The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-04-03
young Mrs. Winthrop"

The Walker Opera House was
crowded last night at the first pre-
sentation of e Young Mrs. Win
throp" by the Madison Square Com
pany. Without going into detailed |
account Of the play Or referring
infinitely TO those whe aSsume ed the
several characters, and referring to |
it from the impression such per-
| Torrance would have on an Ordi- |
narily sympathetic person with |
average intelligence, young Mrs.
Winthrop" and its rendition last
evening came as near being perfect
as anything a majority of mankind
have any reasonable hope of seeing
in lifetime. Mr.. Bronson Howard
has produced a masterpiece Of the
kind, and we question if the author
could find aught wanting in any of
the characters last night. The piece
is so home like, so natural that it is
almost impossible to keep present in
the mind the fact that it is fiction,
: that those who seem to live the char
acters are merely actors. The Ian
guage Is elegant, the situations
easy and natural, the sentiment
pure and noble almost beyond COM
i. parison, and the moral of the whole
> is inculcated without an effort. We
question If any person last night
!, could resist emotion, refuse to laugh
= help signing, keep from tears, OF
I could sit nnmoved and unaffected
! at the sweet pathos, the mOmentary
: exhibitions of selfish nature, or at the
= rays Of humOr alternating during
: two and half hours and the heart
must have been cold, indeed, that
failed to beat in unison with some
at least of the sentiments expressed.
How many incidents brought like
incidents home TO every heart, and
= softened it, and filed it with tender
: ness, or pleasure, or regret at past
events thus recalled; and how few
, when the denouement brought it's
! sigh of relief, but arose with frmer
resolves and kindlier thoughts.
, If there were any who did not
feel something in common with the
characters in young Mrs. Winth-
: rop," then the mission of the drama
is lost on earth to such, and we can
but feel sorry for them. Mr.. Howard
|, has given to the world a drama
which renders the Office of the critic,
the philosopher and the moralist
useless, so far as relates to his Fro
duction. 1t may go the world over,
be seen time and again by old and
young, the wise and the Ignorant, the
n cruel and the kind, and no one can
/ find in it the shadow of a thought q
), an act that is not pure and that'd s
i not inculcate noble sentiments.
d What is equally gratifying to note
: is the fact that in this sO-called de
y generate age, when the Legitimate
l. drama is said to be declining-NheI
the pure and nobler productions Of
the author are said to be scorned-
that in this age homely, generous
tender and loving play draws
crowded houses nightly. 1t show
that something is wrong: eithe
dramatic authors are bilious cayil
IN less, or else the public has not tn
T, sense to discern the spurious fror
II he genuine. But the success whic
n has everywhere attended the pre-
o duction of young Mrs. Winthrop,
proves that all the critics in th
o; world have no clearer insight int
I what is inherently good, nor Ca
I they tell with more unerring Ger
D; tainty when that which is trul
d, good in dramatic line Is truly vel
presented. With such a compan
Young Mrs, Winthrop can neVe
;. grown old; for it will last as lon,
4 as there is freshness, tenderness
c, tears, smiles and pity in humanity
g 1t VIII be produced this evenin;
0; and tomorrow night.
r