Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-20
Boston Correspondence.
Tur HIM. Anril |

The Hun, April Is, lSSl.
1t is well-known fact that the agents for
travelling companies and stars like to get
to Boston if possible during Lent, being sure
of warmer reception there than anywhere
else at that season. For in Philadelphia,
New York, Brooklyn and others of our large
cities, Lent is rigidly observed and the bet
ter classes of theatres would have but small
houses While in Boston. as other denomi-
nations outnumber the Episcopalians and
Roman Catholics, SO by far the majority are
ready to say. (either in theory or practice)
with dear old Ierrick -
"No; it's fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat
Unto the hungry soul.
II is to fast from strife.
From all debate
And hate
To circumcise thy life,
Lent
And that is to keep thy Lent
And so it has come about that we have had
many good things during tie time.
Don Boucicault, in Conn the Shaugh-
raun' and colleen Bawn" played for five
weeks to such crowded houses, that the
standing room only" notice became a per-
ma nencv. Sara Brenhardt played a short
farewell engagement, and at the end of Lent,
in Holy week, came Mapleson again with II.
NJ. Opera Company. 1t ras rather late and
unusual, but they were As welcome as Indian
summer. and we proceeded with cheerful
alacrity to get out the white bonnets and
opera cloaks that had been put away for the
season. 1t was but for week, and with but
one exception, the operas were those heard
earlier in the year,-Martha. Magic Flute,
Troy atore, Barber of Seville, Lucia di Lam
mermoor and Don Giovanni. The exception
was on the evening of Good Friday when
Wagner's opera "Lohengrin' which has no,
been heard in Boston for five six years.
was given. The cast was rs follows Lo-
hengria, Campanini Frederic. Galassi
Henry, NOvara; the Herald, Mont; Or.
trpdd. Mile. Belocca, and Elsa, Nine. Swift
A half hours eloquence could not exhaust
the music. the acting, the costumes, the or
chestral work. Let it suffice therefore to sa,
that the general effect was one of grea
| BREADTH grandeur and magnificence.
| You may have heard that it is very shor
distance indeed from the sublime to the ridic
ulous, and it certainly did seem like taking
the famous "step' to go,-within few hour
and while that soul stirring music was still
ringing in ones ears,-to see the Vokes fam
| ily, But once there well, one is completed,
at the mercy of those merciless Vokeses anc
the only thing that can be done is to langl
and laugh and laugh in crescendo style
| Laugh till YOU perfectly exhausted ant
helpless, till the tears roll down your cheek,
and you weakly cling for relief to your aching
sides. Then comes something more comical
" absurd than anything which preceded i
and off you 90 again in burst Of laughter
that threatens to PROSTATE you as Holmes
man servant was prostrated when the poe
tried the dangerous experiment of being a,
/ funny as he could. The family is the sam'
| as when here some years ago, except tha
the place of Miss Rosine Vokes (who has
married and left the stage) is filed by Mis-.
Bessie Samson. They played for two weeks
giving Bellies of the Kitchen" and Fun in
Fog" each preceded By the comedy. ''Consir
joe" The Handel and Hayden Society CAV,
Passion Music Good Friday, and ''St
Paul Easter Sunday.
! One of the principal topics of conversation
Il lust now Is as 10 EUetDtT ReF. fnifip
Brooks will or will not accept the position o
Preacher to Harvard University, which ba,
been offered him in place of DIR. Peabody
| who is to resign. For two or three week
the subject has been discussed with unfaggin.
| interest, and all the papers have had more OF
less to say about IT, There can be no doub
that Philips Brooks is peculiarly fitted t.
succeed DIR. Peabody for the influence he i
said to WELD with young men is marvellous
But he is Episcopalian while Harvard Col
lege has long borne the name Of beinJ
Unitarian in its sympathies. A careful
canvass, however. of the views Of owe
a thousand students reveals the fact tina
nearly thirty per cent. Of that number ar,
Episcopalians, Unitarians coming next il
order. Some think that if he accept he viii
be asked to yield somewhat in forms Of ser
vice. Others that Pres. Eliot, not wishing
the University TO bear any sectarian nam
takes this opportunity to prove its non-sec
tarianism by inviting Churchman to sue
coed DIR. Peabody. Some say what a sacri
fee for DIR. Brooks to make. while other
speak of the great honor paid him.
meeting Of the undergraduates Of th
university pass resolutions expressive Of III