The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-09
Farewells.

byron calls the WORD - fareWell' one
" that must he, and hath been-a sound
which makes US linger." And again he
writes that 81 in that word, that fatal word,
howe'er We promise, hope, believe, there
breathes despair" But, as applied to the
modern race of actors and singers, the
word farewell" has been robbed of
much of its despair. In their mouths it
has truly become sound which "makes
them liDger;" hearing it uttered we are
not as those who mourn without hope,
but are stayed by the assurance that we
shall often hear them say it again. +" Fare
well' performances are no longer sadden.
ing. Formerly, according to the song,
the word in question had "a lonely
sound" and always brought a sigh; but
now the melancholy is removed by other
farewell performances, by re-engage-
seasons. One would charitably surmise
that it is because "parting is such sweet
sorrow" that favorite players and must
clans prolong the pleasing grief. Perhaps,
also, there is mercantile element in the
repetition of adieus. A short time since
Ole Bull gave q concert, q farewell to
America" in Philadelphia. The great
Academy of Music was crammed with adj
mirers and leave-takers. Within three
days he gave second and positively last
farewell concert. The house was thronged
again. Two days elapsed, and he gave a
final farewell concert. A third audience,
of gratifying size, was present. It may
we'll be doubted whether hundreds would
have been turned away from the first two
farewells had his astute manager begun
by announcing three concerts from Ole
Bull.
There is often q graded line of e fare
wells" by public performers-say, for ex-
ample, last appearance of Signor Trem-
Ol0 ON the lyri: STAGE" followed by the
" most positively last" appearance, then
by the FAREWELL" the Z" final farewell. ;"
the "grand adieu," and so ON. Of course,
between these Observation-Disclosures Pc
nultimate, antepenultimate, and what not
may come the "re-engagement for q
limited PERIOD" or "consent of Signol
T'remolo, at universal request, to reappear
for one night only" as the case may be
After having rung all the changes on the
words expressive Of good by performances,
Signor Trem0lo goes off 10 the adjoining
city to take an equally long farewell Of
lyric greatness there, and again the play
bills blossom with adieus TO the stage, and
the air Is full of s'farewells." A tour of
these farewell performances very COM
fortably fills the season, and "then fare
we'll goes out sighing' to some other
country, for q round of disappearances
there. By the time that these are accom-.
plished the first country can be revisited
in another shower of farewells; for we
have long since learned that the actors
" farewell of the stage' does not mean,
like Othello's, that his occupations gone.
Not ct all. He will reappear, even If on
the lovers plea that 80 sweetly she babe
me adieu, l thought that she babe me re.
turn" Miss Cushman was type Of the
chronic farewell taker; but none of uscan
regret her myriad reappearances after
final retirements-and we shall think
kindlier of them If it be true, as has been
said, that she resOught the excitement of
the stage to divert Ter mind from phvsi-
cal malaiy. Astronomers tell us of Va
riable stars which shine brilliantly. then
disappear from view for time, but only
to shine out again, with their ORIGINAL
ulster. So Is it with the stars of the his
hionic armament, that take leave Of ma
only to appear again, without being at all
disconcerted at the memory Of the tears
which they and the public have shed over
the thoughtof never meeting again. Stage
farwells. in short, do mot prevent the pub
lie and the performers from coming mer.
rily together again after very brief alb
sence. The most positive, irrevocable and
eternal Of these partines could be phrased
In the language Of Brutus:
Forever, and for ever. farewell, CasAiue--
~ We Do meet again, why. We shall smilei
-0asssy for Asesse.