New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-27


voice OF Rufus Choate. Miss Cushman does not
these tones OF will, but by ohance-when strongly
moved by emotion possessing her. and she
other magical power that of suspense. in the same
involuntary way-as IL tho imagination wore held In
pause by the umut OF Its vast perceptions OF scene
atmosphere action, meaning. and conflict OF passion.
Her reading OF "sister Helen" and "The Death Of the
Old Squire" wiz be found TO e1emplify Lis; and in
these and kindred poems and in tragic ni solemn pas
sages from Shakespeare, she is at her best.
Upon Miss Cushmans reading OF " Henry fI1."-with
which, on last Wednesday began this of enter
tainments.-we had space for only brief comment. 1t
merits much more 1t touched all who heard 1t with the
gracious light OF intellectual emotion; 1t lifted up tho
mood OF every hearer; and 1t furnished that
buke, which often needed to the commonplace ee
ments and the ppant condition OF ordinary life. The
scoers at art, who think 1t feless aud puscless alb
straction are both Instructed and silenced in the
presence OF this woderful woman-at once tho
exponent Of all that is benefcent in the idea
OF the stage, and the living vindication
OF all who believe in that nobility She Ia, OF course.
heard the greatest advantage in the play Of
"Henry WILL" Its staelness of dction, aesty Of
theme its lofty ideal Of womany virtue and OF queenly
grandeur, and its beartbreakng delineation Of the
downfall and death OF great natures consort with her
mind and temperament and particularly her best
powers. The scene from Henry VIII" as selected
aud arranged by Miss Cushman, and the manner in
which those rendered. tell the whole story Of
tho play and place the chief persons in 1t clearly be-
fore the eye of the mind they could possibly appear
in the best and most elaborate theatrical representa-
ton. The Council hints at heIatent sntagonism
betwlxt QUEEN Catherine and Wotsey. The Trial
scene shows 1t openly, and places them In
strong contrast. And, in the ensuing chap
tiers OF their respective misfortune these sharply
marked and deeply imprisoned human monarohs are
still found opposed in violent relief Tightening each tho
nd mpa nil ~ the othe ia
an awfuy pathetic story Of great intellect thwarted
and great hearts broken. Miss Cushman identifies
herself with each Of these in that the hearer utterly
forgets they revealed in aud the individ-
ual And this power of indviduaism, descending into
every part and person of the piece exercised
that the stage seemed perfectly popuous with various
men and wOmen-the stately figures of history-and
swathed all about with the atmosphere OF most vital
strife and tragic experience IN past but never dead
epoch TIE bluff King, the deep-revolvng Cardinal,
the slightly senlle Campeus, the arrogant Surrey,
the afectonate Cromwell, the truthful and charitable
Griffith and, best Of ALL the noble true, tender. and
thoroughly royal Queen moved in their natural bodies
aud their complications of motive and state, and spoke
with each voice. at her bewching intellectual will.
Best of all name her Queen Katharine because IN
this is touched the hight OF inefible pathos. In
that awful dying scene the abnegation OF
chastened heart pains insight into pain. misery's
for misery, deaths exaltation, and, mingled
desire for justice womany chastity. and for loving
respect to the helpless clay, made up picture most
sacred and peons, that words could unduly cele-
brate and that be forgotten. Her treatment
Of the famous WOsey equally perfect and in
the electrical outburst upon Anne Boeyn-" There was
the weight that pulled me down tho actress darted
the blaze OF her ntuitive genius to the foundations
the character and the experience, and lit up the
awful strife Of pride and with dusky, funeral,
solemn and affecting radiance. 1t used to seem TO us
that this scene might advantageousy be cut by the
omission Of Surveys charges; but not when Charlotte
Cushman is to speak Wo!Seys line" How much' me-
thinks | might despise this manw Her whole persona
ton of WolSey indeed scared easily TO the night OF
Shakespeare deal and the passionate sincerity and
beautiful freedom with which she made his words to
his feelings and disclose bis nature gave per
feet form to a perfect conception.
Miss Cushman will give her third reading Wcdnes-
dav afternoon Offering selections from Macbeth"
Macaulays ballad Of The Battle Of Ivry the ballad OF
"Tbe Death of the Old Squire (which she read so
beautifully last season-and Mr. Caretons Besey and
Are Out"
DRAMATIC NOTES
Miss Nelson will shortly give Readings in
this city, at Stenway Hall.
Mr. John Mccullough will appear at Booths
Tbeater next Monday as Spartde"s
Mr.. jefferson will act in Brooklyn about the
middle Of May. Last week he was IN Cincinnati
Mr.. Wallack announces a revival OF Robert
sou uClCdte duu CHdA"'AHb P"J ~
fine cast
Mr.. Oliver Doud Byron will appear at the
Grand Opera House tlis evening, III play calied
Donald Mackay"
Dr. Spencer has ended his readings at Asso-
citation Hall having done himself credit ANA won CON
siderable popularity.
The Olympic programme of varieties, TINS
week includes 10 features of which the most prominent
Is the burlesQue of Fra Diavoa."
Miss Nelson will act a part in which she
is New-Yolk. this evening at Bootn lnTa'or-
At the Lyceum, the Fifth Avenue, the Colos-
scnm the Park NiblOs Garden, the Union Square, ana
Fox's Broadway Theater no present chahgo 10 70 DC
noted
Miss Theresa Esmonde will give dramatic
readings aud Rotations tonight at Robinson Hail. Her
programme comprising twelve pieces Is largely made
up from Irish NGlIeTs'
Mr.. DAILY proposes to bring ont in New
York Mr. II. j. Byr0ns piece, IAN American Lady =
done in LONDON, at the Criterion Theater. Wth MIS-
John Wood as the heroine
Mr.. Barnums HppodrOme will be opened
Tonight TIE private view, last Friday eyeuhg, was
npse OF vast spaces many marveis and Oddities ana
great capacity for display Of pageants Tue Hppolrome
has been prepared on a grand scale.
Among the passengers by the City OF Rich
mond that sailed on Saturday for England, were MI.
George r. Rowe. the dramatst and actor, Miss Louise
Henderson, the actresswho by the way Is engdgeua AT
the Union square Theater for next seas0l-and Mls' a.
NJ Palmer, wife OF the manager OF the Union square