearly to repletiou, and was composed Of
our best and most cultivated citizens.
The entertainment was gracously opened
by piano solo from Prof George n.
Meitzkc, after which the reader OF the
evening was introduced by Rev. j. Gibson
Johnson, who took occasion, in a fitting
manner, to alude 10 the compliment paid
Prof. Raymond by Henry Ward Beecher
in the remark that ''thc superintendent Of
the Sabbath school in his church had often
favored HIM with readings from Shak-
speare, which had given him a better idea
of that writer than anything else had eyer
done" That superintendent vas Prof.
Raymond.
The reader, in the outset, announced
that he would give extracts from two of
Shakspeare's plays. He then began with
the reading of extracts from The Mer-
chant of Venice" taking first the 81 Scene
of Act !, where Bassanio asks the loan of
three thousand ducats from Shylock, the
Jew, and in the course of which, after the
entrance of Antonio, the bond, whereon
hangs the principal plot Of the play rests
viz, in the words of Shylock:
Go with me to a notary seal Inc there
Your single bond ana in merry sport.
II you repay me not on such day,
III such IA place, such sum or sums, as are
Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit
BE nominated for an equal pound
or your fair flesh, 10 be cut ~ and taken
In what part OF your body pleaseth me.
In this scene was shown at once to the
discrimination and delight of the audience
the great dramatic force possessed by the
reader. especially in portraying the acts and
language of the Jew.
The Professor then read the second scene
of Act ii. which was, as suggested by the
| reader, given to relieve the audience. and
| intertwine neat little bit OF comedy be-
| twixt the lines of the tragedy This
brought before us the great adaptability Of
the Professor for comedy, in depicting the
| character of Launcelot Gobbo and also that
| of his father. This was one of the hest en-
| joyed portions of the evenings entertain
ment and was captally enacted by tho
reader.
He then turned to the first scene of Ac
III. where the plot thickens and in which
the news of Antonio's loss at sea is convey
ed to Shylock also by the same messen
ger, Tubal is given him news, far from
comforting of his runaway daughter. Herr
was shown the consummate' skill in facia
expression, depicting the changes under
gone by Shylock in hearing good and bat
news alternately.
The reader then read the first scene o
Act ". giving the account of the trial by
the court of justice of Antonio, Shylocl
demanding "the penalty and forfeit of tn
bond" The fair Poriia here appears il
disguise, making one of the most admired
| uuNl 'hNi hNlNis w pS iVNht ~
Shakespearc's entire works The reader
as must have been observed, was suffering
under severe cold, consequently his read
ing of Portals lines was hardly in kcepin
with the standard of his other represents
tions, owing to hoarseness of voice.
An intermisson of q few minutes wa
then given, which was well filled wit
another piano solo by Prof. Metzke,
AT the temperance of the reader til
q scene changed and the audience were cor
ductea into the fairy entertainments of g.
- Midsummer Nights Dream" The readt
took up only those portions Of the coined
/ relating to the rehearsal and prcsentalio
of the play of "Pyramus and Thisbe
and commencing with the rehearsal, in Il
second scene of Act !. This scene,
well as the selections from the coined
throughout, was highly enjoyable, lud
,. rous and inexpressibly funny. Fac
n character was given particular look al
speech, peculiar to himself each of whiC
=, had much of the ludicrous therein. III
). scene was then changed to the meeting
n the "amateurs" at the wood, as describe
in the first scene of Act Ill, where Il
= irrepressble Puck IS introduced as char
N ing the queen Ttania, who on awaliii
~ falls in love with Bottom. This was {
Ia extremely laughable situation and high
IL enjoyed, the audience vociferously applau
ing the imitation of Bottoms singing
,s The reader then took the last part of 4
v first scene of Act w, when the playe
,e awake, which was made particular
al laughable by the gaping of the Profess
a and the lines of Bottom then taking see
rs second, where Bottom appears to Quin