, 1876-01-29
FAMILIAR TALK.

O1HEkkC. IaGOt AND UESpE NINA.
In tho notice OF tho "IomoisB OF John Quincy
Adams" which stands In another column. Bomo
hints uro giron Of &!lo singular Interpretation
which Mr.. Adams gave to tho chatncter Of DIS
tle,noua. It is startling to hear 1t Haid Of tho
wife Of Oheilo,-whom critics nnd players havo
agreed in declaring woman whose Innocence
WAS equal to her injuEy,-that Ble wns "a Indy
OF casy virtue" THO opinion ts 80 at variance
With the Idea gained from tho ordinary study Of
Hhakspeare's drama, aud from that universally
outertancd by tho world. that QUO tn'pulsvoly
sotactB 1t III both untounded and offensive. 3fr.
Adams elaborated aud defined hiB curious and
original Views on tho play Of 'Othollo" III \
paper omitted "Misconeeption of Shakespeare On
tho Stago," Which may bo found in Mr.. uAckett's
"EoleB and Comments on Shakespeare"
But, strange and forced ~ the yiors thero
supported appear, they a7o not altogether
uplaue. A now and abIo critic OF Shakespeare.
Prof. J. u. Snidor, Of St. Lou!s, who has pub
lIshed In tho Journal II Specu'atiee Philosophy
and In the I}tssn+r, series Of essRya on o!oyon
diYcrent plays OF the great dranatlBt. has put
forward sontiments In his Rnalysls OF ''Othollo"
that give color to tho strange nottonH Of alr.
Alama AI1 Snidpr arguos tint. when Dsst'-
mona contracted mar1iAEe With mau OF
liffc rent race Bho violated hu ethical law TINT
lles 1T tho foundation Of our social iasilnetH.
and, In 80 doing, opened the way for the terrible
tragedy Which followed, Having villfulty In
frluged tho moral prnctplo that probibIts tic
union by faniy-ties Of tue different raccs, Dts-
tlen,ona outraged tho entire moral nature, aud,
therefore, capuot 30 regarded aH III lnnoccnt
woman, In tho words OF Prof. Bnidor:
An rslicAl union under auch crca'inatancea ~ In
possible; where ~ gFeat dlnerTnes ea!s,s'
tho as a psses know as 10y Ga1s
sns o 70
e., als 9!y M a.; fa 10
sueh union, and turn Into source Of hltesnet. A.
sn.ksIsrs makes raes oths element Of marriage,
~ I'M poEtant ~ chastity: nor doss ~ aaase mnen M
s sfS.t st T. o .aa j. v
10 sve his daughter marry al African, though hoth ~
dead y love II, @ co. HoGs r.. not
stch union u unethcal The yes Of thu pair, ever
il tlcy lasted, would 10 continuous tragedy, Thy
fsnuaaue anl apo.lo,ls quito stilas 70 shoss Of HFu
b4Ht1o.
This language but yopeatB tho idea OF ,lr
Adams. WIG. 10 tho Paper to which We have hhyo 70
tGe trsGody of othello 'i!. that black and ~hitS
| blood czunot 10 inssrmingled In marriage with
out gross outrage upon The law Of Nature"
III another important particular, Prof. snidc,
irou, that generally Accepted Ho tolioyos tl,a
tho Moor was guilty u tho crimo with E,"i!!f
Of which Iayo accused. him; aud that tll'
Ancient's positive knowledge OF tho fact fur
ulshcd the motive, aud tho only adequate mo
two, for lta tarstblo reyunge. A. OMes!o Ia
msio him suffer, 30 WOULD he mako 0thsllt
uuffor aud he bent tho faculties Of h!s lltht
mind TO The accomplishment Of this rurposo
Ills agony hal coulo IN tho form of : putn,ua
jealousy, and the punishment ha Wo4la 1husc
yhould be ol tue saino terrible nsturo Ghs.
and hero wo again borrow ths words OF t1o'
sDider: ,...-..,....e, l..
How usa 1t posable 70 excite s,'t raeaaon MN ~
nsta nature It ths siooF noted by iayy hln,st
e. npIls aud 1eruo disFut!tson Soa,J w. sa a ss
forn f revenge ehesrn by lIyn With su5pa4.!9s sh
Ill b. thssriosp, 1us. tho weak daa Of OthsIIs'