Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-29
Amueementr.

Memphis THEATER Tonight Lolita
will commence a weeks engagement and
will appear in Museite, a play never be-
fore brought out on the Memphis stage.
OF the play a Pittsburg journal speaks
as follows:
The opera house was crowded last night
upon the advent Of Lolita. The little
lady joined the troupe here, and made
her first appearance since the recent i'll
ness of her aged mother. Before speak
ing of the actors, let us say one word of
Musette. 1t is a pretty little melo-
drama, written for the purpose of show
ing off Lolita, which it does admirably.
Lolita is piquant, sparkling, full of life
and the very embodiment of the part
which she plays. In this style of acting
Lolita is superior to any on the
stage. We cannot say that we admire
the particular school to which this act
ing belongs, but an actress who does this
well is superior to one who murders
tragedy, and waits for applause for the
vile deed. 1t was like living the past
over, like communing with old days to
see Couldock nee again. And at the
first utterance of his voice, the heavy
tones of Forrest seemed ringing in the
arches, and for a moment the present
and its surroundings vanished, and the
grand old king of tragedy stood there,
the white locks of Lear floating in the
chilly blast. Couldock is a remnant of
that old school, which among actors is
known no more, a branch from the old
tree, from which cruel death Topped
away Forrest and his like With the go
ing out of these comes in the school of
intensity and ~calmness, even to indiffer-
ence, and the scholars are many. The
Timothy Filters of Mr.. Locke, was a
very fair piece of comedy.
ST, ANDREWS SOCIETY BAEQUET.-The
grand banquet of the Memphis St. An
drew's Society will come off at the Pea
body Hotel. The "Sons of Aud SEQ
tia have certainly been very successful
in their selection Of speakers, as will be
seen in another column. On the occa-
sion the citizens Of Memphis will receive
a rare intellectual treat, as Hon. JefFer-
son Davis will respond to the toast Of
Scotland and her people of the present
day" and give some very interesting
"reminiscences of his late visits to Scot
land, where he enjoyed the hospitality Of
her people of every denomination, Wis
tied the land Of Burns and roamed over
the mountains, wales, hills, dales and
lochs Of the far-famed land. Judge Trigg
will respond to 1.-THE United States"
while Colonel George Gibson, United
States army, will represent THE Army
and Navy" Mayor League will speak
for Ireland" Captain Maccabe for
" England and her Queen" Mr.. David
M. Philip Ct The day we celebrate
Mr.. J. M. Heating of Journals and
Journalists" and Mr.. 7. s.. NJ. Rhett for
The Ladies'" The speech Of welcome
will be delivered by the President elect,
Mr.. Z. L. Topp.
AMATEUR PERFoEMERs.-In an East
ern journal we find the following choice
bit Of criticism on amateur perform
ances:
When an amateur comes before the
public he is generally inspired with one
of two motives. He is either inspired by
a desire of improvement in the art which
he loves, or be is prompted by philan-
thropic sympathies and lends his talents
for charitable purposes. There are times,
however, when insufferable conceit drives
the victim of thelponderous aycophancy
Of overload friendship to air his self.
suficiency and exhibit his s~hallowness
before a wondering public. 1t is Gus
tomary to deal gently with amateurs in
the critique and too often to lavish full
some compliments upon their defects.
But if this latter course be taken by a
public journaltwo wrongs are inflicted
the one upon the amateur himself and
the other upon the public. Upon the
amateur, in so much as his laudable am
bition for Improvement and efficiency is
prevented from being realized, and on
the public by leading them to expect
more for their money than they will get.
Every person who exhibits his talents
or want Of talent-before a public audi.
dence, and especially if tia audience be
a paying one, lays Aimself open to crit
cism and no must make up his mind to
receive the bitter with the sweet-the
former generally being the most whole-
some medicine,