New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

RRADN. By HENRY BARTON BAKER Nob' o'V'
Henry Holt & Co.
The contents of this work resemble the scenes
on the stage in their rapid transitions from the comic
70 serious and from the serious TO the comic anu
their natural pictures OF human life, with no attempt 10
disguise its infrmies, TO conceal its fohes OF 10 PAM
Il I'm the coors OF an Elusive fancy several OF the great
motors aud actresses OF the English theatre for more
than two hundred years made 10 sit for their por
traits ana while no veil Is drawn over tho features OF
the most erratc Individuality ample justice IS uohe u
the original genius and brilliant achievements, when III
SO many have given traditional prestige 10 'he
names aud in some Instances have crowned them WIN
honor in tho memory OF ages. The work, to grea'
degree is a compilation from the abundant memoirs
which form favorite kind OF popular reading descIlo
Ing which have often been described before anu
relating anecdotes which have not lost their power
10 amuse from generation 10 another heuco
the author can little commendaton exception his
diligence. He seems have read everything that mas
been written on the subject and though possessing but
slight powers Of narrative made so fresh aud lively
use his materials form An engaging ano perhaps
for no small class of readers fascinating work w
Shakespeare, he gives little Information ana no DISCUS
sion. wisely concluding that on a subject OF which we
know no more than we OF h merits as an actor the
less said the BETTER We can only infer from his address
10 the playes in Hamlet that he thoroughly under
stood the art wsther be could practice as wei as
he could preach matter OF doubt, as we are compass
sonately told by the author there are many men WHO
excellent stage managers out very btiiOA'
ers" All we about II 10 that he played the GHOST
I'm his own Hamlet" and took part in OF two other
plays not his own Among the actors after the Eestora
ton Thomas Beteron, whose father was undertook 10
the King, the greatest favorie. lie mad the good
luck TO please everybody much that lie went by the
nickname OF Inflble Tom" His passion for the art
was so great that when seventy years ola he
said that he was only just beginning 10
learn. The great respect with which be was
treated was doubt due in part to his private worth as
wen as his unrivallcd dramatic talents. There was no
person IN the land high to honor him. Dryden was
glad to listen his critical counscs lie vas the adj
wiser of Pope when that great man began TO lisp IN
numbers." He was welcome guest at the table OF
Archbishop IlotsOn. He was the first great actor tat
COlcy Cibbcr ever upon the stage, Who always
held TO ideal which he had reverenced and almost
worshippod in his youth The author, however, is in
cued 10 place Hart above Bctterton, he equally
excellent in tragedy and comedy which Beteron was
NOT James Qnu. the great comic actor OF this school,
is handsomely set %. He inc0mptrably the best
Falstad of MS day. With bottle OF care5 and iuH
house. the instant Ee came upon the stage he was TIE
fat knight himself In other characters he was not so
happy. In tragedy, he without inspiration, dull
heavy monotonous. His appearance was so distin-
gushed that it said at Court he would have been
for nothing less than prime minister or an am
bassador. The sketch OF Garrck il lively and entertain
ing but most of the anecdotes mere related concerning
him arc too stale for repetition. His love Of mys-
Gfcauon was a whimsical taste OF the great comedian
He was always acting, whether the stage in his own
house IN the houses OF his friends in the streets
lie would suddenly stop in the midst of agrest thor
oughfare and look up at the sky. as though he saw
something remarkable till crowd gathered round him.
when would turn away with the glare Of crazy man
IL could not sit down to have his hair dressed without
Tightening the barber ont OF his senses BY making up
the most terrific faces Among the actors Of more recent
times, the Kemble family, George Frederick Cooke
Edmund Kcan, Mathews, and Macready OF course oc
cupy largo space iu with the retirement Of
Nacrcady in opinion OF the author, the history Of
the legitimate drama IL virtually brought TO
close. But though the legitimate drama
Is dead without hope OF resurrection in
our tme at period, says Mr.. Baker, has the
stage been popular the craving for good acting
so great on the part OF the pubic. The Old super
stitIoD which saw the clOven foot peeping from
the actors buskn has happily faded away, and only
the most ignorant and narrOw-mnded persons object
70 theatrical amusements in the lump The theatre
is patronzed to an extent not dreamed OF by
Garrlck and the report OF a well acted play seldom
falls to draw large audience. But this fact, 10 is
affirmed ia unfayorabe 10 artistic development by
ating o demand for prolonged repertions, while the
want OF variety confines the actor within narrow
grooves and tempts him to tedious maDnerisms. In
genera. the tone OF the work healthy liberal and at
tracve The author be sure, not free from par
tav he does not forswear his personal tastes in his
judgments art but for the part lie seems TO be
free from raak bitter preudices. His reference 10
Fanny hembe the close of ms account OF the hembe
family is however, exception to this rule. In that
place his language is malignant IN spirit as 1t Is
offensive in expression