Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-11-17
Mary Stuart.

Inc play OF MARY 0GuaIts "AiSh y" IA
be acted tonight in the opera house, 10
naturally exciting much interest ana
inquiry It this time, AS is we'll
known, the original is in German, and
az the ,ranslat on is MOI easily accessi-
bic, few of our readers are perhaps
familiar with it. We therefore print
with pleasure the following extract,
handed US by Professor Joynes, from
his edition of Schiller's Maria Etlslt
in the series of Whitney's German
| Texts:
The purpose OF the play is to exhibit
| the character OF Mary stuart in an
| tence and misfortune are its elements.
These ale heightened by the charm of
her own beauty, by the devotion OF
| friendshirA the passionate sel!-sacrifice
| of lovely the Vaccinations Of pol.t g..
zeal. religious and personal enmity,
and, above all, by the sharp contrast of
bilious, jealous, venge-
ful-stronS where Mary is weak, weak
and despicable where Mary is strong
and noble. This picture Of EliZ abelh
is drawn in darkest colors, agains
which historic justice must perhaps
protest; but the poets purpose was bis
art-and this was memorable. Some
of the central movements Cf the play
are wholly fictitious. BurleIgh's in
terview with Mary artfuliy uufolds the
historical and political situation. The
fictitious character of Mortimer brings
in the element OF love-indispensabl
in the portraiture OF Mary. With th is
is interviewer the fiction Of Leicester
intrigue, which leads 10 the equally
fictitious interview between the two
: queens-the center Of the dramatic
interest of the plot. Mortimer falls
as he mus.-a sacrifice tt love and t(
" treachery; but Leicester's falsenes'
and cowsrdice are pursued to their bit
ter expiration. Around these fictitious
elements are grouped the lesser char
2 q, RS Of the play-mainly true, III
n deed, in outline, but with free trans
position, a. already remarked, OF facts
and dates. Individuality Of charac
ter is, however, every where we'll mark
8 Ell AID skillfully preserved
d L his moral judgment of Mary
( Schiller assumes Ger quit with respec
to tue death of Darnley and her rela
tions with Boutwell,; but this is as
cribed to the overmasteriDg power o
g the t9mpter. and has been b t erly ex
r pistsd by years Of penitence and sui
fering. OF all charges as against th
queen of England she is innocent, tn
victim of circumstances, and the sacri
% Ace alike of the devotion of friend
g and the persecution of enemies. Thu
d are secured the conflicting element
and influences which constitut9 tn
I. tragic situation and these are handle
and wrought by the poet with cor
summate skill and effect. Mary
1" death thus becomes, in his hands
- more than an expiation-it is q mai
tyrdom.
The play opens at Ot1eringha
7. castle; the place of Mary's last in
! prisonment, and just before the an
~ nouncement to her of her sentence I
death. Unexpected events hasten l
immediate execution. Thus viii
dramatic unity Is secured, and tt
" slow sequence of historical events
avoided, her whole career is under r
view, and furnishes by retrospect tt
explanation and the motives of II
e, situaton. These are skilifully intrt
duced and developed, SO that nothir
is lacking to the dramatic movemel
g OF the plot. Whatever may be said
the freedom with which the auth
has dealt with the facts of history, t;
re- skill with which he has handled Il
m vast and complex material here !
" volved cannot, from the artistic poi
a. of view. be too highly praised. III
best confirmation of this judgment
found in the play itself.
% How far the play, which in the orr
inal is much too long for the stage,
~ reduced In its representation, we 8
: not advised. Our readers may, bo'
ever, rest assured that they will W
ness one of the masterpieces OF dramas
Or. literature played by one OF the gres
eat OF living actresses, with thoroug
ly competent support. Such an o
portunity is rarely enjoyed In kno
vile.
H0nnr Cam nriHOp M TPl