On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (5)
-
1318 15E LEAPEB. [No. 454, DECEM^nrR 4.,...
-
BOOKS RECEIVED. Three Visits'to. Madagas...
-
Th)b Polish Rbvoluxiojt.—Monday being th...
-
, f v „ , (m JtffllTM fltlD (fctttafElttinHlte ^ ^ * WUX3 UUU VJ/UUltUUUUlUIZI ¦ »
-
DRtmT IANB TBT5ATRE. On Saturday the Boh...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
A Lady's Cajrtivity Among The Chinese Pi...
very handsome little volume , very handsomely illustrated . This will be a welcome Christinas present to good little girls and boys . Christian Days and Thoughts . By Dr . Ephraim Peabody . ( Sampson Low , and Co . )—An extract from the preface will disclose the nature and object df the ¦ work , and will render criticism from us superfluous—the book will do little good where it is hastily read , or put aside . Its voice is not one to be heard in the streets , or to join in the discussions of the day . It rather asks to be admitted to the confidence of those-who will receive it in the stillness of their moat retired and private tours . Its calm tones of religious tenderness and trust ¦ would find their way into the closet .
The Primeval World . A , Treatise on the Relations of Geology to Theology . By the Rev . Paton Gloag . ( Edinburgh : T . and T . Clark . —Mr . Gloag fairly enough tells us that he is dissatisfied with the works which have been published for the purpose of showing that the recent discoveries in geology are not inconsistent with revealed religion , because they do not carry the question far enough nor wide enough . He has endeavoured to supply the gap , but he candidly admits that he does not think that the perio * has arrived " when a satisfactory theory , reconciling the Mosaic cosmogony with the facts of geplogy can be very confidently advanced . believes that our knowledge , especially of what is called the drift period , is not sufficiently complete to admit of the enunciation of any such theory , except as "
hypothesis not inconsistent with our present knowledge , but liable to he modified by subsequent observations and discoveries . " Mr . Gloag does not accept the literal biblical version of the deluge . After careful examination , he arrives at the conclusion that the deluge was limited in extent . This conclusion is no novelty . The same belief has existed time out of nriud , and among many nations . In particular the old races of India allege that their records extend back for 70 , 000 years , and they account for this by asserting that when the deluge took place , of which , they have a distinct tradition , it did not reach India , and therefore it left them and their tradition ? intact . The book is written in a temperate and inquiring spirit , and , as a compilat i on of other men ' s opinions and theories prnicipally , we think it is well worth studA'ing .
1318 15e Leapeb. [No. 454, Decem^Nrr 4.,...
1318 15 E LEAPEB . [ No . 454 , DECEM ^ nrR 4 ., 18 KS
Books Received. Three Visits'to. Madagas...
BOOKS RECEIVED . Three Visits ' to . Madagascar in 1853 , 1834 , and 1855 . By the Rev . William Ellis , E . H . S . 8 vo . J . Murray . A Treatise on Hysterical Ajfections . By George Sate . 8 vo . John Churchill . Noble Deeds of Women , By Elizabeth Starling . 8 vo . H . G . Bonn . The Autocrat of the Brealfast Table . Fcap . 8 vo . By P . W . Holmes . Alex . Strahan andt Go . A Collection of Public Statutes relating to Probate and Divorce . 1858 . Edited by James Bigg . Simpkin and Marshall . A Collection of Public Statutes relating to Joint-Stoch Companies . 1558 . Edited by James Bigg . Simpkin and Marshall . The Parents * Cabinet of Amusement . Part I . Smith , Elder , and Co . , Wood Engraving of the Lord ' s Slipper . J . S . Virtue and Co . The Cliild ' s oion Toy-maher . By Ebenczer Landelle . Imp . 8 vo . Griffith and Furran . Tales frow Blackwood . No . IX . Blackwood and Sons . The Maiden Sisters , A Tale . By tl » e Author of " Dorothy . " 8 vo . J . W . Parker . David and Samuel . Poems . 8 vo . X ? y John Robertson . Seeley , Jackson , and Seeley . Gallery of Future . Parts I . and II . W ^ and R , Chambers . The Virginians . No . XIV . Bradbury and Evans . Charles Knight ' s History of England ^ Part XXXV . Bradbury and Evans . arAQAZKTES . Blackwood for December . FVtwer ditto . Dublin University ditto . Titan ditto . The Art-Journal ditto . The JVew Qwrterly ditto . The National ditto . English Woman ' s Journal ditto . Eclectic Review ditto . Ze Follet ditto . Boutledge ' e Shakespeare . Parts XXXI . and XXXII . — Cymbeline . "
Th)B Polish Rbvoluxiojt.—Monday Being Th...
Th ) b Polish Rbvoluxiojt . —Monday being the annirersary of tho revolution of 1880 , a number of refugees celebrated the event by holding a meeting at St . Martln ' shall . Major Soulyndsk , who acted as chairman , M . Switoslandaki , and the othor speakers , knpreened upon the Audience that it made little difference to thorn whether a Nicholas or an Alexander occupied the throne of Russia . It was , they said , to be regretted that France , the power which of all otliers had in times gone by tefirfonded Poland , should now be leagued -with those who trere trampling upon the oppressed nationalities . It trn » , however , a matter of pride to them that Poland , In straggling to break her chains , was j ? ar excellence the champion of liberty .
, F V „ , (M Jtfflltm Fltld (Fctttafelttinhlte ^ ^ * Wux3 Uuu Vj/Uultuuuuluizi ¦ »
CJrtatofl mra € v & tmvmzm
Drtmt Ianb Tbt5atre. On Saturday The Boh...
DRtmT IANB TBT 5 ATRE . On Saturday the Bohemian ^ uncompleted her fifteenth year , and was received by a crowSed house with enthusiasm . On Monday a very fashionable and numerous audience assembled on the occasion of Mr . W . Harrison ' s benefit to witness the first representation of the Trovatore at this theatre under the present management . The cast of the opera was as follows : —Leonora , Miss Louisa Pyne ; Azucena , Miss S . Pyne ; Manrico , Mr . W . Harrison ; Count di Lima ,
Mr . F . Glover ; Ferrando , Mr . G- Patey . Miss Pyne sang in her best style , and well earned by her dramatic as well as musical efforts the floral offerings ( including a wreath , of laurel ) showered upon her by the delighted audience . In the " Miserere " and subsequent scenes her efforts roused all present to enthusiasm , and so exhausted her physical power that , with great regret , but less surprise , we heard of her inability to appear on Tuesday evening . Mr . Harrison was snecessful in the " Deserto sulla terra , "
an air well suited to his voice , and contributed , by his subdued and clear delivery of the " Ah die la morte , " to the encore tuniultuously awarded to the world-famous scene of the " Miserere . " Mr . Glover , an artist whose progress we mark with interest , was earnest and correct in the part of the Count , and was properly encored in his air , "II balen del suo sorriso . " Miss Susan Pyne , whose voice is not well adapted to the music of Azucena , evinced an amount of intention
and dramatic energy as the gipsy mother of Jfannco that quite secured her recognition as one of the leading features of-the cast . We cannot close our remarks without observing that the completeness and excellence of Mr . Mellon ' s band are no less indispensable to the success of this enterprise than the beautiful voice of the directress , and we hope to learn that this department of the opera will be transferred in its integrity , and under the same able head , to the company ' s new home at Covent Garden .
COYEST GARDES THEATRE . This house is rapidly preparing to receive the Pyne and Harrison company ; The tiers of private bdxes are , of course , in progress of conversion into public amphitheatres , and some of the numerous rows of stalls will be temporarily degraded into oldfashioned , popular , remunerative pit sittings . Mr . Balfe ' s new opera , Satantilo , is spoken of , by those able to give such opinion , as surpassing in musical excellence all of his previous efforts . We hope soon to announce with equal . certainty that it will " takes " with the public . Predictions on this head are e . asj enough , but , as managers sometimes find to their cost , rather hazardous .
UAYMAUKET THEATRE . The engagement of Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathews was brought to a close on Saturday last , wheu the comedy of The Bellas Stratagem was produced with but qualified success . Sheridan ' s famous Critic was the afterpiece selected , in which Mr . Mat hews afforded unmixed delight by his spirited delineation of the two characters Sir Fretful Plagiary and Jt'uff . On Monday , Mr . Buckstone , who lias for some time been provincialising , made his reappearance on what we might almost term his native boards , accompanied by Miss Reynolds . We ore heartily glad to welcome them both . The latter especially , from whom we have been too long separated , will prove a great relief . The play selected for the reappearance of the wanderers was The Rivals . Mr . JLJuckstonc
was , of course , the Bob Acres , Miss Reynolds Lydta Languish , Mr . Chippendale Sir Anthony Absolute . The Spanish Dancers appeared " to follow" in a new ballotdivertjssement , called ThaInfluence of Grace ; and , to conclude the evening ' s amusements , that lengthy and long-desceuded baronet , Sir William Don , who , like the majority of gentlemen amateur actors , mysteriously considers his mission to have been low comedy , appeared as John Small , in Whitebait at Greenwich . This gentleman mukea great capital out of his height , which contrasts laughably with tlio shortness of little Mr . Clark , and , on the . occasion in question , brought into action such an amount of genuine good-humour and desire to please , that it would be unfair to say that he was unsuccessful . On the contrary , he excited a good deal of hearty laughter as weH as good feeling , and was called before the curtain after his labours .
OLYMPIC THBATRK . A two act drama called The Porter's Knot—re-written , it is said , from the French by Mr . John Oxenfora , but to all appearance English pv , r tang ~ -yriia produced here on Thursday evening . So pure aud healthy is the sentiment , so simple the tale , of such daily occurrence in every rank of sooloty the incident , and so appositely do Mr . Robson and his company hold up the mirror before the audience , that we are warranted in predicting for The Porter's Knot A more than ordinary extent of popularity . The scene of the first act Is laid in the cosy cottage of one Samson Jturr , a retired porter , who hns scraped
together enough property to make a sur ^ n ^ T ? son Augustus ( Mr . Gordon ) , portion hi £ ?? . ! * tended of Augustus } AUce ( Miss Hughes ? ™* tl 1 1 Q " himself and genial M + L Jfcrr ( Mr * . SfcSf jfcS ^ in comfort during the evening of their days ffi new-fledged medical man lias just a ? rm > , i / I > ondon , his diploma hangs upon the wall w ^ Svnsorts njuch-loved trophy , the porter ' s Sot'S the happiness of the circle is all but J ? plete . However , a little cloud of care , V ; on the brow of Augustus . A fast friend / , / Scatter ( Mr . G . Vining ) , who has been ? 2 e t £ of the student ' s ruin , follows him , and it tranS from their conversation that our hero has loft Ur acceptances unsettled in town , and that his oX
HiunoiP » of Avtri / MiHrm ft-nm , UK » : _ _ U 1 U J chance of extrication from debt is a mercefiar ; marriage , which the said Scatter has some faint rmu spect of contracting . The shade deepens ere lomT for Scatter receives the news that his hopes are vain and departing , is succeeded by a mysterious visitor Jfr . Smoothly Smirk ( Mr . II . Wigan ) , who obtains a private interview with Samson . This character turns out to be a bill-discounting lawyer , who holds vounff Burr ' s acceptances for 2000 / . The unhappy f ^ her U at first incredulous , then furious , and at last stricken down . To save his son from prison lie promises payment , which entails certain ruin and the utter
destruction of the family happiness ; and to clear him once and for all of his vicious circle , he effects his immediate departure for Australia with Ciptain OaUiani ( Mr . G . Cook ) , whose ship is on the point of sailing . The fiction invented by the old n . an ' to account for his grief , enlist the sympathies of hit friend the . sea-captain , and procure the preparation of her son ' s kit by Mrs . Burr , without suspicion on her part that she is about to lose her greatest treasure , is most delicately ' and successfully worked out by both author and actor . The act drop descends upon Burr ' s breaking to his wife and niece that he had been speaking a parable , that their Awjustus i s gone ,. ' . that lie . himself ,. ' a . penniless old man , must return to the barrow and the porter ' s knot .
Between the first and second acts two years are supposed to have elapsed , sind we find poor old Burr at work in a smock-frock , and with a porter ' s ticket uiv his breast , bearing passeugers' baggage from th & packets to the railway station , at which 'Scatter , now a policeman , is working out his reformation . Alice is devoting her young life to the solace of the sorrowing * couple . Augustus has never been heard . of , but a charming incident is imported into the story by the
joint concoction by Alice and Samson of a letter purporting to be written . by him to his mother . The reading of this gives room for some beautiful acting , and the interest of the situation is increased by the discovery of a postscript which Alice has addcl without Samson ' s knowledge , advising the e nclosure of a ten-pound note . Samson dares not divulge the innocent fraud , and his wife will not allow him to send back the gift ; so he is compelled to accept in most eloquent silence the generous offering of the devoted
girl s little savings . They have hardly composed their difficulty nbnut this when Augustus returns in the flesh . His ship has been picked up drifting at sea , dismast * d , and with loss of all hands except himself and the captain . He makes himself known in the first place to his mother and Alice , and subsequently , to his tutlwr . For his gallant devotion to the shipowners' interests , in their
they make him on the tpot a partner nrra , and the piece concludes en rigle with the assurance of future happiness for the whole party , including even the good-natured , hnir-brnined Scatter . W < ttobson ' s delineation of Samson Burr is masterly Beyond description . A wilderness of words would no convey the dt'lieate touches of pathOa and hurnoui IicuuMb to the skilful drawing of the talented au-Mmr . Sftldfim was a drama put upon the stage uuu nuinerem
might have been more easily spoilt by > actors , but few will be found to say that a more re fined whole ' could have been Presented . The lone" , noble pride of Burr and his wife in their P ™ P «™ 5 their son , and his prospects ; the old mans agony in tho scene with tho W « -d "f * ffliraen " internal struggle while ho prepares the ban is imjnt of the prodigal ; his gentle resignation to hatA ' labou in his age , chequered with faint gleams J won for this great actor and his author tJ ^ f « Jj of applause , their hearers' tears . Mr . KobBon « J » worthily sunnorted bv his company . Mrs . wnrn j
was simple and tender as Mrs . Burr . «¦»« B an excellent photograph of a scapegrace gjnj and the Smoothly Smirk of Mr- Horace Wigan * flS gem in its wiiy . The first exception « o c « take to the piece , is the extreme ^ acy ™ which this latter gentleman is made up nift uw man . Having once conceived tho » w > PW »« w » ^ Jie ty out reference to a playbill ) that , he was some mirw of tho " thirty-nine timoe articled : dork , < ° T < confounded to find him a mere pe « if ° SS inff , £ i object It wa « , however , nn exquiuite ¦ ketch , v « ' again to the absurd and unnecessary oxpedie t ajog ^ to enrich tho hero , and to the time ftt * J'JUI , % tlbrought about , A playwright of our circle- " ¦«
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 4, 1858, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04121858/page/14/
-