The New York herald., 1877-03-22
ADJUSTMENTS.
LA rrMBALr p'AnoESr AT THE EAGLE.

Tho gradual moral refinement OF tho English
speaking stage during tho last half century has happily
put tho public in possession Of clear standards py
which they judge what is III and unnt for dramatic
representation The random blots Of coarseness IN
the plays OF Shakespeare have been toned away In
order that tho great passions and grand IN
dividualizations OF his pen might DO enjoyed
by audiences which. without beng prudish, were
easily shocked by spoken indccency The craving OF
some minds for the coarse, the gross, the animal
which made god of Pnapus and goddess of Venus
IN the old times OF the world, demanded shrincs for
its worship in this modern world OF ours Hence, MS
the broad joke and the indecent situation were
frowned drama the Jeee and spectacie-oncc
an Terpschorean blending OF lnsel and mus
lin skirts-took new and dangerous attributes
The sepsualism of tho ear was succeeded
by the sensualism OF tho eye Poor
womanhoo was taken by the manager. stripped al
naked and with simmer OF gauze ana
spangIc made lo under the blaze Of the lime hight
before the eyes of the crowded theatre. The leerng
haro,, proud OF her prc-emincnt nudity, struited
across the stagc-a sorrowiul picture to thoughtful
eyes, a source OF low. open-mouthed, but silent de-
light 10 tho ewdsouled idiots who did not see the dis
grace to an entire sex the empty headed creature in
her tights and diamonds lnasmuch, now.
, sssr, as ane'e was reeye nv ss"s ,he monouony Of
padded calves bleached locks cracked voices ana IN
the debascd spectacle began 10 us
popularity Even abject votaries who carried The
kenesses of the most shameless women oil the theatre
IN their coat pockets, grew ashamed 10 display he pho-
tographed 10 their young friends AS oil yore
But a new Mephstophces rising to dress sin IN at
guise Tor the stage. The indeilcacy which Was
the staple performances at some Partisan thea
Tres was sc ized, twisted into lbrctto, welded 10
lively music and the opera bouio was born.
Opera so long the delight OF the refined, had had eg
Innate offspring "I.a Grendc Ducncsse,' LA Belle
Helenen lie Petit Faust'' and "Genevieve dc Bra
bant aired themselves on the streets and Salons
&vb.r I'm
schultz, ..Wiam Tell "Dinorah" and the rest were
orgoten and where the music OF the iuture had not
,niercd. The gay airs, iu OF sparkling dtdoieyte,
augnt the ear good acting took the eye and the fash-
lonabe world found tseli in iacle descent to the
depths OF musical degradation. In The spread OF the
melodic decentralization thing proved fortu-
nate-namely, that in tho attempt To present
was necessary to choose between insipldty
und. grossness, our language leaving no miuuie
course open win perhaps 'ne exoep1h M ,n or ans
bouies which manager would dare to present TO tho
public with all It's eQniro1ues, double eneadres, in.
tccont inuendoes and HAT itnmoralities put IN pian
Engsh 1t is doubtful even IT, in spito OF the sporadic
generalization OF the stage, any actor or actress OF
Ability would appear IN sucn a performance The
idapers and transators Tor the English stage, there
Tore chose pcrorcc the alternative Of dilution and re-
hnement OF the grossness OF the Original, leaving
residuum ot nspitity, such as glass OF champagne
would be alter It had been boiled. Opera
,oule in English has, therefore: failed !" attract,
md LONDON well as in New York II IS fast disap-
bearing the stage. Even the French stage the
eaven musical lndecency has been all but worked
must turn their HANDS to other work
From the merriment Of the 'Grapd Duchess OF &C.
F,lsein' To the "r!mbale d'Argent" is great down.
Wnrd sretch put II we count the Steps W - Deno
Helene" "Bar6e Bleu,' "Petit Faust' "Giroie-
Girolu, - we the depths OF immortality grauu-
ally Open When Leon Vasseur put his really good
music (ar above the reach OF Ocnpach and Lecocq 10
;pretto OF the Iimbale, seemed rs II the defiance
D dccency at last TO be made emphatic Here Is
plot absolutely indescribable IN decent anguage-a
plot which is pcryaded by immortality, although not
giving ulIcrance III its deneaticn TO one indecent
word The subtiest spirit oil all that offensive TO
chastity wriggics like serpent IN aud out through the
performance. No woman above the lowest rank Of
morality who understands French could witness II
unabashcd The grinning monkey that chattcrs AT
lecency throughout the play would Ind her out
And slap her cheek until he brought out u
blush OF shame that would show through an
Inch OF pearl powder. Surely Mile. aimee and
her talented supporters last night IN the company
the Eagle have large enough repertoire OF moderately
Objectionable works to the need oil Offering this
wholly objectionable piece Surely the management
such STRAITS that 1t must drag the "Timbale"
limbo OF buried immortality to offend public
taste and outrage decency. II The management has
only the pecuniary TO oer we have only 10 say
that such Will not save H. The 'Iinbalc did
half ill last night. Tho public has
been indebted 10 Mr. Grau Tor good deal He brought
Savni and Rstori, both ennoblng in their influence
He should not endeavor TO erase the record OF his
clently condemned at other times and certain whom
1t the light In English-speaking countries To
receive the earnest rcprobaton OF the decent pu0hc
ana the press Where such wholesale condemnation
Is necessary would be useless TO partcuarlze. Mile
Aimee sang the vi the performance what the
bill calls her swell song" HildcDrandt Monrose. 1t
is OF those smpering inanities which delight the
hearts OF variety audiences, and with Aimee It's
chief to her difficulties In pronouncng
''collars" and ''doilars.'
On Friday Mile Duparc will take a benefit, when
"Ame Angot ct Demoselles" will be given the
lrst time III America Heaven preserve us