Year: 1873

feel inclined to speak only with the
most profound respect of the Stacey
Person. 1 am chagrined to find that
the adjective here applied to him, while
thoroughly descriptive, is at the same
time somewhat jaunty to the ear and
savorous OF disesteem. l would wish
my language, while conversant with
such theme as this, to move with ft
and becoming stateliness, expressive
not only of the character and bearing
of the person alluded to, but of my
appreciation of his many virtues and
my awe of his department.


For he is as eminent in manners as he
is in morals. In a word, he never for
gets himself. More than that, he never
forgets his part nor his audience. 1t
is, moreover, one of his most character
istic traits that the complexion, social
grade, appreciatiyeness, and numbers
of his audience are all alike Indifferent
to him. lie is true artist. He plays
to well-nigh empty benches with the
same lofty standards in view as ever
animate his action before a full and
enthusiastic house. The applause of
the pit, let it be said to his credit, is
EtttlNtu Witu luc SdIuC uuttChihB
sumption as that of the private boxes.


Of course my gentle reader has not
allowed this seductive simile Of the
stage, so easily suggested by the cir
cumstances, to mislead him as to the
object of my tribute. He is not pro-
fessional at all. Indeed, / never heard
of his indulging even in the amusement
popularity known as ''private theatri-
cals," although this phrase might be
with propriety selected as illustrating
his entire method of life.


He never forgets himself, said =
he never forgets his costume, his pose,
his movement, his voice, his phrases,
his background. Each IS not only fine
in itself, but has the proper relation to
all the rest, as well as to the present
time of day, and other minutia. A
studied negligence in dress, diction, or
surrounding, forms, of course, legiti-
mate part of the adaptation of every
thing to the intended effect. / can
hardly find language sufficiently subtitle
by which to convey an impression of the
fine modulations Cf his art For though
q lock of hair may have strayed. as if
by accident, from its apparently legiti-
mate position-mark you, it is with no
coy or coquettish design, but merely
grave stimulation OF that in spirit
purely artistic-and in such a manner
that no one is deceived. She would not
have you for a moment suspect that her
motives were anything but aesthetic,
and you do not so suspect her picture
Ito change the figure) is full Of the deli
cacies of half-tints and reflected lights.


Ah-that is the trouble. 1t is art,
not nature. l have said often as she
has swept by me on the street or in the
saloon-What a master never, What
woman


And yet know that she is truly kind
and womanly; admirable in all the rela-
tions of life; gracious presence in her
home and in society,-and not without
traits that are noble. But-did you
ever read Taine's comparison of Tenny
son with Alfred de Musset?


l see that have betrayed myself, and
that my readers have discovered that
my STACEY person is by no means a man,
as at first weakly pretended. Never
mind 1 shall not change the pronouns.
1 feared that she might read this and be
hurt, and 1 would rather cut off this
hand than bring even a passing sorrow
to her heart. But am sure she has
not read far enough to discover my
ruse, aud, judging from some former
experience of mine in such matters,
am reasonably certain that even if her
eyes are upon these words she will never
suspect that her portrait has been
placed in the Old Cabinet
MOathlU.