New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-23
THE DRAMA.
rec NRr1soN,s FAREWELL NIGHT.

MISS NELSON'S FAREWELL NIGHT
The closing performance of Miss NELSON'S engage
| ment at Booths Theatre occurred last night ana
| was seen by one of the largest assemblages ever
| congregated in that house. little before the per
Torrance began there was fine display OF coIored
fire. and it was notable, all through the representa-
ton. that the public applause was moro than COM
monty Quick and eager. In other respects the oc-
casion offered no exceptional feature, and 1T Is not
essential here to comment afresh on the art work
of the night.
If thought was stimulated in any one direction
more than another by Miss Nelson's acting
of Juliet it was toward her profound sincerity
and indomitable will Much as she has played
Juliet her treatment of it's lightest grace and suo
test meanings equally with its strongest scenes OF
passion was found to be as thorough as the hnest
skill and the deepest feeling could make II. Notn-
ing was neglected. nothing lightly done; the grace
of unconscious identification played all along Iile
line of the work, and the glow of spontaneity lit
I'D the text and made it Gas musical as is Apollos
lute.D This deep cOnscientOusness is a very I'M
portant part of the strength Of Miss Nelson's act
inp ana forms the proper basis of all her graceful
mechanism.
There were in the Balcony Scene last night GER
tain exceedingly sweet touches of girsh aTchness-
the signs of bright young spirit making its way
through the tumult and intensity Of newly-OoTn
passion and strange. bewilderng circumstances
which, somehow seemed to make this charming
passage more eloquent than ever, as the expression
OF ideal beauty. Another token. this, that Miss
Nelson's instinct of art is unerringly correct-1Or
the shadow of dark presentimen, falling at the first
mon both Juliet and Romeo Is but passing gloom,
and neither of them can really foIesee the conse-
onence vet hanging in the stars" In what way
this actress intcnsfes and Strengthens as
what is thus prefgured finally comes to
pass this public of play-GOers has OFTEN
seen, and this column has sufficiently described.
The PRESERVATION As pure aud radiant as WIND
swept lilies in its earlier scenes last night, and 1t
rose with firm strength and sympathetic molTh'ui-
ness to a superb climax in the parting scehe-aitrr
which there were two recallS-and to an cNtiaoI-
binary elimination III the weird and trcnzcd scene
Of the potion.
The audience was greatly affected throughout
and both Miss Nelson and Mr.. Compton were many
times called before the curtain by plaudits rs GENT
inc as ever were heard in theatre.
That there were slight signs OF fatigue in Miss
NELSON'S acting should cause 10 surprise She Is
near the end of one of the most labOrlouS and cX-
acting professional seasons that she has ever ilc
1t began on October 20 last year, at the Park he
atIe, in Brooklyn, and, except for brief lntermiS-
sions made necessary Ivy the cXigcncics OF travel IT
| has continued unintcuuptcdly till now. Only one
night has been lost bv illness, and tine performance
tomorrow night Will be the 1sjth of an almost con-
tinuous SERIES These representations have br' II
gwen in brooklyn, Philadclpln BoS OH. Chicago,
st. Louis, New-Orleans, Cincinnati, Montreal Ut
tawa. Tor INTO, Washington, Baltimore, Richmond
and NeWYOrt-togetGcr with great number oil
outlying towns. About one dozen performances of
'Ihc Huchback" and Of the Lady Of Lyons" were
Afforded but for the most part Miss Nelson has L.
sircted herself to the characters of her Shakespc-
| rean repertOry-to Juliet, Iioi0, imogcn, Roscdnd
and ISabella. How great draft these parts make
| upon intellectual resources and that nervous
| force which is the soul, may be lmag-
incd but cannot be described. The actress
Is not one who ever at any time could slight pro-
fessional duty. but who gives her heart and soul t.
her work and thus by sacrifice she has earned her
bright laurel of fame.
Its pleasant to add that the resu of this arduoas
season has been, financially as well as ar!i-ticaly'
most munifcent success. Up 10 last night the gross
receipts from these performances amounted 10
S1SG. SO7. of which the actress herself receive.
about @75, 600. The demand for seats at her ben
eft il already great ard from tins and her Cali or
MA engagement. now to rnsue--dWine which It Is
, guaranteed that her nightly share shall never hr
lrss than SJ00-she will receive upward Of 10000
more Ii need not after this be- said either that high
art is poorly paid or that tie American public is not
thoroughly and practically apprecatve Of the best
that can be offered. The special interest Of Miss
NELSON'S benefit night will centre Of cour-e on her
performance Of Isabdla in Measure for Measures
hut since it is not likely that she Will be seen here
again. the fact that she once more appears at
all is ore that the lovers of acting will observe
with peculiar gratitude. For this extra performance
the public is indebted 10 the wise and kindly en-
dpayGr OF her business manager, Mr. Frederick A.
Schwab. Upon this gentleman las rested all the
burdensome business of this extraordinary tour,
and certainly the results testify, IN manner that
needs no emphasis, to the judgment and taste with
which he has conducted this enterprise to a most
prosperous conclusion. .
| II will be Observed, as an indication that Miss
Nelson Is quite in earnest in her purpose to retire
from the stage that auction sale of her he1tTl-
cal costumes and jewels will occur to-morr0w alter
noon at 3 O'Clock, at the rooms of MCssra. Kirby ~
| Co. in Broadway, opposite Wallacks. The cata-
ogue describes forty-three lots, and those who wish
TO possess relics of the great actress have here the
| opportunity of gratifying natural and kindly de-
| sire.