New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-11


reinstate her in responsibility and honorable re-
pute. Old-fashioned reflections upon the pres
eDce and action Of sin in the human sOui
-lthe thought that the sinner carries with
the sin, blight Of remorse, which is everlasting
punishment, and that the redemption is not at all
social matter between the sinner and the ID
vine HeaItl-wOuld only disturb the sweet harmony
Of the situation Let leave them out Let us accept
with mild humility the liberal precepts that
flow from a stage that ia perfectly willing to for
give and forget. The moral questions which
are obtruded by these generous dramas have
been often enough in controversy. They have grown
tedious. They need repOse let mobile up all the
laws Of the spirit and Of e and all the facts OF human
experience, welcome in OF peace. mercy,
and sentimental mush
1t is not however very much for the procurable
moral refreshmeut that Dir. BOucicaut has illuminated
the old tale OF "Clarssa Harlowe." II we
rightly apprehend the drift OF his piece, the
seduction is not accomplished but only under
taken, and the work ceases 10 be Ciarissa Har-
lowe" at all Perhaps the design was to take
the benefit theme. without mourning the RESPONSE
bility of the moral Dramatic pungency, at all events
has been sought by Mr.. Boucicault and rather more
freely sought than viii quite correct to
those votaries Of the circulating library who
are familiar with the ancient Richardson's peeu-
liar classics Of British fiction Those who know Ga
rissa" the original that 1t is long, II not
broad that it consists many epstles that 1t dissects
ing emotions Of a vlrtuOus noble, and beautiful young
woman, who Is by him, lured away from home, and
wronged and betrayed that the heroine is drawn as
type OF all virtues and the seducer almost an ire
deemable villain; that Clarssa ends IN DEATH
and Lovelace IN lunacy and the novel an ever
lasting monument to the patience Of its autLor-and It's
readers Mr. Boucicault, then. has taken this subject
and made drama out Of 1t by straying away from IT,
His first act pOrtrays Clarissa at home, ana ad-
heres pretty closely TO the novel The girl Is
beset by her relatives and imDOrtuned by her
lover The characters In this part OF the work. are
drawn with vigor and expressed in terse and various
style. Mr.. Bouccault has not neglected Richardson's
particularly description Of his heroine and the
observer play who has read the story viii not
FAM to admire the skill with which scenes that are out
thnly related in the ytalized by action IN the
other The characters however, somewhat changed
in quality and much changed in their relations TO
each other The topic Of the first act Is the
elOpement This is managed differently IRON the
method detailed in the story aud the mechanism Is
credit the humor less than The brilliant tact OF the
author He has expanded couple OF little paragraphs
a To show the web OF this would be TO re-
heaIse the particulars of the whole story-whch fills
four volumes; and to give. in detail. hr. Bou
cioaults plot which would probably I'll this newspaper
second which concerns Itself with the mock
marriage, the piece becomes melOdrama. New parts
introduced the original IS cast aside altogether
and Carssa oyerhearng talk that reveals the dupciy
of Loveace sets fire to the house in which she is be-
leaguered. The third act presents her dclir-
ium and death. The best and almost the only
strong dramatic effect is gained by the sud
den disclosure OF Clarssa's brother-lOng lost In
ignomiuy-In one Of the accOmplces OF LOyelace This
situation Mr. Bouccault has treated in his best manner
Mr. Charles Barron exered his picturesque style, SYM
pathetic manner rich voice with true power in this
scene, He plays Jack Beleher, which is the
best part in the piece; and 70 his acting
and the portrayal OF delirtum. very sweetly
a..
last act-was due the little success that the drama
achieved None but students OF Richardson VIII appTe
cate Sir BOucicauts cleyerness IN Thanksgiving him In
act first nobody will be carried away with the red fire
Of act second and mOrtuary business OF act third
proves a positive wet blanket Such Carissa as Mr.
Boucicauts finding her lover villain, might far better
accept the excellent SolInes-whom also he has trans
uuted-than to make her will and expire like Napoleon
az st. Helena in the pictures with all the characters
about her.
The acting OF the chief parts last night something
good but in only instance brilliant-that, namely.
OF Mr.. Charles Barron. Mr.. Gilbert and Mrs. Ponii
have but slender parts sustain. and IN fact, only
the mild RECONCILIATION OF couple Of old conventional
tewig portraits LoUetaee and Clarsa presented
By Charles Coghlan and Rose Coghlan and their per
sonatioDs largely concentrated the public interest
upon themselves. The effort Of Mr.. Coghlan
was for an actor Of his ability, soulies',
and even wooden. He could have no sympathy Win
part LODCi0Cft anu MS uOHUhhldhtc
the natural teGiousness Of the subject. Miss Rose
Coghlan manifested herself very finely in the deity
contryed gallery scene at the last There Is rich
warmth OF senslbty this actress which always COM
mends her 20 cordial regard and interest Mr. Floyd
presented a good bit Of character, and so did Mr.
shannon.
In presenting this cheerful work at Mr. Wallacks
Theatre Mr. BOuccault feels conscious Of slight dread
that "the American People" viii resent his 4" de-
psrtures from Richardson's design %" and he hes, there
fore emitted propitiaOry manifesto, stating that the
prodigious and acompeteut Jules Janin took lib
critics with Ciarssa long 1914, and
peading this nlustriOUs example and precedent the
justification OF his present famarities. The con
duct OF The colossal Janin ought carry weight IN
a community which has for years been nurtured by
those ntermiuabe pattudes chopped into short para
grophs which are supposed to be the reflex OF his mighty
style; but 1t Is hard 10 say what may happen,
should the aroused pOpulace really find out What
Mr. Boneicault has been doing. The fondness which
the American people" has exhibited for the works Of
Samuel Richardson Is profound. tender and may
saw uassionate that 1t Ia extremely probable they viii
eontemn in mass-meCtiug and at the polls. the
slightest tamperng with classic precious
Clarissa HarlOWe." Mr. Boucicaulps best security
must copsist in their Ignorance. Perhaps they will
find out II they nothing, that can see, remains
for the eminent drlmats but 10 retire to Coney Island
till the storm Is over.
MUSICAL NOTES.
Mr.. G. Fritsch will not join any of the opera