New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-25

a condition Of spiritual goodness toward humanity
and n perfect trust in God. 1t Is the lovely pre-
sentment of an exalted nature that seems TO have
caught directly out of Heaven, the knowledge, the
WIDE sweep of contemplative thought, the charity
and the moral grandeur which, in the experience OF
life only come through bitter tribulation. 1t is the
embodiment of right thinking and right feeling
the personifcation of duty, neither hard and
gray with asceticism, nor grim and gloomy with
hopeless endurance, but duty wearing the face OF
the morning. and bright and sweet with the fresh
ness of the opening roSe This is Shakespeares isd-
bella this is Miss Nelson's embodied ideal. Only
three out OF the ten that introduce Isabella
were acted; but these were the strong interviews
with angelo and Claudio. and with these the ac-
tress did all that was posSible-as to the
disclosure of the character. Those who read Shakes
peare know what wonderful wings OF words tne
struggling affection of poor Isabella lends to her
spontaneous thought, hen pleading for her
brothers life, and by what an aSonized revulslon
of feeling she is swept away, when that brother
deprayed by fear consents TO her defilement; but
those who have not heard and Miss Nelson in this
comedy will not realize what intense feeling surges
beneath those words, what copious and eveT-chang-
ing music is hid in their cadence, what majesty
of virtue Is crystallized in this simple ideal OF
wOman's purity.
night, laid upon her work the chief chaplet OF
beauty. 10 pass, as In fleeting vision OF human
experience. from the girsh glee and artess merrl-
ment of Viola to the romantic. passion-touched
tremulOus enhancement of Juliet thence to tue ripe
womanhood Of imOgen ard so, finally. TO the gran
deur of Isabella, was to I'LL the imagination with an
ideal of all that is excellent in woman and oil that
makes her the angel of mans existence end the
chief grace and glory of the world Az acting ing. y
illusion. 1.-The best in this kind are but shadows.
Yet she who can thus fill up the measure OF IDEAL
beauty must possess many glorious elements. Mucn
for her own sake accordingly MISS NeiSOn Will nc
ings she has prompted and the high thoughts that
her influence has both inspired and JUSTIFIED as 20
wOman's nature As the poet bore ~ MS heart inc
distant diving song of the reaper. long after 1t
was heard no more" so. and with such 1ecnnR'
will her acting be treasured in memory, But be-
yond ali this. and above It, wouan,-for her sake,
and the sake of what she has interpreted,-WlH DC
better priced and reverenced.
"The very first
or human life must spring from wOmans breast;
Your first small words are taught you from her lips;
Your first tears quenohed by her. and your last signs
Breathed out in a wOman'S hearlng
Mr.. Compton, who acted Claudio, rose, in tho
Prison Scene TO the full height of that terrible sit
uatiOn. His delivery OF the speech on death was
brilliant. passionate, pathetic, and altogether a
noble effort; and his acting elected an Overwhelm"
Ing Outburst of delighted applause.
MISS NELSON'S FAREWELL SPEECH.
At the close of her performance Miss Nelson was
three times called before the curtain. At the third
call the audience was standing, and the theatre re-
sounded with cheers Miss Madison was led forward
by Mr.. Compton, who then retired leaving her
alone upon the stage. She spoke under great agi-
tation and with obvious difficulty. and her remarks
which are appended-were received with vOcifer-
GUS applausi At their close she was again threo
times recalled. The speech was as follows:
Ihave coma before you 10 say Farewell. Parting is
always sad but when the actress must part with those
who have been associated as you have been with her
happiness. there should be stronger word than sad
ness TO express a that feels II 10 that
am leaving only friends but happiness itself-that
the skies again be 80 bright they have been
to here, flowers bloom, music sound any
thank you better for all have done for
than TO say thai leave you with sorrow, and that
shall always speak Of you with grateful heart, and
Often think Of YOU 18th tears Take. then the assur
ance that feel deeply your unvarying warmth and
probation and let bid good bye with the thought
that, shall never forget yOu, so shall you keep
small place in your memories for me-