The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-13

Others, down 10 the present day, we're
written With this view. A great many
Of these old plays have q hfni bold on the
dramatic taste Of to-day; many have,
from the want Of dramatic merit, gone
into ob,eurily. Nearly all Of Shakes.
peare's live, and one ortWo Of Jonsons
also some Of o.Way's, Cumbetlands and
Colmanf all Of sheridan's and most Of
BulWers give fair promise Of permanency.
Byrohs SArdAnapalouS and Werner are
sometimes brought before the public 10
this day. II IL not 10 be disputed that
his (ByFout) dramas were written with
view 70 the stage, but they never, except.
Ing the two alluded to, became stige
playS, their chief defect being inadapta.
bility Tor representation on The theatrical
boards. We did ourselves the honor Of
examining the authors "Sons Of Goodwin
on ils appearance about 4 tWelVemohth
since, and expressed at the time the
opininion that with all It merits, It, II
represented on the stage, would likely
not be popular drama. We will say how.
ever that We think that the work under
notice has many Of the elements which en-
ter Into 4 sterling drama LOT the stage. II
has an abundance Of action; and proper.
y mounted for representation would, we
think, Do sure Of success. We imagine
that the 6th act, especially, properly per.
formed would make q very gorgeous and
striking display indeed. This perform.
ance, - We have said elsewhere, il inf
nitely superior to 1.-THE Sons OF Godwin,"
and In saying this We are paying the au-
thor = high compliment; We will 20
further and say, that had II been Issued
In London rs = production Of the lsure.
ate Tennyson, II would have been pro-.
nouneed the equal II not the superior OF
either "Queen Mary" or "Hlrold." We
do no not propose 10 excuse the author's
faults, Is will have been noticed In an
earlier part Of this paper; but on the
other band when poet gives such IN.
mistakAble evidence Of fne dramatic
power, coupled with a wealth Of imagery
and elegant diction, we derive very
great pleasure indeed, 10 calling the at
tention Of the general reader to this most
elaborate and beautiful addition 10 the
dramatic literature Of the day. Mr..
Leighton had nothing 10 be ashamed
Of when he gave "Ths Sons OF
GodWin' TO the world, and has every.
thing 10 be proud Of In the work that has
80 pleasantly engaged our attention.
We predict very favorable reception
for il al the hands Of the critics and
wishing the author 4 liberal pecuniary
return, as q partial reward for his great
industry in the attractive field Of litera.
ture, and manly candor at the hands Of
the cEitic8-ghouls' or Otherwise-ve
toreso the pleasure Of pursuing further
what has been TO rs very attractive
theme indeed. We would say to the
reader, procure the book, divest yourself
Of all possible prejudice, and revolve in
your own mind whether We could not
have been even still more laudstory ss
to the merits Of the authors work with.
out giving of4nse to that delicate senle
Of propriety which it ia the critics high.
est duty to observe. In writing this re.
view We have aimed at e1actitude, divest.
ing ourselves Of all disposition to do
injustice to the author by taking hyper
critical exception to faults OF trivial
nature, and on the other hand We have
endeaVored to avoid doing the public
and the author himself for that matter
anfuiustice by being lavish Of undeserved
praise. What We have written has been
written with the utmost conscientious
care 20 avoid anything Like bias, either
for the authors book or G9aiaS it. With
these remarks We commend this beautiful
drama 10 the reader. W.