The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
wn1on rs the CnAmproy 1croR2
TestimoniaI Bencht to the Count Jonnucs-
Hamlet" NJ the Academy.
10 rnE EnIron oF INC srN-SLr. n

Hamlet" AZ the Academy.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: II Is
necessary for me To answer the chalengers last
letter, even after my facts C2sth ult), otherwise
my silence might be misconstrucd and to my
injury. But this IL the final letter from me upon
the subject matter.
LII gentleman invites or challenges me to
a banquet, mental or otherwise, IL 1t etiquette
for him to ask me to furnish money for his ban
quet, and for mine from my poetic estate Of
Johannsburgh2 Certainly not. lie wrote that
he has mo friends 10 consult except his brain
and pocketbook." am too chivaric TO sup
pose, however rich his brain, that his pocket
book, instead OF the national d. c. dollars and
cents, has only the initials NJ. T. When he chal-
lenged me to compete in Hamlet" for 5000 he
should have had the money IN hand or bank, or
at least sufficient for the required expenses. The
receipts of the theatre, like Caesars campaign,
will pay themselves He states that the Globe
Theatre was mot good enough for the Count
Joannes" The Globe Is as respectable thea
tire as any of the variety" class, and deserving
toric name Globe) of Shakespeare's own thea
tire, yet the great poet himself would object that
~ IT, not "A hrst-class theatre according to the
challenge, nor would Its space hold a sufficient
audience.
Il--Does he not begin to feel that "he woke
up the wrong passenger when he threw down
up, held and sll1 hold7 shakespeare has just
whispered 10 me a sentence from his Twelfth
In regard to the duel viz Plague on I, AN
uAndisl thought that he c1oanneel had been 30
damnd ere had challenged him" The phi
losophy of Shakespeare II wondrous; he foresees
nearly every cause producing effect,
HIN my letter, 18th ult,, alluded fna TO
time To the religious period Of Lent, 80 admra-
bly, illustrated In THE SUN editorial on Ash
Wednesday. repeat, that hundreds OF Protest.
ant and Roman Catholic friends cannot attend
theatres until the Easter holidays. The religious
scruples of Thousands OF our fellow citizens are
not to be scorned at this religious season, called
In ancient times the quarantine 0orty days OF
the Christian church" respect those feelings
1Y.-Next to the Holy Scriptures hold in vene-
ration the mental works of Shakespeare. My
always received from me anectiohate love and
respectful celebration, following my "publc
Grafton upon his genius In England AZ the
Cooper Institute, April -, 1864, the three hum
dredth anniversary Of the poets birth, repeated
that Grafton, and first proposed the statue to his
memory In Central Park. On the same occasion
my lamented daughter, the Countess AvOnia,
acted Juliet In this city, the only Instance Of a
father and daughter on the same evening Illus
trating the poets genius. Now, therefore, In
the same spirit OF love for the Avonian poet.
will ID. " impersonate his Hamlet at the Acad-
envy OF Music on Monday evening, April "a 1876,
In celebration of the poets birthday, which this
year occurs on sunday Sd thence the festival
sic for the above occasion, and the proprietors
have generously reduced the usual rent charge,
rs compliment to me for my testimonial bene-
NJ. they being the nrst OF the volunteers" and
for which courtesy here prefer my thanks.
VII my challenger appears in this city as
Hamlet, in a nrst-class theatcr," the previous
week to the above April "a, well and good and,
In the language of his medical profession. say,
MAY Heaven give him a safe deliNemnce"
In this month OF March, he must finally
decide, as to whether or not, he will appear as
Hamlet, according to his challenge, and furnish
money for the expenses and should he retire
from the arena, whether from financial, mental,
or moral causes, care not, shall claim my vic
tory from his retreat.
From the net receipts Of my testimonial hene-
NJ shall donate to the Christian and Hebrew
charities, AS stated In the competitions"
DR.. Lands concludes his last letter In Macbeth
style. Come ON my dear friendly competitor
III be with yOu-oT. after you, until death T. II
he means by that sentence that he will be my
doctor In the competition, and must take his
death prescriptions, then answer as Mac
beth did to his doctor, Throw physic TO the
dogs. I'll none OF itl' The challenger pretends
to believe that desire To back out" reply,
that If the Falls Of Niagara can back up, then
only could my nature black out" from friend
OF foo.
Before my body
throw my shakespeare she'll. Ley on Macdun,
And damnd De he that nrst cries-Hod enough l"
My Hamlet night II now concluded as to time
and place, Monday, April "a, 1876, at the Academy
OF Music. Yours, truly &C.
GEORGE. THE Count JoASNrs.
NEW YORK CITr, March 1 lo,C, - Chambers
street.