The New York herald., 1875-09-14
A M u S E M E Mt S.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE.


The regular fall was ushered in at this house
last night with original address by Mr. John
Brougham and revival OF 'saratoga," one Of Mr..
Howard's American comedies, with which the New
York public is somewhat familiar The temperance OF
the old favorites OF the Fnh Avenue company drew
together large and brilliant audience, who evidently
enjoyed thoroughly the performance Tho members OF
the company were in excellent condition after their
long excursion and played with great hearlness and
received in acknowledgment Of their efforts frequen,
marks OF approval from the public. "saratoga" will
only remain the bills few days while the prepara
tions for the production OF Mr. Days new play are
being pushed forward to completion
The following is the opening address delivered by Mr.
John Brougham
An opening address The phrase is hne,
But then the thing itselfs not in my line
Yet, as it's printed, why must go through IT.
Though on my life don't know how TO 10 1t.
When by chief this task set
Out pu OF the scIape @ there IRE was no way TO get;
l. autoeratc--as he ought TO he.
thought at FIRST. not being very apt
Al this, that would steal-I adapt
The thoughts of those who, from its hrsi invention
The Dramas progress watched, its hopes and fesrs,
through the long lapse OF Intervening years
while the resoundng corridors Of time
Echoed their footsteps, who made IL sublime.
Those crowned yictors in the Olympic games
Have left to us their still undyng names.
Nor shall their memory eer pass away
When IN the very boyhood of our stage,
i showed more power than its after age
Gould equal or approach-for giants then,
Not pygmies, welded the dramatic pen
Ny notion TO interview all these
From Rip Van Wrinkle to Euripdes
But, on reflection, Im afraid, the past
And present would unhapply contrast.
The change is not more grevous than grotesQus,
FROM lofty poetry to low buresque;
Where poor Thalin, in her antic days
Her seanty wardrobe's poverty displays
small 10y degrees and beautifully less"
Aggrieved at her abbreviated stress
On her last legs sues vanly for redress.
Yet TINS is but an episode
Inc Drama has to play nobler part
Upon NE stage. am of those
VINO either doubt It's friends or fear its foes,
In the abiding faith that though obscure
It's light NJ times may he, it must endure;
With Justice, truth and rectitude to side
Ana strip the sheepskin from each wolhsh hide
1t strikes me now that something should say
About the recent much disputed play
And so would but 1t is hard TO tell
The Facts. What with Michaelis and Michel
The French in France and French here In New York
With all the legal enigmatic work
OF aifdavits and injunctions many
Il wonder II they're understood by any),
SO warped and twisted, that beyond doubt,
The rights wrongs fellow make
Old York and Lancaster blows,
And the fierce conflict from
One Rose, through agents and sub-agents, now
Arouses a right royal kind of row
BY selling TO two parties, nothing loath
And in the sale, OF course, including both.
The very smartest statesmen you might get, or
Colonel Sellers couldn't sell them better.
WhX they don't pass law such things to stop
And simplify the literary swap,
Leaving no loophole for chicane to use,
But plainly say what's what and which is who's,
Not ill with gall the managerial cup,
ls-a conundrum, and give 1t up.
Meanwhile our chief to all this adverse luck
Opposes his indomitable pluck,
Untiring industry and active BRAIN
With courage resoute, TO yet maintain
The fight against all odds, and will prevail.
His lexicon knows no such word as fall"