, 1879-04-13
BOSTON.
Geneyieye Ward Makes Her Debut
: i'm Boston.
The Private Criticism Of Two Literary Gentle.
men---The Key.kote Struck.
4 New England Girls Story Of Madame
Bonaparte--We Must Dress!

From Our O171 Correspondent.

From Our O117. Correspondent
! Bosroa, April 10.-A1iss Gcnevieye Ward, nos
PLAYING at the Boston Thcatrc With the admira
bic support OF that company, is meeting, moi
with a sensational, but o sure SUCCESS which il
going to place her upon that secure foundation
OF public favor which is not ut the mercy of eyer,
VARYING tide Of mood or emotion. When Miss
Ward came from England in the beginning ol
the season last autumn, she was fresh
from the real triumphs which brought from
the Manchester Guardian-an authority upou
theatrical matters all through Engla,id-un-
precedcnted1y tine Acknowledgements Of her
power and skill. When she appeared before q
New York audience after her arrival, the re,
pressed, controlled emotion, which was specially
appreciated at its high value abroad, vas spoken
of as lack of emotion, and, while praise was
given to her training and intellectual conccp-
tion of her part, the ardor which was intensified
by not ''slopping over " WIS called lack Of mag
pctisn. This same note has been struck and
repeated at various times in her progress
through the different places where
she has played. After her first performance
last Saturd ~ at the Boston, the advertiser struck
the note again while giving her the highest
place in intellectual art that has been attained
since
Rrs1oR1,
and placing her also far before Modieska in her
grace and mental conception. This is certainly
very high praise, but in finding fault With what
the critic terms her lack OF spontaneity when
according SO much, suggests that the possibility
that the fire and fury Of emotion that We have
had before us SO constantly from the i'm
perfectly educated actresses of the past
in h{rh1v-cnoenraH
al plays may have rot little
to do with warping the minds Of the most
sincere critics. I have no other reason save
that of the stncercst admiration for what con-
slider the highest EXPRESSION OF the highest art,
in claiming for Miss Ward, as do on all occa-
sions, the first rank amongst artists as one of
the truest exponents Of the drama iu every
direction that have ever seen. That amongst
some of the most cultivated Of old theatre
gocrs here in Boston this appreciation of her is
Wards style is becoming recognized
for its truthfulness, which will gradually
shine down the merely sensational and feycrisn
displays OF lesser geniuscs. Twice yesterday I
WAS brought into communication with
TWO LITERARY GENTLEMEN WELL KNOWN IN
BOSTON
as possessing very level heads as regards theatri
Gals. Both expressed themselves with great
deal Of warmth.
II was told she hadn't magnetism,'' said one.
"Well, don't know what you call it, but, old
stagcr as | attn, felt my eyes ill more than
once as / listened to Ja,te Shore, upd for grace
and elegance never saw her equal, not even in
Ristori. She is far beyond Modj as an
actrcss.o
Another put the whole matter into this pithy
sentence: - Miss Ward holds herself in hand the
most perfectly OF any actress that VIC hare yet
had before us $50 perfectly that, having been
good deal desnoralized by the emotional busi-
dess. ne don't at first APPRECIATE il. ~
These are examples Of the comments have
heard thus far from the 'sbest people " in the
hes. sense here in Boston, and think it may be
taken as q keynote which will eventually be-
in the same cultivated manner by
cultivated people, though she is too devoted to
her art and its requirements upon her time and
strength to run through
THE GAMUT OF HIGH TEAS AND EETTLEDRUMs.
As Nine. Gue1rabella several years ago she was
known for brief space here on the operatic
stage. Her experience as the wife OF foreign
er Of distinction suggests that OF Nine. Bona
partc just at this time, though the parallel Of
The cases tails inasmuch rs the wichedness OF
he Russian husband was transformed into
Seakness in the case of the Frcuchman. And
admiration of the First Napo-
con, aud suggests another thing,-that
hat plucky and persistent woman much
preferred strength, eYcn when COM
,ined with wickedncss, to unaduitcrated
weakness, such as dominated the character OF |
1er husband, jerome. As stories Of Nine.
3onapartc are in order, must relate little in~
ideut v hich was told me By one Of TWO sisters !
New England girls-sho made the ncquaip- !
ance Of Nine. Bonaparte during winter that |
'1adame was then an old Indy, but in the full |
OF q puugent wit and an cVcr-ready |
uud Of satire. 1t happened that one of the
iris in question was rather remarkably quick
'ith her tongue,-what We call nowadays :"
right gtr}.'' Madame appreciated this bright
ess to the full but one tlay in serious conrer-
alton with the young lady on the serious topic
+ the chances and opportunities OF
MARRIAGE,
he suddenly gave this sententlous piece Of nd
ice to her young friend:
"Ny dear, let me tell you one thing: II You
to are af sbe
nows more thau they do.''
Whether Nine, BonaparLe's long observation
trough life had brought her to this conclusion
can't tell. Certainly her own experience
as quite the contrary, for for neEer bad
.rsou. stBut there never was such good
,mpauv as Nine. Bonaparte.n euthu-
astlcallv declared the two sisters OF whom I
ave spoken, aud doubtless SO thought the
jerome when ne was placed in her
society. 1t is not at all unlikely, |
owcrcr, that her scorn Of his weakness when
) fingered yacillating like tly in the salons Of
lat rapacious spider, the First Napoleon, may
I've made him yield morc readily. at last than
would have done to bis brothers. will.
,ciety of Nine. Bon2parte, and return to
le society OF to-day, and tell Of the Easter
.rties that are lust now in order, and brand
:w soeicty-a little postcript-a sort OF tail to
e great Rite with the long name, whose in
als are s. z. c. a. |
l,,ti fc~