The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-10
The Second Volume Of Stephens
French Revolution.
FIRST AND SECOND AFGHAN WARS
The Holiday Volumes and Christmas Mag
axines-Notes and News I'm the World
of the Publishers-The Stage I'm Provi-
dence.
Theatrical History In Providence.

Providence theatrical people and the
large number of persons who have for
years followed the course of the stage
attractions in this city will be glad to
read book by Mr.. Willard which gives
"a comprehensive story of the stage his
tory of the city from the earliest period.
Mr.. Willard gives due credit to Charles
Blake for the use of material in a vol
ume already published, and appropriate
ly dedicates the book to him. The first
chapter deals with the introduction of
the histrionic art to America by Moody
of Drury Lane" who started in the ISL
and of Jamaica in 1745, and who was SO
warmly received that he opened ''reg-
ular theatre"
The first theatrical venture mentioned
on the American continent was in Phila-
delphia, 174S, and previous ones at New
York in 1888 are spoken of, but vaguely.
The regular first stage performance in
New England, Mr.. Willard maintains,
was, according to careful researches, in
Newport in 1851, although it has been
claimed that the same company, which
was here in 1862, played first in Provi-
dence.
The play in Newport was "The Pro-
voked Wife, or a Journey to London" 7"
a.
was soon blown down by storm.
The same company opened theatre
on Meeting street in this city and began
to give plays in July, 1862. Mr.. Doug
las, the manager, got ont handbills and
showed considerable talent, il seems,
and the "elite" took an interest in the
plays. But Mr.. Douglas did not ask the
permission of the authorities and in true
Rhode Island fashion the people went to
the General Assembly TO have the plays
stopped. An act was passed after some
political agitation and the plays were
stopped.
lowed to present play in the Court
| House. The Birth, Death and Anima-
ton of the Harlequin" was the play.
The people had been won over. MIR.
| Willard then tells of the erection of the
| first theatre when Grace Church now
stands, in 1895, by Mr.. Harper's friends.
The subsequent history of that theatre
with the plays and players takes the
story well along.
Then comes the Dorrance street theatre
which was built III 1888, and burned in
| 1874, and the story of the Providence
| Museum on Westminster street, fronting
| on Orange. which was opened in 1S4S
follows. Then the Pine street theatre is
commented upon. 1t was opened in
1857. The Academy of Music, the open
ing of the City Hall.
Mr.. Willard's comments on the various
actors and the public sentiment in re-
gard TO the plays are impartial and very
interesting, particularly on the later
events which he has attended regularly.
| Stephens French Revolution.
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. BY H..
| NJ Stephens. Vol. III. New York
Charles Scribner's Sons.
| This second volume Of work whose
| opening chapters excited much interest
is prefaced by a felicitously expressed
regret that it has so tardily followed the
appearance of Vol. l., but the reader is
fully persuaded, on the perusal of the
book, that less time could not have been
given to work so perfect in detail, so
admirable from literary as well as
from historical point of view. The
research into records has been exhaust
| i've; not an occurrence that had any in
| fiuence whatever in the march of events
| in those stormy times has been slighted,
| and to add to the volumes completeness,
| interesting biographies have been inter-
standing of the social and political situa-
tions which combined to make this a
dolefully fascinating chapter in the
history of civilization. For the
author evidently believes that civili-
zation was advanced. although
at fearful price, by the revolt
against tyranny. His judgment of in
dividuals and events is entirely dispas-
sionate. Our idols may be shattered,
our illusions destroyed, but we cannot
| dispute conclusions based upon an un-
prejudiced review of deeds and mis-
deeds, which then as now, made the sum
of every life.
We can readily deplore with the
writer the dire results of what he clearly
demonstrates to have been natural
causes. The element of distrust seems
to have been the prime evil of the Rev
olution. from its earliest movement.
The King distrusted his advisers; the
people distrusted the King, their legis-
lative bodies, their generals, their polit-
ical leaders, and nothing apparently
was SO dangerous as success. To per-
form public service was at once to be
suspected Of sinister motives and selfish
ambitions. The record of the guillotine
revealed the fall of heroes.
The thread of the narrative is resumed
with the dissolution of the constitutional
convention and the meeting of the Leg
islative Assembly Oct. I, 1901.
The Reign Of Terror is characterized
as an age of unique experiences, time
unparalleled in the history of the world,
vet TO the great majority of contempo-
raries it did not appear so; they lived
their ordinary lives, and il was only in
exceptional cases that the serenity of
their days was interrupted, or that their
minds were exercised by anything more
than the necessity OF earning their daily
bread The influence of the Revolution
spread TO the remotest colonies, and
wherever the French flag waved the
people were seized with fever for max
ing constitutions and founding munich
palities, but il is worthy of mention that
the natives Were not admitted To
share of the power or even 10 civil
rights. The principles of liberty and
equality applied to Frenchmen only.
During this time Europe was flooded
with einigres who were reduced 10 the
greatest straits owing to the law against
sending any money to them from