Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-31

WITHOUT attempting any cOUpaIl'
son between Mrs. Kendall aud the
young American actress, it may al
once be stated that the latter gave an
interesting and original rendition Of
"Galatea.p AS the velvet curtains
drawn aside disclosed the snowy statue
on its pedestal, in q pose Of classic
beauty, it seemed hard to believe that
such sculptural forms, the delicate
features, the fine arms, the graceful
figure, could be of any other materia
than marble. The gradual awakening
to life, The joy and wonder Of the
bright young creature, to whom exist
ence is still a mystery, were charming
ly indicated; and when Miss Anderson
stepred forward slowly in her soft
clinging draperies, with her pretty
brown hair lightly powdered. she sat
is6ed the most fastidiously critica
sense of beauty. "Galatea," as Miss
Anderson understands her, is statu.
esque; bat "Galatea" is also a woman
perfect in the purity of ideal woman
hood. The chief characteristics Of
her nature are innate modes
ty and refinement, which, though per.
haps not strictly fashionable attributes
are appropriate enough in daughter
of the gods. When she loves it il
without any airs or graces. She has
not an atom ofself consciousness; she
cannot premediate; she loves because
she must, rather than because she will
because it is the condition of her life
Some Of the naive remarks she has t
utter might in clumsy lips seem coarse
Miss Anderson delivered them with
cousummate grace and innocence; but
her fine smile, her bright, sparkling
eye, proved sufficiently that the limo
cence was not stupidity. The frs
longspeech, at the conclusion Of which
she kneels to Pygmalion, was beauti
fully rendered, and ELECTED a burst O
applause, which was repeated at inter
walls throughout the evening. Hel
poses we're always graceful, sometimes
strikingly beautiful.
Miss Anderson has the true sense o
rhythm and the clearest enunciation
she has deep and musical voice
which In moments oil pathos thrill
with a sweet and tender affection. Shl
has seized, 10 this instance, upon tn
touching. rather than the humorous
side OF Galatea, the pure and innoeen
girl who is not fit to live upon thi
world. She il only not human becaus
she is superior to human folly; sh
cannot understand sin because it is 8
sweet; she asks to be taught fault
but the womanly love and devotion
and unselfshness are all there, writ i
clear and uncompromisiDg characters
The first and last acts were decided
the best; in the latter especially Mis-
Anderson touched a true patheti
chord, and fairly ELECTED the pity AM
sympathy ofthe audience. With q gen
tie wonder and true dignity she meet
the gradual dropping away ofillusion
the crumbling Of her unressoninl
faith, the cruel stings, when, her spir
itual nature misunderstood and be
actions misinterpreted, she is jarrel
BY the rough contact OF commonplace
facts, and ruffled and wounded By thI
strange and cynical indifference to he
sufferibgs Of the man she loves. A
last, when she can bear no more, We
accomplishing to the last like hoWel
broken on its stem, shrinking anC
sensitive she totters out with one louC
cry Of woe the expression Of her agony
Miss Anderson is q poet; she bring
everything to the level Of her own re-
fined and artistic sensibility; and th,
result is that while she presents Vi
with picture Of ideal Womanhood
she must appeal Of necessity rathei
to our Imagination than TO our senses
and may be By some persons consider
ed cold. Once or twice she dropped
her voice 50 as to become ALMOST in.
audible, and occasionally forced bel
low tones moro than was quite agree,
able; but whether in speech, in gestur,
or 10 delicate suggestive byplay, hel
performance is essentially finished
One or two little actions may be noted
such as the instructive recoil Of alarm
ed modesty when Pygnslion blamel
her for saying things that other
would reproye," or her expression Of
troubled wonder 10 6nd thatit is pos.
sible to say one thing and mean an
other"