The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-18
ADJUSTMENTS.

must have proved very gratifying to her. for the
house has been crowded on every occasion. and
last night most of all It is pleasing to realize
that a generous tribute has been paid this artist,
for in more ways than one shot is deserving of the
magnificent patronage that has been bestowed.
AS a very fine Representative of American culture,
possessed Of the womanly charms of facial beauty
and SURPRISING grace. and, better, a reputation
spotless in its purity, it is but natural that the
people should welcome back one who created
such a favorable impression abroad, to the credit
and advantage of all her fellow countrywomen.
In phlegmatic aud provincial London-for Lon
don is possessed OF the narrowest prejudice
against all things not English-she compelled
admiration and became wonderfully popular.
But a London verdict is not always approval
west of the Atlantic, for it was London
that petted Minnie Palmer, the imitator.
and repealed Lolita, the original. took up the
paste and rejected the diamond. It is a source
Of pride that the beautiful and worthy Mary
Anderson found so great favor there, but it does
not follow that she is a great actress, any better
or even as good as others who have crossed the
Atlantic only to fail of approval Miss Ander-
son, as an actress, is brilliant, polished, finished,
just as a diamond is. The dramatic lapldary
who took her 'in the rough" has done his
work to the best possible advantage,
anu oE6TY I6Cet Is accurately 6uQ
artistically fashioned to produce the best effect.
But the stone, in this instance, is not, strictly
speaking, of the first water, or, If of the inimita-
BILE blueish cast, not of magnitude with others.
She can not be classed with the Kohinoors or
Regents, and probably never will be classed with
the really great queens of the drama. Taking
her as she appeared here, after years of expen-
sive fashioning, her imperfections are percepti-
BILE. Not that there is any particular flaw
in in i hsr. b Sus' that mtfS as 0''s q complies on D
gem she cannot approximate the magnitude and
inimitable lustre of others who dazzle the public.
Popularity is not greatness, not genius. Miss
Anderson will continue to enjoy the former,
though she will never possess the latter.
AS Gaiatea she is pretty and graceful, but
lacking in that subtle discrimination that comes
by intuition, and cannot be impaired to others.
Her portrayal of that character was refined, ar
succeed in making her auditors forget
that it was Mary Anderson and not
the creation of Pygmalion. endowed with life
and soul. Her assumed righteousness aroused
mirth and smiles rather than the admiration
and homage that such an unsullied nature would
win. Anything more than gentleness and re-
fnement in Galatea would be a proclamation, but
there were niceties in this character that wholly
escaped Miss Anderson. She appeared to best
advantage as Clarice in the brief, unsatisfac-
tory and somewhat crude Comedy and
Tragedy" written to accommodate her
at her best. In this she made her
nearest approach to great acting, and won the
h~eartiest applause that was given her while
here. AS Pauline she was her imperfect Gala
tea. grown wise. in worldly affairs and sordid be.
| yond the average of that style of womankind
whose highest conception OF success is wealth
and social position, to which love and regard
must be made subservient. Where Galatea
failed in pathetic nervousness Pauline failed in
sprightliness, and afterward in force. AS
kosalind she was ~listless when in action,
and inattentive when not. This latter is
one of her gravest faults, and one of which
Modjeska. or Clara Morris, or Bernhardt, would
never be guilty. In several instances last night
the by-play between those on the stage was made
almost as prominent as the business in hand, and
did much to mark the effect upon the audience.
Among those whose work was noteworthy last
night should be mentioned Mr.. J. G. Taylor, as
the fool; Mr.. F.. A. Gaytie, as William; Miss Til
bury, as Celia. and Mrs. Ellington, as Audrey.
The contagion of lack of interest seems to affect
Mr.. Robertson, and he does not play at his best.
But Miss Anderson is popular, and it is vain to
question it. She will draw the people, and the
people will be pleased; but she is not a great
actress.
WILL cARLEToN's READINGS.
A large audience was delighted with the
Golden Horse" of Mr.. Will Carleton. the cele-
brated ballad writer, which was put through it's
PAGES at Plymouth Church last night Mr..
Carleton has a pleasant manner, a rather good
voice, and fair mimetic powers, which were used
to good advantage in the telling of his story. or
rather series OF stories, in rhyme, during which
were introduced such wellknown ballads AS 'Over
the Hill to the Poor-house, 1.-THE Old Settlers
Story" and others, full of homely philosophy,
humor and pathos. No more entertaining even
ing has been given in the lecture course than
that afforded by Mr.. Carleton. At the con-
clusion of his reading. he was a guest of the
Grand Army at Lyra Hall campfire.
NOTES.
The Arden company is doing a good business
at the Museum. Standing room was at a pre-
MUM last night.
Roland Reed played to two good audiences
yesterday, and tonight changes the bill from
"Humbug" to "Cheek," which will be the attrac-
ton the remainder Of the week. Mr.. Reed is q
very clever artist, and is deserving of large pat.
ronage.
Succeeding the profitable season of the 'legiti-
mate" which closed at the Grand last night, the
attraction will be Charles Fl. Hoyts great COM
sented tonight, and during the remainder Of. the
| week, at popular prices. by the original COM
pany, which includes such clever people as James
I. Powers, George Wilson, Paul Arthur. Amy
Ames. Victoria Reynolds. and others. The play
was presented here earlier in the season, and
made such a hit then that a Encouragement was
decided upon.
There is in preparation in Cincinnati an at
traction of powerful interest to the veterans of
the late war and the public in general. It is the
MoTSdu OtFlOcuO COMPANY, CrgdLlZeu LOT
the purpose of producing upon the stage q series
of ammoth set-battle pictures of the great
struggles Of the war. 1t will be under special
protection of the leading men of the army and
navy, and the patronage Of the Grand Army of
the Republic. The series will embrace, among
its numbers, the battles of Belmont, Fort DON
elson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Murfreesboro, Frank
lin. ChickaInauga, Lookout Mountain. Mission
Ridge, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Lees Sur
render. These immense battle paintings will be
from forty to twenty-five feet, and will be the
production of the mastery brush Of Mr.. Matt
lists and the valuable services Of Gen. w. T.
Clark. adjutant-general Army Cumberland and
Tennessee. These immense pictures will contain
over fifteen hundred correct portraits of distin-
guished Union and confederate soldiers. The cos
tunes of which will be correct as to the minutest
detail. The series will number full thirty paint
ings.