Connecticut western news., 1881-01-19
V. = : = New Haven Letter.

politics he IS Democrat, a~---AA--sls--A-.
 New H0yen Letter.
 The City of Governors has been enjoying the holidays to the fullest extent. So many Christmas gifts were never before sold in the city at one time. For days the streets were jammed by people engaged in the Great Gift Enterprise. Everybody received something even the Bernhardt, who was our guest the 20th, found her stockings chock full in the mornings stick os candy in one, and slate pencil in the other.
 More calls were made on New Years Day than ever before, One young man of my ac- quaintanee said "Wishhappynewyearl to S17 ladies at 135 different pl aces, and says his rec ord was not remarkable when compared with many others. And of these 1855 places only six or seven furnished wine. Isn't that fine illustration of the power of Mrs, Hayes social influence Our new mayor entertained six or seven hundred callers, and was then constrain- ed to resign his office, or else, like Moses, get some one to hold out his hand for him. Those who did not make calls either went sleighing or attended one of the three theatres.
 New Haven now boaets of the third largest theatre In America, the Carl Opera House. Since this was opened last fall the lovers of the drama have had the pleasure of hearing the best actors in the country and the holi- l day season has been especially brilliant. Seats | for Bernhardt were on sale Dec. 8, at II 6. m., and forty eight hours before the office opened the ticket spectators began to take their places in line. One fellow wAo pufchased about forty $500 tickets was around the night of the entertainment, trying to getrid of them 1 at any price. Many other spectators were also badly left. On the 10th, however, about 2OOO or more crowded into he house to be- hold the most famous woman of the day. colder rece option have never seen given to any actor or actress ofnote. A Ysry faint and scattered clappipg of hands that greeted her appearance immediately died out, and the audience of cold critics were busy with opera glasses. It Is safe to say that two thirds, if not more, of those present, came to satisfy 8 morbid curiosity, and many of these were
 bound not to be pleased. Seldom does an &C., tress labor under equal digadyaptages, for not one :c fifty understood the words she was speaking. The play, Camille, is em...c.. .-c"',' .
 adapted for star actress, the leading charac- ter appearing prominently in nearly every scene. Az the eloge of the second act, before any great power is called for, many left the house. sufficiently satisfied with what they had twas only those who remained 1 heard. bu. .-- From the in. who saw Bernhardt the 0ctress. ''- terview with M. Amand on to the last, in spite of the unintelligible language, she had the audience in complete control. The play is not | one to be read, and, as Clara Morris has dem- onstrated, the leading character can be inter- ! preted in such & manner that it is unit for representation. But the conception of the character as given by Modjeska and Bern- hardt, the two greatest living actresses, is grandly noble, pure, and womanly. When l saw Modjeska in this play she seemed to me the ideal actress. But the Camille of Modjes- ka compared with the Camille of Bernhardt, is as cold, lifeless, yet wonderfully beautiful statue. compared with the living real. Bern harCt is an incarnate passion, and her acting seems but the obeying of ratural impulses. Though you had not the slightest previous idea of the play, yet she would hold you en- tranced and tell you nearly all that was worth knowing, by her tones and motions. The re- ports of her exceeding thinness seem to me greatly exaggerated. have seen many 8 la dy on the stage more like skeleton than she IS, and their physical peculiarities were not particularly noticed. She is simply slight in comparison with the other great actresses too slight for such character as Lady Mac beth.
 Close upon the departure Of Bernhardt came the announcement for Salvini, preeminently H. I,x-,,, oHD a1,1 f,, OtheIlo. His representation advances a step farther than Bsrnhardt's, meets us half way, as it were for while the entire company in Camille spoke French. Salvini is supported by an English speaking company, and he himself speaks Italian. But, still more than with Bernhardt, there is little need of an interpre- ter. He too, has the gift of tongues, every one hearing him in their own language, un- derstanding and sympathizing fully. Othello is says Macaulay, "perhaps the greatest work in the word," and after having seen the Othello of Salvini, you are willing to believe what other great critics say, that the Othello of Salvini is as great as Shakespeare meant it to be, and the most wonderful interpretation ever seen on the stage.
 As though we were to have all our good things at once. Last week the world-renown- ed Wilhelmj favored us. It is mooted point whether he or Remenyi is the greater musi- clan, and we care little about the settlement Of the question. But if you have heard these two, whether you have heard Ole Bull or not, 1 you have heard the greatest volinists that ever came to America. Wilhelmj has face | that makes you think of a great, good-natur- l ed, contented OK or dog. The figure may be homely, but it is correct and not in the least His muscles are better cultivated | than Remenyis, and his technique may be con- sidered more skillful, but Remenyi's manner of playing is more impressive to most he seems part of the instrument, and reels to and fro like drunken man in some passages. Wilhelmi controls the instrument, but Re- menyi is controlled by it.
 A New Haven medium has discovered the reason for the cold weather we have had. She called up the spirit of Gen. Meyers from the vasty deep. and demanded an explanation. He came obediently and wrote, "I need it where I am.'' So it seems old Prob. hasn't lost control of the weather after all.
 J.E.F.
 New Haven, Ct. Jan. 10, 1881.