New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
JOHN DREW'S FINE GIFT TO HARVARD COLLEGE.
THE LOWE COLLECTION OF THEATRICAL LITER
4Tf7RE rs 4 NINE OF INTERESTING LORE.

devoted to the collection of works about the the
atre, made by the late Robert w. Lowe, Of London
and given to the college by John Drew, the actor,
OF New-York, appears more important than any
other similar twenty feet of forty shelves, and
seems hardly to warrant the enthusiasm with
which the gift has been received by students and
the great taken OF 1t. Witness the sign, These
books are not to be used without permission"
The seven hundred more less books, except for
a few large and noticeable antiques. like the "Pri
vate Correspondence of David Garrick" and some
small books like Scenes Behind the Scenes ap-
pear rather uninteresting But glances through the
books themselves reveal a mine of interesting in
formation regarding the stage. its actors its his
tory its controversies, its struggles and its sue
cesses
Ryleys 'Itiperant: Memoirs of an Actor has
the following preface: When the Journal, from
which have drawn up the following Memoir, was
first penn6, the writer had not the most distant
idea that it would be made public: but all
powerful time, that brings about powerful revolu-
tions. has RENDERED that object of gain which
commenced amusement, in hours of ease
and affuence." The circular at the end Of the
book bears out this hint OF the actors life: "A
committee Of IIr. Ryley's friends are desirous OF
obtaining assistance in providing for Mr.. Ryley
such moderate annual stipend may decenty
support him in the decline of life. Others
will kindly afford assistance to who,
when the were in his power, never refused
his mite to those who stood in need"
In the preface Of Actors by Daylight and Pen
H.,
excruciating portraits, it is stated that the
Dramatic Articles will be written by a gentleman
OF first rate talent and ability. The Literary
Notices will be strictly impartial, and written by
the late editor of a popular magazine. The
Tales will be either original translated from the
French OF German, reprints from and
expensive books. The Miscellaneous Portions OF
the work will consist of matter curious. useful
and amusing" Quite in contrast to the advertising
methods of the present day manager comes col
umn of Theatrical Putting: "A little reflection
will convince the reader that putting is actual
Iy an insult to the public. Mr.. Maoready,
when he opened Covent Garden, after modest
avowa of his intentions respecting the theatre. pro-
ceeded thus: 1T remains for him 10 add thing
more-instead of announcing the reception of new
performances by outrageous exaggerations in the
playbills, he will trust to the impression carried
away by the audience and TO the voice of the
public press Not single puff appeared dur
ing the whole time Covent Garden open yet
it was full every night the Lady OF Lyons
played"
In THE Weekly Review" OS52) is an account Of
an equally famous theatre. Poor Drury Lane
closed suddenly Saturday, after n dsgracefui
season of six nights-the total receipts Of which
amounted to f139 every penny OF which taken
nightly at the doors by Mr. Eye 0he present essee)
for rent and gas, which should have been f140; and
/ hear he positively grumbled at losing the one
pound. while the unfortunate actors, musicians.
carpenters ETC. did not receive one penny for their
weeks work"
1t is rather strange that the old theatres of
Venice did not fail after the manner of Drury
Lane, If to take for truth Recobonrs "Ac-
count Of the Theatres in Europe" U74l). The Men
and the Women. who to sit in Chairs in the
Pit take great Care not TO put fine Cloathes it
being the Custom spit out of the Boxes into the
Pit. and throw into il the Remains of what
they have been eating which renders it extremely
dsa greeab BILE" Here and in Holland good
field for large, healthy policeman. But at Am
inpudent. the Amphitheatre above the first Boxes
is very troublesome; They talk there very loud;
they call to another from End TO the other;
they crack Nuts during the whole Performance;
they perpetuaily throwing bottles up and down
between Acts, insomuch that they make a terrible
Noise which is very disagreeable, If the Actors
dispease the Amphitheatre. they plague them; they
call them Nicknames. and cry aloud to them to
tire, or to hold their Peace. etc"
This close connection of the audience and the
stage is well borne out in the history of Charles
Mardyn. He dirty, dissipated and sloVenly
man, but young. handsome and we'll prOportOned
So great a favorite was he with his audience how
ever that his untidy appearance on the stage was
forgotten or dsregarded. Still, on his en-
trance, the gods would occasionally shout. Mar
dyn. go and wash your facer and one night piece
of soap and towel were actually thrown TO him
from the pit"
The comments OF writers two hundred years ago
on Shakespeare, Marlowe, Johnson, Dryden and
their contemporaries represented by Gerard Lang
NN@0AA
baine's Account Of the English Dramatick Poets
O6sl) present large field lin themselves) for study.
OF an ode of Johnson TO himself the result OF
Indignation the Author took at the Vulgar Cen
sure of his Play" Langbaine says: This ode sur
hciently shews what a high Opinion our Author
has of his own Performances; our Ben lookt upon
himself as the only Master Of Poetry; and thought
IL the Duty of the Age, rather TO submit 10, lhah
dispute much less oppose his Judgment
He had not his Equal in his Time for Poetry.
says I.anghaine of Christopher MaFloe. An Author
that was Cotemporary with the Ineomparabie
Shakespear and one who trod the Stage with Ap-
plause both from Queen Elizabeth and kins James
Nor was he accounted less Excellent Foet py
the Juaicious Johnson: and Haywood. his Fello"
Actor stiles him, the Best Of Poets.
Among twenty-five ether Ss in the index we nna
the tneonspicuous name "Wtil. shakespear' 900
On page 45s. William shakespear. One OF the most
Eminent Poets Of his Time; he was born at STRAIT
for upon Avon. in Warwiekshire: and houFisheo IN
the Reigns OF Queen Elizabeth, and King James
the First. The Truth is, ts agreed upon
by most that his Learning was not extraordlnaryi
and apt believe that his Skill in the frehch
and Italian Tongues. exceeded his knowledge IN
the Roman Language" In the list Of his plays is
'Mackoeth. Tragedy which was revivo oy the
Dukes Company and reprinted with alterations
and New Songs, 4to. Lond. 1914 AL the ACT
ing of this Tragedy on the Stage, l saw real
one acted IN the Pit; | mean the Death of Mr..
scroop who received his deaths wound from the
late Sir Thomas Armstrong, and died presently
after he remoy'd to a House opposite 10 the
Theatre. I'm Dorset Garden"
Other plays receive more or less rambling notice
We read Midsummer Nights Dream. Comedy
The Comical part of this Play. is printed separately
in 4to end used be acted bartholomew Fair.
and other Markets in the Country by Strolers,
under the Title Of Bottom the Weaver " These
notices suggest that OF Rymer in his Tragedies
Of the Last Age Considered" in which he says OF
Otheo: There is in the play some burlesque.
some humor and ramble of comical wit, some show
and mmicry TO divert the spectators; but the