Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-27

rietv OF worldly amUuon ana lhe emp"
ness OF worldly rewards. All inc pe5,
si,nate endeavor viii come 10 an emu az
en- GRANDEUR will be brought low for
every human creature the hour comes Oh,
with soundless step. when the IeNer q,
,bts lt,fla life will cease to burn, ana al
tte turmoil will sink TO silence. AS you
80 ,,r,on the ruin Of those great persons,
and mediate what 10 IS that roses anu
what that wins, your selhshhess Is
huEed. YOU are taught charity anu hiiu
ness: YOU are admonished that thete -
nothing higher or better in the word thah
10 be helpful TO others, ana you az
strengthened 20 resign your low ues'to9'
and 10 look onward with brave ana pa
,,,o.,c shirt TO a future that is not Of this
world.
The great attention which is now palu
20 the scenery and mounting of plays ane
oneras. and the fad-fOr it is little else-
Of producing such theatrical WORKS o.
great masters I'm a style as nearly as
possible approximating TO that OF the HI9l
representation under the master eye
nave called out some sensible CRITICISM
rrbe two things are at first sight conflict
ING for il a manager confines his scenery
and stage effects 10 those of the period OF
a first performance he will deprive nm
self Of much that adds beauty and force
10 the work. by renouncing modern APP
alliances. which. had they then existed,
the author would have been the first 20
adopt
The recurrence to bygone staging on
the one hand and excessive staging on
the other. are. however, both appeals to
the lower rather than to the higher arts
tic faculties Of the audience, they are ap-
peals 10 the curiosity and restlessness or
people who are always desiring some new
hing. and are content n they cannot have
a really new thing. TO accept an Ola one
IN a novel dressing The attempt TO pro-
duce great master works in an elaborate
fashion "a in itself praiseworthy. for great
works ought 20 have fitting presenta-
ton But II must not be forgotten that
the setting OF work. while 1t may glVe
relief TO the composition, IS. after all.
only a subsidiary matter and the admi-
ration expressed for such brilliantly
mounted performances will perhaps be
diminished when we reflect that the inn
preston created on an audience is really
made only by the splendor and beauty OF
the frame.
National types certainly bring success
in their train 10 De Koven and Smith.
Rob Roy" which comes to the Academy
AN-tNNffUht VIII IOls liAiiNf NfhAoN ANN'a's ,
Hood" 10 be forgotten, but our affection
FOR it win be divided by the latest-born
OF these two writer's. Another theatrical
work has been created that Is neither
opera bufloonery, nor musical farce
comedy. IL is work that from every
point OF view IS not only worthy OF Sc
rl0us attention. but is also worthy or
high praise The pibroch IS novelty
I'm operate music. and n that were rehed
upon Il might serve no better than a
bagpipe would .or a full orchestra In
Rob Roy" Dr. Koven has used II skill
fully. IL gives the characteristic note all
through 10 the romance OF Scottish his
tory. which furnished the story OF the
opera. A good body OF music that leaves
q pleasurable trace. and not emptiness
behind. a story that saves something or
serious romance from buriesque, with
fair scattering OF witty lines, and no
dun lapsos. large possibilities OF humor
in the conditions Of the pot chance
for picturesque setting and gay costum-
ing-there you have rough recipe for a
good comic opera.
The following Is a brief sketch Of the
plot
Act IAN open square in Perth. Janet.
the Mayors daughter, Is secretly mar
red 10 Rob Roy, but her father makes
her marry the town crier and an English
captain II is the eve Of Culloden, and
Rob and his men are marching 20 the
help OF Prince Charlie. Janet goes with
them disguised IN Highland costume.
Act "A mountain pass. The Stuart
troops are defeated, and Charles dis
euises himself as miller's boy. very
droll catch is sung In this act that Is a
worthy pendant 10 its fellow In Robin
Hood" The English troops arrive. the
Prince Is denounced by the Mayor. but
Flora gives herself up az Chsrhe' ana Is
carried OF 70 Stirling Castle.
Act g-Stirling Castle. Flora Is libe-
rated by Cameron, disguised as a jailer.
she is recaptured. tho real Prince Charlie
turns up. and after little discussion
the Whole party Is liberated by the Eng
lish captain.
II any wizard OF old, with his astro-
baiss. his mysterious incantatiohs' anu