The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-05

portrayal OF tho character reaches perfection.
The whole purpose Of the piece is to afford an
opportunity for the illustration OF this char
acter."
This admission IL very fortunate one for my
purpose. for it shows how absolutely Mr.. Twain
has seized the fundamental characteristics Of
the Asiatic, when he represents him as n lying.
stealing motivelcss, merry andrew. intent only
on "washeo washec." and Il sort of Humpty-
Dumpty uhquity.
II the whole purpose Of this piece ia, as the
PLAYWRIGHT asserts. to AFFORD an opportunity for
the illustration OF Chinese character. the whole
purpose Of the piece IL as yet unaccomplshed.
1t 80 far fails to give us any illustration OF
Chinese character whatever. and presents us
with an American burlesuue. Al Sin us we
have him here. has been seen for years inkhtcr
miitcmt flashes of local humor upon our variety
and minstrel stage He was then and he ia still
II cnrcature made up OF two or three external
oddities of manner. and entirely devoid OF any
Of the mental or moral peculiarities which mark
his race.
should like to know what In Mr.. Twan's
| mind constitutes character. IL II wooden shoes
and a waltzing gait IL 1t night shirt worn
| instead " IA getaway coat Is II to be found in
| a Grant White-contracton Of the language
without reference to dictionaries or grammars ?
All these things arc no doubt peculiar TO the
| Chnaman Of san Francisco. but are they sulll-
cicnt indications Of his nature2
Al SIN steals everything he can lay his
hands upon. Does Mark Twain mean to tell US
that that IL characteristic of the Monaghan race.
or will he acknowledge in his next speech that
it il simply funny2 Al Sin does innumerable
things without any con civabc motive tWhy.
for instance does he change the cards when
Broirick and PhnkeN nrc playing Why docs
| he hide phu,b,n during thcsc acts in his
wash house ~ l. This n characteristic Of the
| san Francisco Chinaman2
/ am afraid Mr. Twain has made this perfect
| skct h oi character from hOodlum's point of
| view.
Mr.. Pnrsoc is unquestlonahly funny in his
| portrayal-hut that IL quite AN lther thing than
being natural and consist mt H. has MINI
irked the MANNERS Of Il Chinaman Mr.. Twain
calls this an Illustration Of character. Mr.
Twain always made that mistake. whether ho
was writing sketch or writing play.
The merits OF the representation belong in a
great measure. to the theatre. Mr.. Days
housr pulls tie worst Of it through creditahly
This is particularly noticeable in the women Ol
the piece. who have very little to do with the
plot. and furnish the comedy element There
are four OF them. They change names. mix
themselves up and OBJ .tt r 81 great deal TO nc
purpose. II they were not clever actresses
And-whnt IL ~ moro consequence perhaps
conscientious. and determined to do the test
they can for the piece. it would De simply intol-
cradle in It's comedy. There. for instance. Il
Mrs Gilbert. who IL given that inevitable Maa
prop business again. She knows that II If q
threadbare eXpodicnt. but she takes hold OF Il
with the heroic determination 10 make it as new
and ar good ~ she can. So with all the rest o
them never saw poor play 40 gloriilrd hl
good acting. Even Mss Edith Band. pumI
and rosy English girl. wrcstled with the Amer
lean slang Of vulgar role most interestingly
Nothing could well be- NOR" innocently piluHn
than her assertion that che WIS no gun
drop" when everybody could See that shot
use the Twain lansuagc-wasnt anything els'
-hciu. sweet enough to eat
| have no doubt that An Sin" will prove
popular play, and make II great deal Of monc'
for the authors and player am sure hop
so. As that is what II was made for think Mr.
Twain ought TO b. satisfied with such u result
But he ought 10 thank Mr.. DAILY who has mad
dramatic Incompetence acceptable by theatre
skill. and converted a play that il devoid OF ar
. and literary ability into an amusing entertain
ment. NfM CRISkLI