The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-02-24


ary Bureau, OF that higher production of
its presiding genius, the Oregon elec-
toral farce" Indeed. like Mr.. Tildcn per-
sonally, Mr.. Boucicault's play has been
advertised into notoretv, but whose
real character is only apparent upon a
closer acquaintance. 1t is bold fraud
toisted upon too coniiding public, be-
trayed by the reputation of an author
that promised better things, as in all
respects its Oregon political counter
part has, by the skillful use of printers
ink, been magnified in type only into
dignity and Importance The one is as
Objectionable in morals as is the other
in politics Both offend public decency
by the character of the situations"
In Boucicauit's DRAMA, two London
lawyers long for i" Forbidden Fruit"
What it was is soon learned Suffice
it to say that the title Of the play is
not to be construed literally, for two
of Ewes descendants, in the shape of
nymphs of the trapeze, are the consent
ing objects of the sportive Benedicts'
designs The mishaps of these pleas
ing types Of English attorneys in search
of pleasure constitute the features of
the play What they are need not be
repeated in detail. Ingenious lies, told
to deceive too confding wives, result
in embarrassing situations, and sug-
eest to initiated husbands how such
things are done. Such elevatng con-
nubal lessons seem the only object of
the scenes. Buster is the elder sinner.
The practced liar. The younger, Cato
Dove, the willing learner, who proves
an apt pupil. He takes to deception
kindly, and gets into trouble, of course.
He lies and is detected But he charges
it to Buster. He contracts bills he can
not pay. But charges them to Buster.
He sends false kilograms But charges
them to Buster. And finally lies out
of an escapade, into which his design
ing partner has led him, as easily as he
lied himself into it. Indeed the objects
of the playwright seem to be to illus
trate the facility with which these law
vers lie, and the willingness of weak
woman to be led about Deception
and deceit pervade every act-al
breathe an atmosphere of falsehood.
We need not dwell upon the MORAL Of
the play, it need not be seen to be ap-
preciatcd. The OTHER farce lies across
land and sea. In Gramercy Park, New
York, two lawyers long for Forbidden
Fruit" that hung high on the Pacific
slope, seemingly far beyond their reach.
Not a pair (pear) of, but one straw
berry-nose blooming upon the par
ent Cronin stem is the coveted object
of their desire. \ forced fruit at that,
indigenous, but rare Not raised IN
DER glass blue, and anti-nervine, but
grown fragrant and blooming OVER
glasses of inspiring bourbon. The
elder (Buster) plans. suggests, con-
trives Ingenious arguments, finely
spun to deceive too contidng Demo-
Gratis, beget in turn deceptious plans,
embarrassing situations, damaging en-
posures, tell-taie kilograms, and sirken-
ing ciphers But skillful in the manipu
lation of CATs'PAws, the shrewd author
of the farce has his proxy in the play.
There are really two Busters here.
Imprims, he of Manhattan; the other
Patrick, the pure, the Gramercy fellow s
brother.
Two moons wax and wane, and the
play goes on. Detection comes swif, and
sure, while the world laughs, not in
sympathy but with contempt, att he WELL
deserved retribution. Dove, wallow-
ing in his moral mre, invokes the willy
Buster, and Hewitt, Pelton, Kelley and
Grover, those other birds of soiled
plumage, the wel-trained pets Of Man
haitian Busters political aviary, MOUTH
mournfully for Patrick But he has
flown to the wilderness, CARRYING with
him the sins of his kind Buster, ST..
alone survives. From his snug retreat
in Gramcrcy, the calm, cold MAN OF
DESTINY looks not kindly on Forbid
den Fruit turncd to ashes on the lip.
One moral points both farces.
"Corruption wins not more than honesty"