The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-26
OUR BOSTON CORRESPONDENT
Of Paul Revere-A Projected Dry Gseds
Observation-Disclosures Henry Thorne.
Boston, March 20, 1876.

Boston, March 20, 1876.
Dear Buuetin-The intelligent people here
are beginning to .ealzs the facs that no
greater calamity can befall republic than
the long-continued and uninterrupted rule of
one political party or set Of men. For six
teen years the Federal Government has been
run in the ruts Of Republican. partisanship,
and the natural result is Grantism the syn
onym Of nepotism, low grade appointments,
official corruption, selfshness and bri-
berry. To find language properly de-
scriptive Of Washington under the
Grant administration one must have re-
course to the L,tin historians land
satirical poets Of the Csesarian epoch in Rome,
or to the old Hebrew prophetical denuncia-
tions Of Tyre, Babylon and Nineveh. The
pretorians have had q magnificent time-a
perpetual banquet of fat things-but their
protracted orgy seems drawing to close.
The fact is, it is too expensive, besides being
scandalous. No doubt the wives of Cabinet
Ministers. with their gorgeous beauty worthy
of the pencil of Titan OF Raphael, are highly
ornamental and credit to the country when
travelling abroad in sumptuous apparel, with
unlimited means to pay their hotel and dry
goods bills in Paris and other European CAPT
many trading-posts and divert too much
money from the treasury of an overtaxed coun-
try to make it possible to support them much
longer at the public expense.
A penitential era has superseded. The
Grant saturnalia and bacchanalian revel, the
people say, must end. The people are mighty
in their strength. The Republican party is
doomed to defeat.
DR.. j. s. Jones's new play of" Paul Revere"
which was produced at the Boston Museum
last Monday evening, has been drawing q
series of crowded houses throughout the week.
For Q play that deals almost entirely with
"moving accidents by food and feld," it
tells very coherent though not q very elabo-
rate story. It turns on the loves of Gordon
Vassal and Mayfower Deane, two young
Bostonians Of rebellious proclivities, and the
endeavors Of Col Lightmore, Of his Majesty's
service, 70 win the young lady for him.
self, and to compass the death of her
lover. He fails 10 his designs, of
course. and the young patriot is rescued from
theignominio2s death Of captured spy just
before the curtain descends On the entrance
Of the Continental army into the town of Bos-
ton. AROUND this simple plot are grouped the
incidents attending the midnight ride Of Paul
Revere. the battle of Lexington, the retreat
Boston, and various other matters pertaining
to the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle.
The author has succeeded in preserving the
atmosphere of the period, but, as usual, he
does not fully realize his conceptions, and his
dialogue does not display any marked literary
ability. He has, however, q good idea Of
character, and the different personages
in his play are grouped with q
Consistent regard for light and shade.
and with that proper minaling Of grave and
gay without which an effective drama can not
be constructed. The wit is not Of the most
polished type, and the pathos is not of the
most exalted character, but the display Of
Doth Of these qualities is sufficient for piece
Of . necessarily ephemerl description, altern-
ately touching the fountains of smiles and
much potency, perhaps, as the productions of
most OF the dramatists could command who
filed
"The spacious times of great Elizabeth
With sounds that echo still"
The play is crowded with life and action,
and incident follows incident in such rapid
succession that it il difficult for the spectator.
after Witnessing q single performance, to re-
tain q distinct impression Of the manifold
details Of march and countermarch,
Of skirmish and surprise, Of defeat and vic
tory, which have passed before his bawil-
the din of battle. The air is murky with
gunpowder, and the rattle of musketry is al
most continuous. The latter part of the
drama is devoted more to the development of
the plot and is consequently less overcoming
to the organs of sight and hearing, though
the clouds of war are always lowering, and
the presence of the rebels on the outskirtssof
the beleaguered town is always suggested.
The situations are generally excellent, and
the probabilities are not violated to a greater
extent than is allowed by custom and tradi-
ton in pieces that deal with heroic periods.
The tableaux which represent the elimination
Of the various conflicts have been arranged
with an excellent eye to artistic ef-
feet the scenery, the costumes and other
appointments, with but few exceptions, are
suggestive Of colonial times, and the piece
throughout is marked by careful attention
TO detail that reflects great credit on the man
nronouk