The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-21
rHy cable ~ the Tribuac.i

.. Tac hin. the Niblung." closed tonight
viii tlr last drama called Gotterdamme-
,.,r.'' az The Twilight Of the Gods"
g~~a WA q scene OF the greatest excite
,..,,t, rbc>r representations have steadily
.r.rra<od in merit and excellence since the
...njnc. The result is universally admit
III - L., 4 mos; remarkable triumph. Herr
yrsDcy was called out tonight at the close
81; rbr last act amid great enthusiasm, and
,a4i. . hort address.
y, rhr progress oi this musical drama
,fu:> have crown ont OF constant >trug-
.,r between the three races OF beings who
irtal,fG The earth for the possession OF its
..,.,ra treasure. The Daughters OF the
Rhine {, whom the Keeping OF gold had
...- ntrll>;-U by the law OF the universe,
,..G n..N ;rrachcrousls deprived OF it by
.;,. ..yt. II AlN"ric the Dwarf. Wotan had
....r secured tie prize through the same
crafty means, and. though himself god
IVA CHARGED with the min>tration OF jus
..,.. Id had uoi returned il TO the Dau%h-
.,r. - il WAS his solemn duty TO do, but
s.,3 used il in bargainin" with giant for
.lrGo6dc>- trria. who had the power 10
~...5rc him 10 eternal youth. But the gold
l,I been cursed bv Alberto. and every one
yyho secured il thereafter suffered mlSlor-
furr. 4 fathers hand had been turned
.,.l,r>t lis son. The same father had called
l,p tA,. God oi Fire and condemned his
haaycl-horn daughter Brynhild, the favor
liz II all hi> children, TO depart from his
or,,rncr and >lumbcr on the earth until
:,utk,ncl In hero: the dragon Fafner had
ialiru lv the sword OF Sicgiried; Sicglindc
had died alone in forest, with not II end
around her save a ncwly-born son: Humid
iu., had seen his home dishonorcd: and
Mime. The ambitious Dwarf, had fallen by
II, sword Distress while preparing I
deadly poison Tor the young Sicsfried
The last act closed with the restoration OF
nrynhild by >iegiried, to whom she became
4 wife. The treasure was theirs, ana the
ipys al their honeymoon seemed to promise
That lie and happiness would he eternal.
En the end was not Yet. \ deep and unre-
deemed wrong underlay their happiness.
Th" gold WAS not theirs by any law other
than the law 0i might. An orerhanglng
destiny. dark and terrible. awaited them,
and the ccStaCy OF their wedding hour
seemed only given that they might the bet
ter taste the bitterness OF their impending
ruin. \ mission from above had, how
ever. been intrlsted TO their hands. The
curse Of gold which had brought misery
moved ere they suffered the fate which en-
circled them. TO them it Was thus given to
usher in 4 new era oi peace on earth and
.gootl-wiI To men. Brynhild. cnrapturcd
with the love Of >iegfred, commits to his
care aIl the knowledge she had derived
from her mother Erda. the All-wiSc God
,l.>>. and III 50 doing loses il herself. In
return for this manifestation Of love, Slc@.
fried places the ring upon her hand aS Il
token o! external love and remembrance.
and departs from the cave in which they
d",Il Scckin" for adventure on the earth.
H. arrives on the banks OF the Rhine at the
castle oi Il powerful family named Glblcll-
m- where lie forms the acquaintance OF
thrc, children OF the house. named rcSpcc-
lively Guntrr. Hagen, and Gutrun. the lat
try being a daughter.
The evil genius OF the house is Hagen.
the issue OF an intrigue between the mother
Of tie Gibichungs and Alberto, Prince OF
III" DwarfS-original poSSeSsor Of the ring,
and author OF the curse cast upon it. Ha-
zen knows the story oi Siegiried's life, and
j. continually urged by Alberto 10 possess
himself Of the coveted treasure. But Ha-
zen IN, Il purpose Of his own, and now has
thr opportunity to execute it. His plan Is
briefly that Siegfried shall marry Gutrun,
and Brynhid become the spouse OF Guntcr.
This will bring the ring into the family, SO
that lis possession will then be easily ac-
quircd. There is something OF magic and
witchcTait in his demeanor and stature he
i full OF wise sayings, and skilled in the art
Of preparing magic draughts. The I'M
>u>pccting Siegiried drinks the potion
and becomes affected with total for
gciiulnc>s Of the past. Gunter be-
comes his bosom friend. He has golden
helmet capable of enabling its owner to as
>umc At will any shape he desires. The
Gibichuns children plot together. Gunter's
horn rc>ounds from over the Rhine: he has
been on Il trip OF adventure; he enters his
h0lmand is received with great JOY. Gutrun
;>'Jncs an appearance which greatly fascl-
mates the Young Siegtried; his soul is en-
raptured with her beauty, and he learns to
love her. Guntcr tells the story OF his ad-
venture; Of how he has met the beautiful
BrynhlId and longs to make her his wife.
htt name has no sound OF music, no AVA
kennS power to the memory OF Siegfried,
anu out OF his generous heart he offers to
:ia @unter in his desires. The magic bel
met Is given him: he assumes the form OF
"tllter, and departs from the castle.
y scene then opens representing Brynhlld
along sitting upon rock, surrounded by
tAe circle OF fire and gazing sadly at the
ring. She is startled with the sound of fly
ing steeds, aCd one of the Walkyren, her
own sister, with q face clouded with sor-
row, appears and tells the story OF the gloom
thHl reisns in Walhalla, the despair OF their
lather "otan. and pleads that she will re-
move the curse from gods and men by re-
storing the ring to its rightful owners.
bu1 TO part with the gift OF Siegfried
was 1he last act she would do and care
70 I'VE longer. She refuses, and turns
away all entrcaties. Her sister hurries home
III despair. and Segfried appears in the
form OF Guntcr. Brynhild resists his ad-
'anceS with rage and fury; but he has the
power at last TO control her. She surren-
aers the ring and leads the conqueror to
!ief chamber, but Siegiried is true to Gun
Iel' aho the sword Distress divides the pair.
ni!iihlIo i In her sorrow beho!ds the hand Of
'o'@i', ana bows TO it in silence. On the
niof'o" they depart for the Gibichung cas-
'e' 1unter and Siegiried assume their nat
ufai loflns; Brynhild is wroth Mt the in
,ohstahcy OF her lover, and in the fury OF
lef rage calls down vengeance upon his
head -~
IL Is then agreed that Siegfried shall be
sla'n. He goes out to the forest in the morn
Lts; and at last finds himself on the banks
~ ~ lhe Rhine. The Daughters appear above
tae "a surface and beg him TO restore the ring.
ne t feinses, and they disappear with laugh
aer ana scorn. Siegiried returns to the
.assie. Hagen. gives him draught that re-
1!ofes bis memory. He tells the history Of
alS adventures. TWQ;ravens fit and croak
"ahinously above his head "Thou who
s"'isI speak with the BIRDS" says Hagen,