New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-15
THE DRAMA-NUSIC.
PALMER.S ~ARISTGCRACY.

Under the title OF "ArlStocracy- play by
Mr.. Bronson Howard was acted lat night al Pamcr's
Theatre FOR the firt time. The name OF this author
fraught with pleasant associations, ana. therefore, IT
naturally lively interest. The writer OF
Shenandoah" and "Thc Henrietta" is writer whom
the public will always gladly greet. a multitude OF
spectators Of the best caSsinelligcnt refined SYM
pathetic pcople-ftd the theatre aud very cordially
welcomed the piece II Is comedy Of American
Nfe, ard II has been written with ddacuc purpose.
The dramatic element Of il Is delightful. ana upon
the keel of the dramatic element the moral lesson
which Is tie though true-sals comfortably into
port. Purposes In plays 20 for nothing. They are
always present, more less Acknowledgements the
moral element enters into all things and takes care
Of itself. The spectator Of q play is best pleased
when he Is permitted To mbibe his moral without
ostanation whether the part of The morals his
victim. The important thing to an audience is the
play, not the precep
Mr. Howard appears to have been wishfu to reb.kc
the notion that wealth can buy everything, and 10
deprecate an alleged American subservicncc. In Ger
tain circles, to fo;elgn Standards OF AMI TO
foreign ideas Of social and political life. The sol
tude expressed by Washington lest the youth Of these
United States slould be contaminated by Indulgence
In foreign travel Il mentioned in the playbill and
throughout tho comedy the mood of Mr.. Howard Is
distinctly patriotic. The Eagle flies. lie Is a noble
bird, and whether in his flight on his porch he
commands respectful Oh eryajion. ENe!ybdy will
agree with Mr. Howard that the worship Of wealth
Is pernclou' and that American imitation Of foreign
ways, II 1t exists, is reprahensble it is absurd.
Neither the novelty nor the potency OF Mr. IIoNsrd'S
propositions, however, IS likely 10 seem impressive.
Wealth has CIV teen obi CT of attack, although
nobody has yet shown how the world get along
without it,-and the American Republic IS about rs
democratic, at present the most ardent apostle
Of fraternity and slobbcr could de.ire. II Washington
living Il Is just possible that his :" serious
regret" would be aroused less by The spectacle Of
fore.su truv,l fr which wise men may learn miGhl
than by tla, Of d nestle immigration. ouf .untry
Is not suffering bccause some Of its lnlGibtants some
TINES pam in Europe: II mny, perhaps, be an open
question whether certain former inhal ants OF Europe
might not have favored our country II they had
stopp,d al home. Let ii DC conceded AT once, how
ever, that Mr.. Towards perfectly lnnocuou' moral
Is sound one and that ii Is we'll delivered Ills play
OF "Arisocacy" would be just rs clever without
It, and that fiet-whch is the essential fact-lndi-
Gates that the piece il good one The indication Is
entirely Justified lii character. incident. movement
and style the comedy IS firmly knitted and frequently
feDoious. In dialogue the composition eAcels any
thing ,hat Mr. Howard has hitherto written, alike III
power aud III form of phrase.
II is not upon American fobles only that the
wholesome, If perhaps somewhat exageer Cd. saiire
Of this comedy is directed Types Of English and OF
French aTistycracy also male the themes OF NOR
dant delneaton and Of punsen, .aitssn,. me eM,
ceptional upe is indeed, rather TOO loosely displayed
rcsenIatlVe One-Whtthef uOHeouc OF loFiSh
Noblemen ale not fools or viiaihs mereE Deyatse
they are mobiles, and scOnS of toll not Invariably
heroes because they sciOns OF oil II Is char
meter that tells. Dramatic effect, however can often
be best created by the use Of exaggerated INSTANCES
and 1t Is dramatic effect that counts. Mr. Howaid's
mot Interesting Because IL pOTtfays tne con-
sequences that enstc upon anlatOIN entangien:hs
Of wealthy Americans with Titled though iDpecuIoas
Foreigners. A girl VINO has been parted from her lover
by a matchmaking bUSybpJy become, III piue,
the wife OF "a foreign Prince, aud that Prince n"".r
& MS OppOg,uiIly. ~ mbr: OF the family, l"
attempt the stduciiOn of h. vines mUtn-f. tic
letter uh hal. ne
10 lie fasrBat,d ~ his vi kel - ana 90 IN an M"
cent way become, cOnpr m+ei; wIcreupon her nus
land Ne l-ngl IA k"s toe ri c. turns MN on "l
the house. All this /, bad Ia thc suihHar!, Dut
an this 4, made to s,.,.n important Ia The trament
Mr. Howard "a. Wr u:ht up ~" acton 50 ShiiuN' D.
O score OF little devices and cAPr0lcht'. N"t >
auditors, at the c!ii"aX OF arl fourth. it
tragedy An a~icr poss.,>,-l Of pow,rtie powT
Of innate nOmlity--wOud have made much more OI
that climax than made by The hollow IrvrIlhIai'
Reflection on the epiSOd" after It's passage. though cOul
scarcely fail to Suggest IL essential fruy. TIL" VILE i
ais lut,4y DlamIe =. The s,duc,. l. mere achguhrd:
who would been expelled al the rsf step Instead
M beinc tolerated till CAUSED di>te,e. II l. in
the detail the iraC"ry, Of the comedy that lis BIS,
beauties eplible In literary fibre and In ORA
matte suggestion 1t Is vcI3 delicate ana peannS'
The women in it We're acted With remarkable ani1iy.
Nil. Viola Allen iicnOsly dstingil he'd herself
A slight tendency 10 preach might advantigo0usy be
avoided Mr. Iiceoit acted an English a'istocrt. OF
MIR Fred lord delighted the hons" with Ii, pre-
sentiment Of The mel curlal Frenchman who loves m'
friend wife with unspcakable devotion ana rsenS;
even 10 the extent OF warfare. her huNbands neglect
OF her. Al the company were twice 'aIi,a "ul ait'I
The third curtain. ard the author had IN" ncrted
recruitment OF a spccial call and tunut OF cheers
Arstocracy" be recorded ms very poSluNo
success.