The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-06

ably control the public sentiment "by largo
majority"
Gigglers like to eleele.
AS a temptation to eigRlinR Mr.. Sothern 10 q
complete success. Unconsciously he evolved
from his inner self type Of man--so called-he
had never seen or heard OF, and after a season
OF morti6cstion, hardship, and despair, woke up
70 md himself famous. As a caricature Dun
dredrp found Immediate favor here, but on the
other side lie was recognized at once as one OF
the family, adopted and provided for from then
till now.
my dear sothern," said his Royal niehne.s
the Pr-nc- OF w.l-s, "do you know know the
very man from whom you copied your concep-
tionT"
"Dehehted, 1 am sure" replied sothern, land
what's his name may It please your Royal High
nessf"
"whv," rejoined II. II. H., "its old Of.
Everybody recognizes him. OF course IL Is"
That settled II.
Sothern had never seen old - OF - but his
Royal Highness was pleased to say he had, and
that ended II.
II we may credit the reports printed Of Mr.
sothern's wonderful success 10 England, we are
at liberty to believe that our British cousins are
a nation Il gigylers.
They don't look IL.
But they went night after night, year in and
year out, to witness the play OF "oar American
Cousin" in Its present mutilated condition.
packed the Hsymarket season after season,
made the actor a friend aud fellow citizen.
hesped social honors thick upon his whitening
mead, and returned MIN to us laden with shekels,
variously estimated at from 100000 to t1t0,0o0.
Ana tn It's a great deal.
It's fair TO assume that Mr.. Sothern is an artist.
10 fact, that's obvious. He acts mechanically.
One may see his Dundredrv 800 times, or only
once. 1t makes no difference. Precisely the
same features attend 1t at eyerv representation.
That me ms art, not nature. His wig and cos
tunes are not more unvaryine than bis ges-
lures, expressions and infections. He Is like
machine made chairs, or theorem painted walls
always and everlastingly tho same. Some
men would prefer a rounded play In which
all the parts rood. Sothern prefers
. tAdpole play, all head aud very
thin tail. Preceded by cunninely pre-
pared anecdotes, accompanied by claquers
and welcomed uproariously by friends, he
hopped, skipped and jumped upon the stage
last Monday evening and went on with his mon
ologue in Characteristic style. while some Of the
best talent IN the country stood idly grouped as
his background. and ineloriousy earned their
summer salaries by vigorously looking on.
A lazy observer thinks, "well, there's nothing
very bad in ali this. and hello that's rather
funny; guess I'll laugh"
-he man Of twenty years ago thinks, "whst
rot what rubbish Der. dear! but this really
IL too badr'
rhe givcer is on edge. He appreciates old
Jokes. OF course he knows what's to come.
Prepared for II, be braces 1t comes. He gig
gles.
But the calm, unprejudiced man must recog-
nize from the frst and SO on TO the very tag, the
utter absence Of everything that used to make
the rlay charm, and Of every opportunity that
ia other DAYS made its acting most heartily en-
joyabe. II Is said by Mr.. Sothern that 1t Is tho
came play.
Let me give hs own words as furnished In
NEHoRANpuM, oF CONNECTION.
"our American usn was Originally 10 three acts.
second ac' W IN * scenes.
1nird act wac IA seven scenes
hay r.co9,tra sd H. mag nearly me whole q
n. rs,al sysg- ave 'sa q q. r,o5 A. E,e
Laura k,ene. With lhe execution Of AGei NJ o. his
s curt oa @ %s
e1e nad % s eTa91s1 1 i T1eo d
tpsly NJ on tis heai with ateatIsy;
vi o9y on, scene II each ssSSSsleiss IN AK
Ds bs Ssa HI. dns i
slower taih Sni pulling the strlns under the impres
OF course. we cannot be expected to arrive at
n similar conclusion, Mr.. Sothern starting from
| one premise and we from another. He thinking
| he Is PLAYING comedy. and We grounded In the
faith that lie is playing the broadest kind OF
! farce.
| We concede the laugh and the momentAry
tickle, but fail to detect the humor or the SATIRE
the moral or the lesson. which must be obvious
In all usef.I comedy. while 1t Is rarely found ia
enjoyable farce.
The prcsen, Asd Nenchdrd is an apt presenta-
| ton OF a Bo very loafer.
Could gentle MIry Meredith fall IN love with
! him2
The present Lord Dundredrvis 40 inerate ass,
laughed a, Ly even the fools OF the company,
and tolerated only by the better bred. Ast
manages him with a bottle Of hair dye, aud tie
servants have their own way with him. l.nt
that an ABSOLUTE traverse Ct the earlier conc,p-
| ton, when underneath his mAnn,rlsms Dun
drtdrV disclosed a vein OF tturdiness AMI oven
| manliness?
Oh no; Mr.. Sothern really must not at this
late dsv endesvor TO pose DrsndrodiI e CO IN
edv character. His DIrid GLrrick, Armand
Dual, and Claude Mtnotte are in other lines, aud
Of them one might be expected 70 say much
| that Is complimentary.
But Dtnd,cGrp Is a farce full Of money.
| That's the real ain, intent. and substance Of
1t all. It's Sothern's Little Emma" He is one
OF the lucky Original owners" and nnds bush
els Of money in its manipulation
How often have you played the part, Mr..
| oOtnetnf
About Ave thousand times"
And you ike ~
"Oh, very mach. I'm very fond ofit.'
"HIw would 1t do to have new conun-
drum or story once IN wnhc, say once year
or sof"
"Camta, admirable, If l could only get
one. hui II must re such de'ilish good one
don't you see. keep my Mind on it all all the
| time"
Absurd inconsistent, and deplorabiy weak as
the play NV ls II has found favor tue world
| over.
Paris alone rejected IT,
| never shall forget the placa-dlng Of PARIS.
| From end to end 1t was Sothern. Sothern, Soth-
crn. Pictures in the windows, Advertisements
In the journals, play bills everywhere, and sto-
nes, NJ usual, by the score.
He came.
First night packed; second night, good
house; thru night. comfortable; fourth night,
a Gzzle. Il ran niue lights, and was witharawu
or curse II was.
EnsishmeD and Americans 20 tn Paris 70