The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-14


rascal would hive up TO It.
PRED-I cannot understand why Amos should
have feared the lying tongue OF lowived tramp
ike Paxton Dick. II would have oeen more
natural had the burly farmer tnrashed the rogue
and never thought OF him again.
FELICIA-Judith's long waiting for Jesse, her
oehef IN him through ALL Is touchingly described.
and to think he, her betrothed was staying away
purposely TO give the brother whom he had
wronged, chance to win the girl back again.
That was the only generous thing that 'Gentle-
man Bullen" ever did, but 1t was done in such Q
clumsy way that 1t had the effect OF making him
appear deeper-dyed villain than he really was.
Ofcourse Judith died. A city girl might have borne
up under the shock, but being country-bred girl.
one who had never heard Of the cruelties OF men
and who believed deception impossible in gen.
tleman, the blow Killed her.
The DoCrOR-There is O great deal OF power in
this story, simple though 1t appears. As picture
1t IS drawn with spirit and force. The carefully
finished characters In the foreground, the bright
cooring OF peasant lie and the picturesque back
ground OF wheat fields and meadows Is altogether
charming and makes US an xtous for more from the
same artist.
ROMANCE OF THE STAGE.
FRED-It would take q much bigger volume than
this by Percy Fitzgerald u. B. Lipplncott & Coz
to hold all the romance OF the stage. Mr.. Fltz-
gerald has made happy selection, however, and
1t would be hard to find more interesting book
than this. AS the author says IN his preface, the
chief attraction OF this volume 's found to be the
air OF personal confession and simplicity OF the
revelations furntsbed the natrete, the humor and
almost garrulous confidence, above all, the
quaint turn OF expression In which everything Is
unioded."
Miss RACHEL am happy to say that the inter-
est In the stage IS reviving Notwithstanding the
blows dealt against 1t by MIR. Talmage Players
are no longer poor, prosecuted set. Starring
has taken the place OF strolling. Every town mas
It's theatre, and o manager is as good gentleman
as any who ogle the ballet girls from the prosce-
mum boxes. The system OF patronage has died
out with other evils and play sinks or swms
according to It's merits or the energy Of the man
agement.
PRED fear that the stage Is rapidly drifting
into respectfully. Bohemians are going the way
OF all flesh and greenroom supper Is as rare now
adays as are angels visits. The stage Is world
OF ITSELF Actors and actresses 90 not look upon
matters and things in the same way as do we OF
the pits and boxes. They are free, easy and un.
conventional, but 1t does not follow that they
are fast and bad. Some Of the best women know
are actresses.
FELIcIA-Mr. Fitzgerald tells great many funny
stories in his book and great many that are very
sad. The story Of the proud and luckless Mossop
the gay and festive Mrs. Benamy, the notorious
Mrs. Ray, who was mistress OF an earl and was
murdered by clergyman; the vagabond Tate
wilkinson and many Others are told, to give the
reader an iEsghtin:o stage life as 1t was.
FRED-Times have changed SINCE the days when
an actor was compelled to act in play, sing two
comic songs. play In an interlude, dance a horn
min plo hovlo u{p,a VT
and receive as pay for all this three pence and two
pieces OF candle. think 1t is not unusual nova
days for stage wardrobes to be seized Tor debt.
but I doubt If many OF our actors were ever
obliged to eat turnips out OF field to stay their
hunger as some OF the greatest lights OF the past
generation have done.
FELICIA-And times have changed since poor
Mrs. Bethany was forcibly carried or by Lord
Byron and Sir George Metham. Mrs. Bethany tells
her story in Straightforward, unDlushing sort OF
0 way. should like to have seen her friends. the
Cunning girls, who were so handsome that the
King sent sergeant's guard to walk with them
on the mall to keep back the crowd that pressed
around to stare at their beautiful faces
FRED-Garrick's debut IL SPOKEN OF as being the
single instance Of immediate success. The play
was "Richard ILL.," ''On that Monday night the
performance began at SIX O'Clock, with q few
pieces OF music. Then the curtain rose on
The Life and Death OF King Richard Ill., and
after the first scene. at that nervous moment, the
new actor came from the wing. Macklln always
talked f0ndly OF this glorious night. 1t
was recollected, however, that when the new
player came upon the scene and saw the crowded
house, he was disconnected, and remained lew
seconds without being able TO 60 on. Bat he re.
covered himself No wonder 1t surprised that au-
dience-it was SO new, and was all new. The sur
prisng novelty was remarked that ne seemed To
IDENTIFY himself with the part They were amazed
1t his wonderful power or feature. The stupen-
lous passions OF Richard we're seen IN his face be-
ore he spoke and outstrlpped his words. There
was perpetual change and vivaciry," and so on
or half q page more. And for weeks afterward
The narrow streets OF the obscure quarter were
olockea up with the carriages OF the nobility
.rowding to see him, and dozen dukes were
seen IN the boxes Of night"
FELIcIA-Mrs. Siddons was not so fortunate. She
began as o stroller, was allowed TO appear at
Drury Lane, made failure owing to cruel cir
cumstances, and went back to strolling Her
second appearance vas q success and her after
lie was brilliant enough. THINK II people would
read this book and see through what ago.
MES actors pass on the night OF debut they
would not be SO hard on their shortcomings. Mrs.
,iddons almost made herself Ill with worrImenr
before the terrible night. The Joy she felt a, her
triumph was too great for words or tears.
FRED-Manager Ryley's account OF the property
wagon coming into town Is very funny. "Some
scenes and figures belonging to pantomIme lay on
the top ofthe boxes which were numerous ana piled
very nigh To keep them steady he 1.-THE cartcr)
had placed door. on which was painted, In large
characters, tom Punch's House, in front or the
wagon. This soon gave a title to the whole. Upon
the uppermost box. and right over the door, was
a giants head OF huge dimensions. whose lower
law, being elastic hung, opened with every Jolt OF
the carrlaQe.n A barking mastin ran In front OF
the van in the rear ofwnich sat one Of the actors
his wife and nine children, the wife IN a Scotch
plaid suit and the children in scarlet jackets.
They we're q merry, though half-starved lot, these
poor actors, and the poorer they were the bigger
their families.
Miss RACHEL shall never 60 to the theatre since
reading this book without feeling new interest
in the actors and longing to know what going