New-York tribune., 1902-12-02

Barrett and william Creswick were seen as Cas-
sius; Creswick and F. c. Bangs played Brutus:
and Bangs played Antony. Such group has never
oeen seen since and is impossible now II was at
Nihlos Garden. in 1870. that Walter Montgomery
acted Antony. and magnificent performance it
was:-picture to the eye. music TO the ear. and
poetry TO the mind. Brutus was played by z. L.
davenport. whose excellence in the part was al
ways deeply felt and heartily recognized: but Da-
Venport was cold and formal actor, in Roman
character and his stately, declama tory Brutus
tknown 70 stage since about 1s54 never touched
the heart 1t In Aranza. Sir Giles, Othelo' st
Marc. Damon Ingomsr and william. in Black
Eyed Susan" that this great actor gained his pest
renown. Never any more versatile me
lofty. refined. manly. tender Brutus of Jonn NC
culuugh which was Of later date Cs7Sl, sometimes
seemed, it's artistic form. 70 be modelled on
that Of Davenport with whom he associated
time. in the old Howard Athenaeum IN EOS
ton, and whose acting he well knew hut II was
poetic in spirit, and more sweet ana Sehtle-
Mr.. Mansdeds Brutus differs from them all IN us
strong accentuation. at first of fanatical mono
mania. and afterward Of the haunted. haggard
seIf-contained misery Of rer2orse and fatallsIn-
The value Of the tragedy. reflex of various
phases OF Roman life, is. obviously, great. II
reminds the observer that liberty. protected p9
law is the most precious of all earthly possesslons
and it teaches. seems to teach.-by aFtisuc SUB
gestion.-for Shakespeare is never didacuc'--tnel
human advancement depends on an iheAol3oie
moral purpose and is absolutely dominated anu
guided by no-al design. Ancient history does not
anywhere record a more foolish and prontless inui
der than that CT julius Casar.-for his Dictatorship
was redeeming the Roman realm from frlghliul
disorder and corruption and the disastrous con-
sequences of his assassination are traceaple, III
Roman annals for than century atler MS
death 1t is not so nuch to the philosophy OF MS
tory, however. that the play directs attehuoh' aS
q is 10 Romar institutions and manners IN the
time of Caesar and the famous persons Will
whom he war associated. Putarch. or course "as
Shakespeare's authority. and from that superb
historian tie characters drawn and sometimes
the language Is paraphTased--PoAtry casuhs q
magic glamour on the old chronicle, ana VesliAs
il with immortal life Brutus, Casslus. Antoh!,
Cicero. octavfus-neither OF them was SO Spf1huiu
IN life neither Of them IS fine in history as IN
Shakespeats-s play. Caesar alone is lnadequatel9
drawn. but as every student must have ooSefVeu'
II was essential TO make Caesar less IN 4Foer Inl
Rrutus might be more: and so the greatest tSte
of the antique Roman world-thlhheI' statesmen
soldier author, orator. philosopher. poFl !eduoI
and oonsuumate gentlennan-sIands forth as d
nAltrv egotist. a sonorous braegart. tyrant anu
dime But the poet has terminated the Roman
Nah has created a wonderfully diversified group
IF living me- has shown the grisly phantom Oh
conspiracy moving through breathiess suspense 10
its dread catastrophe and has painted retrionuVe
Justice in the eternal colors of truth 1hese @ie
some of the benefits that the puohc derive hO4i'
an ADEQUATE representation of Shakespeares uas-
Adv of Julius Casar. and for these pehehts .his
community IS now indebted to Mr. MahsAelN
noble ambition. energetic enterprise hne genius
and splendid ability