New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-30

tercStPd, came over his lace. lie Whtcneu bne
next scene leaning back in his seat, quietly and
kccnly obScrvant Of every detail, but evidently
regarding it as a business scene which must ne got
fE@gn wor h tbc ook Of pea
ure, but fash Of sympathetic interest crossed his
face at the burst OF clupping which greeted MI
Irvlngs appearance as Macbeth. Interest, now
ever, soon gave way TO asIonishmcnt and then TO
critical consideration. This quiet, lhGuIhtiul MAG
BETH with his restrained speech and guarded, al
most indifferent, manner, was evidently new ldca
IN him, and not altogether = pleasant one. once
or twice, iGdced, he frowncd and shook MS head
inlpaticnty; obviously he was more surprised than
pleased.
At the opening Of the fifth scene, however when
Lady Macbeth is discovered reading her husbands
letter, his pleasure was such aS mans lac" shows
but once or twice in lifetime IL was scarcely
pleasure rather it that grateful Joy which
comes Of a wcll-nlgh hopeless dream Unexpectedly
fulfilled. For Nl instant, and An instant only
the sensitive face flushed and qulNcrrd. the eyes
filed with tears, and the head was dropINsto hide
them. Then the swift emotion was mastered, and
the stranger once more leaning eagerly forward,
watched with passionate interest every slightest
movement Of the actress Lady Mach"th's
artistIcally barharc dress, with lis mixture Ct
many -colorcd, lewc hcspanGlr,l dralcrlrS glitter
Ing and changing Ike chameleon IN the freight,
gave hfm great enjoyment lic watched her GrLcr-
ful movements and listened 70 her voice with the
undiSGuiscd, reNercnt admiration Of child Hui
al the fatal invocation beginning, Come, YOU
spirits that tend on mortal thoughts. unscN ne
bcrc,' the admiration faded and an InSCrutahL' rN-
pre- SSlon took It's place. RcpuSlon ana tender
his glance 1t was all expression ! could nos
tathOm he seemed body and soul gwen over n the
rlsy. and TO see behind and beyond the ar,l"p
When Macbeth again entered approval was for The
first time mixed with the interest with which he
MatSmsd him ana IN th' great seen" H tLG wlc
evidently completely satisfied HIM. When Il"
curtain fell, and they appeared IN answer t0 the
applause which broke out AZ the end Of the act,
ms strange beng made no attempt - JON III II.
lie merely leaned back Contrntcdl!, and, dr"ppng
his head, covered his eyes for moment with his
hand AS If tired with cNcitcmcrn
When the music began a L,lin he lifted a face liat
looked Wcarlcd with too much happiness, and lis
eyes met mine once more. Instantly than un-
Wonted nervous rcmor and unrcasoEinG desire t.
go 10 MN seized me- again, and hall ros" IL ny
seat in obedience TO a blind instinct. AnHoydu.
at my own weakness, howeve:. AMI shame az Ia"
completeness of nv sclfsurrcnder ne strength
to resist the impulse With an effort of srll-cou-
troll so desperate thnt il left me- faint and from
hlnG. sat down again and turned my eyes an,V
iroiu him. But my stianCr sense OF physical A.
traction toward him increased II spite Of myself
and tuning again I" yield 20 II, fruni I'm. sud
denly standing beside me
our pardon sir" hr sad courtcou>ly. MOVING
as ne spoke INTO the vacant seat beside me IL
would seem that you ar" here alone. a> IN II
glance, you invited me hthrr from over wonder
iils voice WAS refined and his pronunciation pare
and n" cgurtly bow which accompanied his words
suited well with h'S SLIGHTLY old-fa>hlou"d pir".
scologv. Again that DISTRESSING nervous t-rmor
ielt myself >hlrcrlnE with excitement, and
could with difficulty control mv>"li enough To- mar
muir an acQulcsCencn. lie seated himself WliAn,'
hesitation, and took ht,ie time To- draw the
folds Of The heavy cloak closer a-'urd huI .io..Ar
les, OF inc heat, which WIS considerable.
] watched hun and his curious action with
t"nGne-tlcd interest was confused, ->trnr&
embarrassed IN the clos" proximity q IhIs man
Still was glad 10 have him hc,d" nc a. one
is pleased at II unexpected mcctIn. with 4 friend
among crowd Of st-7an :cr>.
You are interested in the rcriormancc?7
asked, when he looked at a-aIn.
Indeed he llp " frtr IL
playwright
I was silent with sheer surprise Surely h,d
u be- your PARDON said a, casually as I
could.
mildly
The author9 WHY. Shacsp,arr-
sShakespearr! Who is ShakrsIcarco
For an instant / thou sh had lost nv reason
Then looked at the stranger. and tried 10 drcr,t
the shadow of smile lurking behind the mran-
met my scrutiny with grave, cApcrran' coinlr>urr
Are YOU an Englishman sir?7 | sad at last,
naye not heard Of our LHcn
dramatlst of the modern world"
My compsnions face flushed. apparently with
pleasure. Then, with The first trace Of en-
barra>>ncnt he had shown he said enthusiastically
" ] see YOU care for him. I bat Wished 10 dis
co,"r how far We wcr" IN sympathy in this
felt jusuGably annoyed md WA silent
crave your pardon, sIr." lac sad gently. |
=" 1t was no ""nton freak. Ny qgc>'Ign had ~
purpose He looked At me Icr,i"'.tly, and |
was surprised at the ease with which | forsavr
WHO may he the player that t.tc>rir, Me-
teth? ~ was lis neat startling question.
| hpsltated suspicious Of another h"LN. hu' 10
added with undoubt"d sn,ctlty. IN .th TIA, ,
Tin" seek information III all serious uc~>.7 Then
with tCnch of MELANCHOLY n hI, .r.." hr ,.u. I
tInned. AIN Il stranger mere. have uut strivcd
hlthcr by accident
Tie is Henry lrv,n&. our greatest actor I
The Lady Mnc6crh is M.,r 'TTIcn lux r@@'
have n"tod together constantly. aud by their
devotion 10 AT ana !" SHAKESPEARE have Go.r
much TO help us understand Inn
And does lac then ~ greatly need m'"rprc'a- /
ton ~ asked the STRANGER with queer s'ulr
Do yoa always understand tim yrTr>rll, ,ir ~ /
! replied. feeling that # the r.ondcr were VI
Stlll the queer smile
In faith, | was wont ALWAYS 10 TANK So .
was '.r quick reply, gwen with n"r" a"..,>"r,rr,
confess he added mor >rrlo,>i, rari, hay, ,
hccu things tonight i.Iat have ,"rIrisci Tn,
hive Always esteemed w,tches'H
Personally ] ind II dlfIcui' =" believe IN .
Witches" replied tolerantly. beginning ,a:."y F.
10 Doubt whether my Intc'""thi looking ii'"''
might not after all be bat fool o.tu d.,,nr /,
cCunt"nnncr
SO did Shakespeare" replied my comp,rl n
promptly; . but hlS hearers N rr",i r"r md -
such difficulty. The name Of witch bore L. them
terrible and hlarou> Significant" BAT l"Ir
witches are solemn am almost rel g'oI,. I.ry .
are not hends, bat spirIts'
Your witches The phrase WIS curious NHrI.
the man after all be i''".-u's i UlrHl ..
count perhaps for hl> pcd.nr. Lrall-h
True | answered. Tc'urr.ry 'o h.- 'ruu Of .
Thought with something q! Hu effort: .lf what
seemed weird about the wIi,nc, Iu Shakespeare,
time strikes US now ~ gr"lceIuc. 1u4 '.l Y- rur .
comic clement tends To dcsiIuy tIcI i~Taat TI .
and poetic force
e In ShakeSpcrrc'S day" rctIrrri ny coupl,jon .
muHnRly so much more Was LEFT 10 the lu1gaa- |
ton. 1t needed no eie"ief ci"rt :" fancy that .