The morning call., 1893-12-07
TWO DRAMATISTS..
Goldsmith and Sheridan
Reviewed.
+" SHE STOOPs TO CONQUER"
1t Is Characterized as the Best
Comedy Extant.
ITS AUTHORS FINANCIAL WOES.
Sheridan's "Rivals" and Two of Its
Early Popular R0les-Reputed
Ounces.
+" SHE STOOPs TO CONQUER -
ITS AUTHORS FINANCIAL WOES.

by Professor Louis du Pont Syle yesterday
afternoon n the eighth lecture Of the uni
versity course in English literature. The
usual large audience crowded into the un-
comfortably small room in the Hopkins
Art building which is devoted to the ex-
tension lectures, and, as usual, forgot
their personal trials in the pleasure Of
listening to the clear and impartial criti-
cisms and helpful suggestions from which
they have gained SO much real knowledge
during this extremely popular course.
Goldsmith's early life and education
we're first touched upon, and the incident
Of his youth which in later years he used
as the plot of his famous comedy. "She
StoOps to Conquer" was narrated to the
great amusement of the listeners.
Like Swift and several other noted
writers, Gold smith had in his youth a
reputation for great stupidity and dull
ness. He entered Trinity College, Dublin,
at the very bottom of his class, and left it
in the same somewhat m0rtifyng posi-
ton. After studying medicine in Edin-
t1rgh for time, the kindness of an uncle
$iabled him 10 go abroad, where he
wasted his opportunities for study Hntil
his family ceased TO supply him with
funds, when he tramped about in true yag-
abond fashion until actual poverty forced
him to return to London and go to work ia
earnest. He had the discouraging faculty
of falling in everything which he under
took, and distinguished himself in this way
as chemist, a physician, proof-reader and
a teacher. At last he seemed to have an
inkliDg that he could write little and be-
gan TO work as q hack writer for one Grif-
fiths, who was publishing a magazine in
London. For this drudging he received
his board and lodging and small amount
of money, but the fact that Mrs. Griffiths
revised all bis work ate into his soul and
he once more tried teaching, falling as
usual. and at last went back TO literature
again.
In 176O his "Citizen Of the World" was
published and attracted much notice. At
this time Goldsmith was earning about
$1,000 year and should have been COM
fortab BILE, but he was man who was never
happy unless he was in debt. He could
do without the necessities of life ON
pinch, but the luXuries he must have, con-
sequently he was always in trouble, and
at last was arrested Tor debt at the instance
of his landlady. This landlady has often
been blamed for her harshness in this
case" Said the professor, "Dut she was
quits in the right. Goldsmith was indo-
lent and extravagant. and her bill seems
to have been just one. Men of genius
should cut their hair and pay their debts
the same as other people.
johnson appreciated Goldsmith al
most from his first appearance in the liter
AIRY sky, and helped him In his troubles
whenever he was able. He it was who
disposed 0f the manuscript of the "V lcar
of Wakefield" for 60 guineas. which was
a small fortune to Goldsmith at the time
oil the sale.
The "Vicar." however, remained in the
purchasers desk until the delightful poem
Of "The Traveller" appeared. This was
charming poem, smooth in yersifcation
nd I'm of doli li,yht f,I nil of ha
lands which the author visited during his
season of vaga bondage.
Good Natured Man." Goldsmith's first
comedy, was written for bread and butter
and brought Is author 9500. 1t is an ex-
tremely original play, especially as regards
the two leading characters.
1.-The Deserted Village" Professor Syle
characterized as "a sentimental wall over
necessary economic change" which.
however, co nta ned much pathos and many
beautiful ldyllic portraits.
''She Stoops TO Conquer" published in
1773. was discussed at much length. and
pronounced by the lecturer to be, in his
opinion, absolutely the best comedy ex-
tant The artistic isolation of Marlowe,
who 10 the only one ignorant of the true
status OF affairs throughout the play, Is an
exceptionally clever feature of the play,
and the character of Marlowe is one which
few act"rs have the necessary inesse and
euod breeding TO portray properly-Cogh-
Ian and Drew being almost the only ones of
modern times who have attempted it sue
cessfuly.
"a detestable version" In which Tony
Lumpkin is made the prominent charac-
ter. was severely condemned by the pro-
fessor.
Goldsmth's friendship with johnson
earned him the enmity of Boswell, who
said all the mean things possible about him
on all occasions. but this did Goldsmith
little harm. His poem "Retalat ation." his
last considerable work, was remarkable
for its character sketches of Burke,
REYNOLDS and Garrick.
Personally Goldsmith was easygoing
amiable and unassuming, although he was
fond of dress and outward display He
had financial misfortunes in abundance,
but as they affected him little they made
him scarcely subject for pity. His credi-
tors suffered much more than he did al
ways.
Sheridan came of family of wits, and
his mother, somewhat noted authoress,
called him IAN impenetrable Ounce" in
his childhood. His romantic marriage
and subsequent poverty drove him to play
writing, and "The Rivals" was produced
in Covent Garden when he was only %
years old.
A careful analysis of the different char
acters in this play then engaged the atten-
tion of the audience. the characters of
Julia and Falkland. which were the most
popular when the play was produced,
which was during the rage for the French
style. being sligmatized as those CT "senti-
mental idiots"
The opera of ''The Duenna" followed,
and was simply a conventional comedy of
intrigue Of no special merit artisticaily.
The time devoted to the lecture here ex-
piring. the discussion of Sheridan's larer
works was postponed until next Wednes-
day.
The examination in this course will take
place the last Saturday in January at 10
A. M. In the regular piacr of mQetiup 1