The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
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v..,,.s Honor on the American stage.

A.. host example that Ia to be had Of contempo-
a. English humor: and that II should just at
.ao,t command so much Of the esteem OF |
I,,orcan audiences is a fact that is interesting.
ordinarily, Americans derive a certain amuse-
mani from the contemplation OF tho nature OF
Tho things that an Englishman prefers to laugh |
:, In qlancing over Punch. n Periodical by |
,rhich only Hnglishmen and the most resoute |
Students Of contemporary literature can be
moved very deeply. ono's feelings are not un-
Ute those with which one might be supposed |
10 contemplate some colossal sphinx disportinR |
Itself with tho mingled gravity and nimbleness
NJ A young kid. An oppressive cumbrousness
and ponderousness OF method and habit are
nnnarent. together with a certain Intellectual
and trivial spryncss OF result that have n some
what discouraging II not depressing effect on
Tho American mind. There arc occasionally
nice touches OF satire in the legends that accom-
many Mr. Dumaurier's clever drawings. and in
Mr.. Charles Kecnc's pictures one may some
fines detect CLEAN Of real and ripe humor.
INIT the general character OF the matter Ii wholly
him. strained and Intellectual.
How for instance. would the readers OF an
American periodical receive Mr.. +. G. Bur
nands Happy Thoughts" should some ed
tor. in n moment Of decay. undertake to give
them scrially7 There is nothing moro popular
I'm England in the way OF humorous writing
man what Mr.. Burnand does; nor 10 there any
more distuctvely English humorist than he is.
And yc, his work. when in certain instance 1t
WIS placed before American readers rs part Of
the regular literary menu thoy had agreed to
pay for. succeeded in making them absolutely
angry and they resented 1t by letters to the
editor threatening TO stop their subscriptions.
Mr. Burnand and. painful to state Mr.. Tom
Taylor, are the gentlemen whose function 1t is
to movo tho inscrutAble Briton to his constitu
lional mirth, and as long RS they can do 1t by
diluting the late Mr. Thackeray with the fatal
and inane facility Of the Proverbial Philoso-
pher they will continue to do II. This implies
in great measure the popular and general
character of humor in current English litora-
ture and amid 1t Mr.. Gilbert shines like soli-
tary and brilliant star. His work is character
lsod by bright. ingenious. and happy fancy
his concets are elegant tasteful. and original ;
he aspires to no great depth. affects no wisdom
or latent seriousness of purpose. but writes
with natural ease and wholesomeness. and with
an obvious sensQof the commences and hon
es,y OF his own fun. There is no studied pos
turing In IT, and IL he Is occasionally tedious. II
il not because his own spontaneity and fresh
ness have failed him. but because the relation
Of brcvity to wit has become obscured in En-
Elish minds.
III. NJ. s. Pinafore" made no very brilliant
success in London. although there should have
been a local predisposition TO interest In II there
that could not obtain here. For instance. the
fact that the First Lord OF the Admiralty" q
prominent figure in the British official system
Is egrcgously buresdued in it, but Indifferent
~ concerns us here; nor can We be supposed &c
be very kecny alive to the specific quality Of
he rdcule that is aimed at her Maesty's navy
Nevertheless the piece fills the public mine
here A. nothing Of the sort ever did before. and
Is received with heartincss and an apparen
lhoroughness Of appreciation that could no
have been greater had it been designed on thu
spot for American uso and under equally IA
yorable conditions. The most satisfactory. ant
consequently the least abstruse. explanation o
the fact is possibly that it Is good thing. an'
that the music is not scientific" in the vulga
sense. and that we. just like any other people o
fair cultivation. know a good thing when W
see II. and perhaps recognize it quicker thai
others do. and go to greater lengths to expires
our admiration OF 1t.
1t is only fair to presume that the music O
H MS Pinaiore" has had as much as any
thing else 20 do with the impression it has pro
duced. Engaged" however. in which MI
Gilbert is alone and unaidcd, has been receive
with open arms II was welcomed with appar
entity genuine enthusiasm and while perso
disposed to be cautious might have thought thu
the demonstrations OF warmth had their origi
in a fixed predispostion in its favor, the amust
ment it created appeared to be hearty and spor
taneous. or course rs long as the public bel
is in the direction OF such things. success,
the managers point OF view. IS sufficiently a.
surel nor is there any question OF its Gffordiu
the audiences great deal OF satisfaction. tn
quality Of what is given is clean and who'll
some and il is an encouraging sign that peop
consent TO be amused by 1t. When. howeve
the purpose Is trivial and no seriousness
motive underlies the general treatment to pol
moral OF real weight and common humf
application. the impression produced. no matt
how vivid or lively at FIRST does not last lon
The reaction that takes place against trivial
In drama is proportionate TO It's Temporal
popularity. and Is apt to assume the form OF
resentment. that shows itself when secoI
appeal is made under the same condition
How far such suggestions may apply to
GuDcrts present or past comedy work 1t
difficult to say He appeals to tho public
such diversity OF ways. and he Is always
clever in them. that his success is sal geiie''
and is not TO be judged by the ordinary ties
or course II would be otherwise II one knew
what extent mere novelty was factor in
attainment Of such success Everything poiI
70 IL as being all important. which would redu
II 20 simple question OF the duration OF
iashion-something that partakes Of the natu
olths brei inglorious life OF popular melot
OF the Sorcerer." the latest OF his wor
produced here it is probably safe TO say tina
Is uncongenal. The manner in which it
rsGdered az the Broadway Theatre is. Of cour
lroludicial to il in the extreme; but 1t is U
questionably. both as to Mr.. Gilberts work a
thH 81 his musical col!aborateur inferior
H. n, S. Pinafore." From such periorman
OF it, however as have been had here. one q
only Judge Of it with the same sort OF conilder
with which ono might be supposed TO form
opinion Of n picture after looking at it throu
smoked glass.
Mr. Gilbert. however. is generally sure OF
audiences. and. it would appear. equally SO
America rs in England What he does is 81
to contain something that will impress its
like some fatal aptness Of rhyme. on the pull
ear. II. indeed it does not pass bodily into
current slang OF tho day Some people ma
tain that this constitutes the real test OF tho Ri
literary quality in dramatic writing; but Il
we'll to remember that they are the same Y
~. Sc tHa,f ~