The New York herald., 1875-09-13
CHATS. ABOUT BOOKS.
Hutton's "Reminiscences Of
Plays and Players.
A FOGY ON THE FOOTLIGIITS.
"Playing the Mischief" "EglaDtine,D "Wafd or
Wife, "NIOira Fergus"

it such honor have his bachelor apartments taken
possession of by the club that whenever is his
To entertain he makes especial effort to have
prise in by the way of book the advance
sheets of one about TO be published, something Of
that sort Tho Doctors friend, tho Critic will often
send him such matter from New York, being the
friendlest terms with the publishers in that city
After the members had seated themselves around.the
evening lamp for the weather cool enough to stay
indoors the Doctor opened his desk mysterously and
brought out brown covered volume With dainty gold
opera glass stamped on tho cover. "Here is book
that is not published yet though Hurd l. Houghton
will bring it out in few days. It is entitled Plays
and Players, and is written by Mr. Laurence Hutton,
a member Of the Arcadian Club and friend OF my
friend the Critic Sec how beautifully II is gotten up.
] have read it with The intense pleasure You
must know that have not always been village
geon Ny early years passed in New York, where
l was a devoted patron OF the drama In its 'palmy
days"
AUGUSTUS CnARLEs-My dear Doctor, beg that you
will spare a dissertation the 'palmy days." We
perfectly familiar with the subject and the way is
by you old felows Your recollections will be
listened with tho greatest attention; but If you
going prate Of the superiority of the past over the
present we will vote you an old fogy without moro
ado.
Tho DocroR-An right, my boy. Although think
better than be done now won't say if it hurts
your young heart To any Interested in the stage
this book of Mr. Huttons is nexhaustibe of
pleasure. He can take it on his knee and turn
page by page each leaf recalling and faces that
are indelbly impressed upon bis memory You young
people Burton, Barreu, Blake, Mary Taylor
and host of others who the public pets OF twenty
years ago. You will get good idea of them by reading
this book. Mr.. Hutton has spread out lot OF old
fade tne- MIA befor ahout
these he gossips and morazes like true amateur He
is only young man, my friend tells me, but he has
been frequcntng theatres from his early youth till the
present day. and all his programmes and has the
picture OF every actor and actress whom he has ever
seen He is an enthusiastic fellow You that by
this sentence There is music and poetry in
old playbills TO US, and we handle them
very tendery these faded silent records OF old friends
and of old times records OF old friends with whom
have never exchanged sentence in our lives, who
have known of existence or the good
they have done u.s. but still old friends who very
real and very to US in their day. who have afforded
much harmless pleasure and enjoyment and who are
still very pleasantly remembered"
The LAwYER-very nicely said Tell US of some of
these old paybills, Doctor.
The DocroR-The first bill is dated Burtons, Chambers
street, Friday evening March g. 1852 Highest price for
cushioned seats, sevcnty1ve cents The play was the
''Serious Family, with Lester Waack, Bland Levere,
Burton and Mary Taylor the The Serious Family
Polka performed by sixteen ladies and gentlemen
in the piece TO quote again:-'0f the great cast of
the Serious Family, given above, only one actor is
now left TO the New York stage-Lester Wallack.
Bland the best Jacques of his day; Burton and Mary
and Emma Taylor are dead Mrs Hughes, like whom
there has been old LADY, since, took her fare
well Of the stage time ago lun of years and
honor. The Miss Weston, afterward Mrs.
Dolly Davenport, is the present Mrs. Charles
Mathews. The Miss Malvina who danced at
Burton's in 1852, Miss Malyina Pray Mrs.
William J. Florence"
The PARsoS-Allow 10 say, soto roce that at the
risk of punishment lowered myself out of
second story window night when lad, and
sneaked down to the old Park the ''Schoo for
Scandal" my ayorite comedy, played with Placade,
Burton, Barrett Barry, Blake, Peter Richings Wolcot,
Hunt Povey, Dawson, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. John Gilbert,
Mrs Winstaney and Mary Taylor in the cast That
glorious performance. Although arrived late
got good in the gallery next to boy who divided
his peanuts with me- and together stamped and
shouted every time the curtain rung down
Miss ALMAvIyAI am astonished at your confession,
Mr.. Creed Would you do such thing now?
The PARsoS-No; that is | would not climb out the
back window l would walk boldly out at the front
door and take in the dress circle to piece
played like that was again. have desire tho
"Black Crook" or 'Formosa, but ENJOY good old
English comedy a bit of tragedy occasionally well
any other rational being.
Miss EuPHRMA-I glad to hear you speak that
way Mr. Creed | would like you as a clergyman,
be a regular theatre-goer, but don't why your
coth" should prevent your attending good theatrical
performance occasionally.
The DocToR--Mr Hutton gives amusing account
of Brougham's Row the Lyceum" was taken
thcrp ono night and fooled nioht
took grecnhorn to see the pieco and was fully ro
Venged by his utter confusion.
The LAwYER--I SEQ in turning tho leaves that
Mr. Hutton bcmoans the TACT that Jefferson plays
nothing but Rip Van Wrinkle, and speaks of his New
Noggs with the highest praise and well he may
for finer performance graced tho stage Agnes
Robertson comes in for large share Of Mr. Huttons
praise. She certainly beautiful and
charming actress ten years ago, and yet, for that
matter
The DocroE-Mr Hutton mentions the names OF over
800 actors and this book and has pleasant
word to say for each He has not made volume of
criticism and has not attempted it, He merely talks
the good old days Of the DRAMA not so very old
either for there few Of who have not seen some
of those whom he mentions. lie writes with intelli-
gence and enthusiasm, and has made book that will
be read with keen relish by every who feels the
slightest interest in the history Of the stage in this
country. His style is easy and agreeable, and the
whole book is marked by the most unaffected candor
and ndivet<.
'PLAYNG mscmEv."
Miss EuPHEMIA Ito Augustus Charles, with whom she
had retired to quiet corner)-You have read j. W. De
Forests "Playing the Mschier' (Harper Bros);
what Is II about and what Is it like?
AUGUSTUS CHAELEs--l could tell you the whole story
in two words; but If you would have do tho
thor has done Will spin it out further Mr. Dc For
might easily have said his say in just onetenth
the space he has occupied yet instead of that he has
spread his words out like the butter the griddie
cakes used to have at boarding school, When he
describes crowd he tells you just how many people
composed it, the color Of their eyes and hair who
their ancestors how they push and scrougc why they
nnsh and lcrnnpe and everything they do N BY