The Morning herald., 1876-09-12
THEATRICAL,


-~%~
THEATRICAL.
The Two Men OF Sandy Bar.
Mr.. Theodore Hamilton, the manager OF
Mr.. Stuart RObsou's theatrical business,
makes this statement In the dramatic
News"
II had direct propo osition made to me by
representatives of the most prominent Of
the New York papers that money could buy
favorable opinions from them Of the piece
(Mr. Bret Harte's play. / believe. and have
good reason to believe, that the non-pay-
ment of any money is the cause of the gen.
eral onslaught both on the play, on Mr..
Robson; and on Mr.. Harte; 1t simply re-
Mr.. Harte says he will 60 on the stage of the
Union square Theatre himself and mention
by name those critics of the New York
press who wan ed to be paid to write favor
able criticisms.
The charges made by Bret Harte against
the New York critics are of such q charac-
ter, as to demand full explanation. Bret
Harte has dramatized play with the above
name for Mr.. Stuart Robson, in which that
gentleman assumes the leading part, "Col.
Culpepper Starbottle," legal advisor to Al
exander Morton, rich banker of San Fran
cisco. The play has been mercilessly as
sailed by the New York critics, and an i'm
preston has been thereby created that 1t
was failure, and consequently caused a
great loss to Mr.. Robson, who paid quite
largesum of money for its exclusive use.
While in New York few nights ago we
were invited by friend to see the "assailed
play" our impressions from what We had
read of 1t, were unfavorable; we went withal.
Never before, were existing impressions
so completely changed. Colonel Culpepper
Starbottle, is vivid representation of a
certain style Of Southern gentlemen of"ante
bellum" times. Mr.. Robson animates and
individualizes the poets conception. In
make up, eccentricity, pompous head shak-
ing wisdom, courage deep devotion to wine,
and deeper chivalry to women, the Colonel
lives and moves, as a veritable type OF q
man, who although gone with the SHOWS OF
the COS, mature men cannot forget. "Col.
Culpepper Starbottle" as character Is the
peer of Col. Sellers or Rip Van Winkle; and
truly upon the boards Robson Is the Colonel.
Full many time have we met the COL
onel in Washington, Richmond, Charleston
and New Orleans hotels, upon Potomac, and
Mississippi steamboats,, yea even In the
Quaker city. Once more he lived In our
sight upon the boards of Union Square
Theatre, on Thursday night, the 9th of
September A. D., 1875, having dreamily
thought, we would never see him again.
Why the critics should abuse the play, Is
indeed mystery; from the rise OF the cur
tain to its fall, the interest In the drama is
superbly sustained. Its plot though simple,
causes yearning to see It's result, the
characters all bear relation to each other,
the actions of the drama so dove tail, as to
make the dramatic unities complete, Its
entire scope homogeneous, and intellegible.
There are scenes-especially those between
the "Duchess," the legal wife OF one Frich-
ard, a convict, the "illegal wife" Of Sandy
Morton, one of the men OF Sandy bar, and
the "cher ami" of John Oakhurst his part.
ner and Mary Morris, the schoolmistress OF
the bar, who is In love with the unfortunate
Sandy, wherein the ''Duchess" appeals to
Mary to take her child and save 1t from
the contamination of her surroundings Is
one which creates lump IN the throat, and
opens the deep fountain Of the eyes, by lts
all permeating and soul-touching pathos.
The Unborn grace, not all burned out by tne
passions Of the fallen mother; who even In
the smirch of her sins yearns for Goodness
in her child:-and the sweet virgin matron-
lipess, of the school teacher. who for love
Ot tOQ Will LHkB tuo O4VC"oo . wy 80 nuV HAS
surpassed in the whole range of modern
drama. We are not professional critic,
but we have heart and eyes, and we felt
that scene, and saw that 1t was felt by the
audiencc, who were merely so heart
stricken that they had to draw long
breath and dry their eyes before they could
give Q clear shout of applause. This is true
art. The honest ful6lmept 0f tho purpose
of the drama, to produce such effects. The
gradual conquest of Sandy Morton's pas.
Sion for strong drink, under the influence OF
Mary Morris, il profound lesson of self re-
lance, on the one hand, and of the growth
of goodness on the other; is pregnant with
useful lessons-It is sermon illustrated by
living characters. Sandy's virtues grow
and expand under the influence of his lovers
work, e'en as the flower opes, and re-
ceives it's color and beauty from the snn..,
We make 10 pretence to fully review the
play but having seen 1t and felt It, we are
strongly Of opinion that the New York
critics are either unfit to crittcise play
sboundine In Wit, pathos and chuck full or
aound morality, OF that they, and Bret harte, 1
81 M. Robson, have had . quarrel, ano |
thst they are not honest Or fstt ~ sheir cen- /
surel of Sithers author or Actor. M,
afIea2 % s2nasR Rs'92' a9