Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-01
METROPOLITAN THEATER.
Sheridan as Richelieu-shylock. Louis xI.
and Richard III.

To those who have believed shat the legit-
innate drama. the higher class of dramatic
literature, would receive better support and
warmer recognition here than is accorded to
negro minstrelsy, the tinsel and show of shall
low opera bouffe and the doubtful French
sensational plays, the meager numbers of the
audience in the three sections of the house
which greeted Mr.. Sheridan last night in his
admirable Characterization in that master
piece of art, Bulwer's Richelieu, must have
proved sad blow to the faith that has been
in them, and have strongly inclined them to
come over to the managerial side and declare
that the legitimate is not TO the public taste.
and that burnt cork, heshings on shapely
legs, and the buffoonery of the clown alone
will warrant investment by those who cater
for the public entertainment. But there is
compensation in the fact that what the audi
ence lacked in numbers it made up for largely
in its Character and in its appreciation Of
| Mr.. Sheridan's art. Messrs Grismer,
| Thayer, Sims and Melville afforded the
tragedian good support, and if SO much can
not be said for all the others. it mattered
very little to intelligent enjoyment of his
work. Miss Eberle, it may however
be said, was an excellent Francois (which
male part seems to have been mortgaged to
her SEX, and Miss Eva West is at least to be
| credited with an earnest effort to present the
part of Julie well. The stage management
of r. NJ. Eberle was marked by a prompt
ness and method that is exceedingly necessary
to successful performance, and that oftener
I than not is wanting at the Metropolitan.
| But while a long faced management shook
an almost empty treasury box on the outside,
the people within enjoyed treat that more
| than repaid for attendance. Mr.. Sheridan
/ is dramatic artist whose weak points would
| be counted strength in the ordinary actor.
| He crosses conventional rules at right angles
but gains by the innovations. He creates,
| by the coinage of art, almost complete illu-
sion. He is not perfection, and by no means
| the dangerous rival of the greater men
of his walk, but he is of their com
| pany and attains a standard that is
elvated far above the common. His action is
refined and dignifed, his delivery marked by
| warmth of passion and depth of feeling As
| the Cardinalhis work was fullof subtle touches,
| with many a master stroke that won for him
not only the profoundest and most dis
eliminating applause, but the heartiest and
most pronounced of northumberland
calls before the curtain. This afternoon this
accomplished actor gives evidence of his re-
markable vigor by appearing in the g Mer-
chant of Venice, although his powers within
few hours thereafter are to be heavily taxed in
Louis XII" He will present the =" Merchant
of Venice" in the entirety of the acting
edition of six acts. Tomorrow evening he
will appear for the last time in the tragedy of
Richard I'LL" Tonight he presents his
masterpiece, in which he has but few equals,
play that is so exact in its portraiture of one
of the most remarkable of the French kings,
Louis XI. and SO close a dramatization of
Scntfjc hiCfOrioal pnual n,opfip ar1
and hinges so perfectly upon one of the most
momentuous eras in European politics. the
influence of which is felt to this day, that an
outline sketch of the central figure given now,
will add greatly to the entertainment of those
who read it and who look upon the splendid
dramatic picture Sheridan draws tonight;
while to those not able to attend, it will re-
veal the character with which the artist has
to deal, recall to memory some of the most
interesting pages of their historical reading,
and with others awaken the desire for histor-
zeal research. Louis XI. the son of Charles
VII. and Maria of Anjou, was born July 3,
1923, and died August 80, 1883. He was
of an ambitious, intriguing and treacherous
disposition. He was the first French mon
arch to assume the title, Most Christian
King, F" and did more than any other to break
the influence, and humble tie nobility of his
land. He was an uugrateful and rebellious
sou, ulSGurUeu II6 peace Vi HIS lhbu6T
dom by his intrigues, and was banished by
his parent to his appenage of Dauphiny,
where he reigned, however, " tn pru-
dence, and suppressed the noted Clippers
and Players, rowing bands of MERGE
nary soldiers. He married the beautiful
daughter of James |. of Scotland and drove
her to death by neglect, cruelty and SANDER
GUS tongues. He married Charlotte, daugh-
ter of the Duke of Saxony, and permitted
- : kr, 81
his arrest was sought by his father he had
shelter from Philip the Good, but repaid his
benefactor by treachery and stirring his peo-
pie and allies up against him. When bis
father died he neglected to give him decent
burial and exhibited his joy over the event
Coming to the throne he favored the mercan-
tile classes to secure means to pay mercenary
soldiers. He was the first King of France to
recognize the growing influence of the middle
classes. He diminished the powers and
privileges of the nobility, elevated people of
low degree to Offices of state, and made his
barber Minister near his person. He was
proud, ha1ghty, cunning ard witty fattered
and cajoled his victims and only sprang when
sure of his prey. Leagues were formed
against him by kingdoms and powers and
war was made against him but by bribery,
intrigue and cunning he generally overcame
his enemies Withal he was brave, and in a
battle under the walls of Paris showed great
valor. Rashly venturing among his enemies
and plotting on their own ground, he came
near losing his life at the hands Of Charles
of Burgundy, and only escaped by bribery,
and by liberal concessions only secured
peace. He was superstitious and affected to be
very devout while plotting murder and cruelty.
In one season he caused 1900 persons to per-
ish ANONYMOUSLY and without trial. He was
subject to apopletie attacks; became sus-
picious of all around him and died a most
miserable death. He had a profound knowl-
edge of mankind, was intensely selfish, and
while furthering the interests of France did
nothing that did not cater to his own selfish
ends. Scott, in his novel, thus speaks of
him and his times:
In the fifteenth century the feudal system, which
had been the sinews and nerves of national
defense, began to be innovated upon and
abandoned by those grosser characters who
centered their sum of happiness in procur-
ing the personal objects on which they had fl ed
their own personal attachment The
spirit of chivalry, however .overstrained,
was founded on generosity and self denial.
Louis was among the first to rld.cule and abandon
the self denying principles in which the young
knight was instructed. Louis was SO
purely selfish that he almost seems an iu-
carllation Of the devil himself He was
peculiarly qualified to play the part, OF cold
hearted and sneering friend. The cruelties,
the periuries the suspicious of this Prince were
deh7sing superstition which he constantly rractced.
The devotion to the heavenly saints, of which he
made such parade, upon the miserable princi-
pie of some petty deputy IN office, who endeavors
to hide atone for the mayersations of which he
is cons cous, by liberal gifts to those whose duty it
is to observe his CO duct, and endeavors to support
a system Of fraud by attempt To corrupt the n-
! corruptible. In no other light can we regard his
creating the Virgin Mary countess and colonel of
/ his guards To total want of scfupe, or, it
would appear, of any sense Whatever of moral obi
CATION, Louis XI added great natural firmness and
sagacity Of character, with q system Of policy so
highly refined, considering the times he lived in
that he sometimes overreached himself by giving
yvay TO its dictates He understood the interests
of France and faithfully pursued them so long as
he could identity tbemwith his own. Instead Of
the high spirit which pressed every man forward
in defense of his country, Louis XI substituted the
exertions of the ever ready mercenary soldier, and
| persuaded his subjects that it was bet
| ter to leave to the mercensries the risks and
| labors of war and to supply the crown with the
means of paying them, TIL to peril themselves in
defense Of their own substance. He was
| equally forward in altering the principles which
were wont 10 II guate the intercourse of the sexes
Hewas :. low voluptuary, seeking pleasure