New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-06

jorty of the people of to-day. even of the German
people. Hans Sachs Is little more than a name in
history and character in Wagners marvellous
comedy. Only the small minority. even OF cultured
persons. know his significance In the development
of the dramatic literature of Germany. and II is safe
to that the greater number Of these. consciously
or unconsclousy. have drawn their notions of his
personal character from Wagners creation Wag-
has done more than any literary historian 10
revive interest in the man and the poet. and If
the celebration which is occupying the attention Of
Nuremberg results. /; is hoped II may, In the
establishment OF n Sachs museum and the rescue Of
ST. Catharines Church in that old town from the
baee to which it has been pat for many dec
AIDES. IL will be due almost solely TO the influence
OF Wagner 1t therefore peculiarly appropri-
ate that the two. Sachs and Wagner, should be as
ISOLATED as they yesterday in the memorial
exercises.
But while Mr.. Sedl gave music from the most
highly developed form OF the modern musical
drama. Mr. Conried. in his reproduction OF the
two plays. tried show picture OF the dramatic
methods of the times in which those plays We're
written. Extremely naive and archaic the plays
were but In that fact lay the educational value
OF their representation. Upon the audience they
made the effect OF dialogues I'm an oli-fashioncd
country school-house. for there was scarcely any
thing OF action none beyond few awkward
gestures), no scenery and ludcrousy childish clo-
cution. The plays were given. SO far as their eN-
ternas went. in the style OF four centuries ago.
Men took the parts OF women, placards announced
what the were supposed TO be, and the
beginning OF each act indicated by pounding
without (as is st done in the theatres OF Paris
and the displaying OF sign showing the number
OF the act. The people of the play appeared in
appropriate costume they did In Sachss day.
when In carnival time they wandered from house
to house. gave their amusing entertainment ana
carried off such reward OF money or bodily re-
freshmen the host felt inclined to give
The plays which we're given last night. though
characteristic enough. not striking specimens
of Sachs's style One was a tragedy. with a plot
drawn from one OF the most prolific OF SachsS
sources-Boccaccio. IL H. told in a manner once scri-
Gus. but now most laughable IN It's ingenious
artiicality. OF the love OF young woman FOR the
servant OF her three brothers the murder OF the
lover by the brothers the disclosure OF the crime
to the unhappy damsei in a dream. her conceal
ment o. the head OF the dead man In a fower-pot
that she might find comfort In watering with her
tears the theft OF the fower-pot by the brothers
who wish learn the meaning OF their sisters
strange behavior but learn instead that their
crime is found out. their fight and the hapless
young woman's death from broken heart Grew
some az the tale seems. it only divcring TO
the audience OF last night quite as div"rung as the
carnival farce which ended the entertainment
This dealt with the FRANKS OF "A peripateuc stu
dent-a much-admrcd dramatic character In the
Middle Ages Finding n farmers wife lamentins
the death OF one husband. though married TO "A
second the student informs her that he has just
returned from paradise. where he had met her
first husband He draws woful picture OF tho
poor mans condition. who had been buried In a
fiat hat and a shirt much the worse for wear ana
gracousy consents 10 carry whatever the solicit
Gus soul may wish send him on his return 10
Paradise. Thus he gets possession OF bag OF
clothing and a snug of money intrustcd TO
him BY the simple minded and crcduIOus dam"
The present husband hearing % the trick sets out
with "A cudge o bclabOr the student. but is nm
self deCei robbed
ming rogue He then returns 10 his wife and re-
ports that had Overtaken the student and given
him more money and the horse TO help him along
on his tourney. In both plays the last speaker
ponts the moral OF the tale. and ends with pious
v.ish and a sort OF verbal subscription o. the au-
thors name in manner something IKE thlS
That virtue may triumph and happiness wax.
Is the hope, with goodnight, of Nuinberss Hans
Sachs.
The accuracy Of WaGner's study OF the subject OF
his only comedy IS indicated among other Things by
his having Beckmesser refer 10 this rhyinlng haDt
OF Sachs's. The cobblerpOet and his guiidsmen the
Nastersingers the actors in these simple
dramas for when in 300 largely through the EFFORTS
of Sachs the first playhouse was built in Nurem-
berg The structure Of the plays shows that they
mysteries Sachs 200 OF them ana pTacil-
caly covered all the literature OF his time lhat cohi
provide material for the plots-Boccdcco stories,
the Chronicles the comedies OF the SchOOlWen ana
The TRANSACTIONS OF the Greek and Latin classics.
The musical numbers in last nights scheme were
the prelude to- "Dle Mesterslnger Walthers prize
song ,sung by William Stephens very strldenty IN
English the prelude In the third act dance or the
annrcntces and entrance Of the mastersinSers:
Sachss mOnOogue. VIE duftct dOch DER fiieIei.
from the second (nobly sung by Emil Flscherl'
and the Quintet (sung by Ida Klein. Marie Mauier,
William Stephens. Paul Siegel and Emil flscher)