The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-30
VIEW TIONS.

|
The joyous, glad New Year ushers in an
unusually attractive number pf Harpers
Monthly which opens with play by Gen.
Lew Wallace, entitled "Commodus,n SUI
perbly illustrated and written with the
scholarly finish and vivid picturesqucness
characteristic Of this distinguished authors
pen. Possessing the remarkable introspec-
tive faculty Of projecting his mental lens far
back into that remote period, the dawn Of
the Christian Era, when the Roman Empire
was fast sinking into her decadcnce, In which
time the action Of his play is laid, Gen.
Wallacois enabled to paint scenes and por
tray characters with historic accuracy aud
ininuteness Of detail not surpassed by any
writer Of modern times. Born on the 3ist of
August (also Caligula's birthday, q most sig
nitcnnt factl A. ID. l6l, CommoduS,
in the 80 years that Rome had had
| Emperors was "tllc FIRST born in the purple"
that is TO say "boru during his fathers
reign" In the faithful poriraturc Of this
monster whom the biographer calls more
cruel than Domiiian. more vile than Nero"
Gen. Wallace has been singularly successful.
| Though the son OF Marcus Aurelius, "a
moral hero OF Pagan antiquity" man who,
accustomed 10 subject the body 10 the soul.
his passions 10 reason. made virtue the sole
good wrong doing The sole evil, Commodus
inherited nothing Of tlic manhood aud up
Brightness Of hi, father, but owed, It was
thought, all his brutal instincts 10 Fanstina.
his mother. Some writers aver, however.
that lac was ihe sou Of ''somc hero OF thr
arena" Hence, the story OF his birth" Du-
ruy, the French historian, says. (which can
he told only In latin, Is belicd by the
resemblance which the bust and med.
ais establish between him and Marcus
Auplius." Gen. Wallace has caught the
genuine spirit Of the age, rife with liccn-
tiousness aud brutality. in which the events
embodied IN his play occurred. To the read
ers Of that sweet story, ben lIur," book
which has brought the palpibc reality and
consolation OF the Christ much nearer Ia
many cases IN human understanding and
sympathy than even writers In the New
Testament have always succeeded In doing
"Commodus' will bear as great an interest
though not the same charm that the sacred
narrative Possesses. Distinguishcdby richness
Of color and intense dramatic power this play
contains many PASSAGES Of great brilliancy
aud beauty, born Of true poetic feeling, AMI
worthy to he quoted and remembered among
the best thoughts u our clcvercst writers.
The principles Of true dramatic art
appcar 10 be faithfully adhered to by
the writer aud the situations effectively held
In thorough keeping with the dialogue as
the illustrations art, tloally and sugrStiycly
indicate. In tragedy there Is seldom room
Tor antithcsis; thccoutrasts ~ light and shade
are forbidden save In greater or lcssci
DEGREES Of sombrcnss. The spirit Of gloon
must necessarily hoy over aud pcryaic the
whole. Therefore Inc scenic ellcci, his
toric accuracy In cu,tuming aud grouping
become indispensable factors essential {,
. the successful PRODUCTION Of play unlishtc,
by y single human mile, or my Of mofta
! hope. aud whore as In "Commodus,
ono passes from Tie sadness OF tears .,
feelings Of Revision aud horror
However. the recent brilliant sue
cess of Alexander Dumas tragedy
r 'Caligula' In Paris, revived at the odcon b.
{ Dumas nls, play Of the same genre a
''Commodus," may he regarded a. a preti!
III 1
tragedy would have Il placed In the hand
of an artist like Henry Irving, Tho able
u interesting paper "Manufacturing Industr
u In Ireland" by Mr. Commissioner MacCaI
/. thy. shows that Distracted unhappy countr
10 have possessed something beside, feuian'
boycottcr, aud will Irish folk" aud ON
wonders again aud nsain why such an articl
u has not been wAtru before 80 little
q really known In Tie United States u III
a true and original thirrrter ~ the Irish pee
pie. II lsa pity that Information 80 vnuabl
y has not been given and made familiar {
II the public long ago Much Of the unjust an
Is unrcasonlng prelude existing even anon
a people otherwise Intelligent might by th
time have ceased g. exist Mr. MhcCarth
= elabomics with Irca' earncstncss and oy
h lent interest the many and varied ndn
4 tries In Ireland. da,us somc Of them ~ ID
IL back "a the kNt period, such as for Il
stance, bronze gold and silver workman
= ship. showing IN uiahly "iha, tho u
J. cial lie u Kettle n,and was highly orFar
!. ircd." This thinkin; writer considers "th
!, manufacturing irhiu Try the true suppl
mcnt Of agriculture ihc true concomilant ,
7" peasant pUpricionhip." Tho knowlcdg
le one gains from NJ MacCarihy's paper
a. valuable as q means 4 educating the mndc
lsnorant Of what lrlud was at one time cal
able Of. aud what u. would have continue
90 .c tlll now In n commercial Interest
" aud among the wea li.l,roduoing nations I
x the world but Tor Englands Jealousy an
A. bitter animo.ity. Wilton IN falr aud ~
.. prr,lsl spirit this papcr cannot Gail to mai
:. other hearts than plu-o Of the Irish poop
swell with righieoW Indignation, aud sn'a
OF with q sense Of wron', grieyous to be born
a. 10 read Of Ensland hIsh-handcd aud a