New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14

MIN. lie abJufeS his mission to MAINTAIN
wretched place in society. He has long discussion
with Isola, the inevitable result of which is that
he is :" to consider her as sister," He has become
an idle, intoxicated, feverish Lion" His Lyrics
follow his Dreams of Youth" Exquisite imagin-
ings," says q morning paper of them; volume of
lof'y ldeality, says an evening paper. But all the
critics arc not so gentle. Some Of them are severe
Others outrageous; and the volume is received
with universal condemnation" RanthOrpe is
shorn of his glorious name; he goes into society,
and finds himself longer a lion" He has to learn
several wholesome things:
He had to learn. not only the impotence of q
cotere but the serious truth that literature is not
acd to sport in that there insolence and audacity
are quickly crushed; and that man is not, there
accepted for what he holds himself. He had to
lcara that pufery or luck though it may give
momentarv success. cannot sustain it.: real ability
alone does that. Sooner later the puffed out
wind-bag floating so buoyantly alOft. is prcked by
again. A first success is the premier pas but in
literature 1T IS not the premier pas qua coute.
More than all, he is in love with the fascinating
Florence Wilmington She is flirt and " he had
drunk deeply of the poisoned goblet, which her lily
hand held up to him." quite forgetting Isoa, who
has become governess in the same house with
Florence and falls senseless and broken-hearted
upon overhearing Ranthorpe declare his love for
Miss Wilmington, with whom, of course, after such
coincidence, he has chance. His way is be-
coming darker and darker. Isola disappears, and
he is left in truly pltiablc situation he deserves
to he. Duns beset him; prison stares him In the
face; and III his rage he curses the world and its
faisehoods. After time, and through certain
influences, he sets vigorously to work again his
mind RECEIVERS its elasticity; he writes play; he
leaves it nt the theatre: after long neglect the
manager sends for him and the following converse
tion which will be interesting to dramatic
neophytes ensues:
We'll Mr.. Ranthorpe" said the manager, as he
seated himself 81 have read your tragedy With
attentlOn-vcIy great attentiOn-and | truly
say, that was charmed with it-quite charmed. 1t
Is quite treat to me to see such play, assure
you. Fanclfu dialogue-idGat dialogue" and he
locked at him to mark what effect this flattery
Ideal dialogue" he continued "powerful Ian
long" -, ~ ~ VI '' ''' '"''''' WV
"Too lOng2'
" Rather-for the stage. But that can he easily
altered and the parts quite suit our company
shall be happy to shorten it,"
There Will be great many triiling alterations
necessary-inere trihes-but very important trlcs
on the stage. Some of your situations for example,
are impract,ccble" Here he detailed some.
"lmpracticablew exclaimed the astonished poet.
"why they have never been tred-they
"Yes: perhaps so. resumed the manager with
compiaccncy, but original situations are always
dangerous Keep to what has been tried. and
proved succcssful-it will prove so again: that is
my maxim
B"t unless certain things are tried you will
never know whether they succeed or not
They would have most probably been tried
before now. if thought we'll of. Our house is too
expensive to be Il school for experiments: we can
not afford to fail | always wait till some other
house has rsked a novelty; if it fails. rejoice mt
till the public declares hold, enough"
Rauthorpe, after contcstng the matter stoutly
is forced to succunb and to apply the pruning knife
to his tragedy. The chapter on the rehearsas is
very life-lille and amusing. For instance:
There another who could not lie made to
deliver correctly this passage, to be said in agita
ton:
Tulviq my sstcr-truel
But why am her hrothcr-tO he mixed
In all her headstrong plans
This he delivered as
Fuvia is my sis,cr-truc!
But Why am her brother 2 to be mixed
In all her headstrong plans
" ] beg your pardon" observed the author, biting
his lips; "but you have mistaken nay meaning in
that passage. But why am = "a slight pause after
~ If you please, to denote the furry of his
thoughts and then resume her brother'-thcn an
other slight pause"
"Oh, know what you mean:
Fnlvia is my sister-true!
But why am her brother q"
"No, no." shouted Ranthorpc; but his anger was
inaudiblc in the laughter with which this reading
was received.
The tragedy being performed, is duly damned.
Ranthorpe at first contcmplatcs suicide, but Is led
into more rational mood by Thornton an
eccentric old gentleman. Then Isoa sends Ran
thorpe letter full of consolation, sympathy and
good advice but still conceals the place her re-
treat. He advcrtses for her in The Times in vain
Meanwhile, the plot thckens and becomes tracical
Mr.. thornton has scapegrace of n nephew called
Oliver, who resolves to murder his uncle for the
sake of his money. He accomplishcs this nefarous
transaction and escapes. but Ranthorpc suspected
of the crime and circumsantial testimony being
strong against him, he is locked up for trial. In
due time he is released, and Oliver executed All
this part of tho novel really to have little to
do with il though it may have been less out of place
when the novel III its three volume state The
following, however, is droll
One incident | cannot omit, it is so illustrative of
theatrical life. A fortnight after his acuuittal the
manager of minor theatre, which shalt be name
less called upon him, and with inimtabe cfrontery
proposed that Ranthorpc should sustain his ocn
character in piece about to be produced en-
titled, The Dark Deed; the Knghtsbridgo
Murder"
" If you will undertake this slight part,n con-
tinued the manager, can otter you splendid
S %deEw pounds week. SIR fifty pounds
Ranthorpe was half irritated, half amused. but
shook his heat negatively
Don't refuse ii, pray sir; consider fifty pounds
week-comc, don't mind if say seventy pounds
and absolutely nothing to do but 10 rush into the
and TO reappear as the accused murderer with your
dress n little disaranged--that' all, sir"
4" fear" replied Ranthorpe; smiling, that all
would be far 100 much for me. must decline being
any further mixed up with this matter"
Timid, suppose but you'll soon shake of that
:" No, sir shall never shake oil my disgust at the
infamous Dissertation of the privaccs of life, which
that system of dramatizing recent events fosters
IT, II is 9ad enoHgh to See he newspapers pauder to
stage has not the excuse of the papers"
He rose as lie said this, and the manager was
speedily, and said: Mr.. Ranthorpe, | appreciate
your motives you don't like to appear before the
lamps But You can still assist me; and / will pay
the murder was commiited--Ill give fifty pounds
tor All LONDON will flock TO ray theatre to see