Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-09

Nimrod Wildfre is accorded fulsome eulogy.
Though the honors of representing Scion
Single, typical American character, are
equally divided between several actors, the
credit of it's successful presentation is given
to Mr.. John E. Owens alone, though even
in this case care seems to have been taken
to accord praise only where such favor
could not we'll be avoided.
The best critics of this country
have pronounced Mr.. Florence, as
Bardwell Slote, fine creation. These
critics have been as we'll acquainted
with the extremes of American character,
probably, as is Mr.. Matthews. Certain
it is that they have given him unqualified
praise for his delineation of one phase of the
national character. Whether this phase is
complimentary or otherwise has nothing to
do with the pending criticism. Mr.. Mat
thews refers to it simply inoidentally-be-
cause of necessity, as it were-for the pur-
pose of introducing the character of Col.
Mulberry Sellers, whom he assumes to be
q typical American. The fact is-as all men
of reason and observation know-that Bard
we'll Slote is typical, while Mulberry Sellers
is abnormal, and while he may afford
amusement for night or two, can never be
regarded as real. Such a person may have
existed, but it requires wide stretch of the
imagination to make him so, and so he is
and will be regarded by the public at large.
The praise bestowed upon Jefferson as
the exponent of Irving's ideal character is
the fms OF an article manifestly prejudiced
or purchased. No ono has successfully at
tackled Mr.. Jefferson's claim to being the
only Rip Van Wrinkle. He is without peer.
But with the exception of this character and
that of Mulberry Sellers, the critic has ap-
parently taken especial pains to demean the
American character as depicted upon the
stage. While we would not claim that all
American dramas are complete in all their
parts we do claim that many of them-and
among them some that are passed slightingly
by Mr.. Matthews-are exceedingly power
full in dramatic action, and at the same time
delineate the eccentricities of American
CudIdCCoE uOSG 1uA1y. Wo Guluh UlT. 1AtGu-
ews and the magazine that has given pub
licity to his so-called critique, has done
great damage, not only to many meritorious
American actors, but to the American drama
in general. The article deals only with plays
that depict exceptional and exaggerated
American characters, and deals with them
in such spirit of unfairness as to leave
upon the mind of the reader the impression
that as a race we arc deficient not only in
dramatic conception but in literary style
All of the dramas referred to are spoken OF
as lacking unity and literary merit, and in
vidiously compared with the productions OF
foreign authors. While we do not claim
for the typical American drama all the e1-
cellencies it should contain, we do hold
that as q rule it compares most favorably
with the French or the English school. Al
times it may be uncouth, but it is never vul-
gar and libidinous like the French, while il
is more sparkling and truer to life than the
French. 1t i'll becomes an American writer
and an American magazine to demean the
literary or dramatic productions of their
own country.