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last at the ^ A THE LEADEB. [No. 277, Sa...
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PJRIVATE THEATRICALS AT KISN6INGT0NT. Th...
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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.
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. . .. „ ain < t ( , mohairs , & c . The Scotch tartan manu-^ emxeres , c ^ hmerettg , alpae ^ m ^ , ^ g ^ factures of ^^ J ^ EZ ^ t ^ Paisley has but a single exponent of tfee . r display is very "Wf ^ Si Principality of Wales can find but one its noted shawls , and the enttr P « ^ ^ ^ WeJsh j ^ TSA SSi ta «* o but one exhibitor Merely to gfve a Kst of thT EnXh special fabrics totally unrepresented at the Imposition wn « M hlno ^ yinatter ; but none who are acquainted with the trade can 7 I t o mS the splendid " patent double cloths" of Messrs . Daniell and Wilkins , which elicited the warm commendations of the Jury at the Great I'he ^ mportant difference between the home and continental trade lies in the facilities enjoyed by the English manufacturers for obtaining the best
wool both of home growth and Australian , * and in the careful and expensive processes bv which the Yorkshire and West of England manufacturers finish their unrivalled broadcloths . The Report of the Jury at the Great Exhibition of 1851 states that , ' In England a new era for this trade may be said to have commenced , in the year 1824 , by the introduction of what is called the roll-boiling process , which produces a permanent lustre on the face of the cloth , that neither spot by rain nor is removed by damp . lnis process was invented by Messrs . Daniell and Wilkius , and consisted in rolling the cloth upon a roller and immersing it for hours in scalding water . The continental processes are cheaper , and consequently not so durable and
satisfactory . From Verviers , the seat of the Belgian manufacture , some very hne satin cloths are exhibited . Brussels sends some good crinoline , plaids , trouserings , and flannels . De Keyser , of Brussels , has some excellent imitations of Irish frieze , quite equal to the original , and also a fabric of finer texture called frisette . Spain , the aboriginal habitat of the Merino sheep , and which at one time had almost a monopoly in the supply of wools to all parts of Europe , now
ranks very low in that respect ; for , except in Spain itself , Spanish-grown wool is only used for spinning the very lowest quality of yarn . This can only be accounted for by the quality of the herbage having deteriorated in Spain in proportion as it has become better in other countries . Dr . Ure , referring to this point , says—" The ardent sun of Spain renders the fleece of the Merino breed harsher than in tlie milder climate of Saxony . " The Spanish collection in the Exposition contains some very good satin cloths , coloured flannels , and zephyrs from Tarrasa ; patins and beavers from Sabadell ; and shawls , woollen prints , and mixed fabrics from Barcelona . in the
. The pre-eminence of Saxony over the rest of continental Europe manufacture of broadcloth doubtless arhes , as Dr . Ure suggests , from the superior softness , combined with durability , of the home-grown wool . From Glauchau and Chemmitz some very fine specimens of Saxony cloth are contributed : also from Lengenfeld and Grossenhayn . The other collections do not call for much remark . Wurtemberg has a good display of mixed goods and coloured flannels . Baden sends a few pretty Testings , made in the Jacquard loom . A single exhibitor from the kingdom of Bavaria has some good buckskin . Switzerland sends a very small , but also very excellent , collection of cassinets , tartans , Orleans , and other light cloths . N " one of the other exhibiting nationalities show anything at all remarkable .
The Wool Series in the Exposition is doubtless , both for extent and variety , superior to that displayed in 1851 ; and the juries will probably discover in the continental displays many very marked improvements . The disgraceful poverty of the English collection makes it impossible to say how far our own manufactures have kept pace with the general advance ; but "we shall not be surprised to find that the foreign manufacturers have adopted every process which tended to give to Yorkshire and West of England fabrics their former undoubted superiority . The great fault heretofore urged against the best continental cloths has been a hardness and want of flexibility which rendered them liable to crease , if not to break easily in the wear ; and the most superficial examination of the principal collections will serve to convince the visitor to the Exposition that this has been greatly obviated , and we will venture so say that some of the specimens exhibited from Sedan , are quite equal , whether in point of quality , dye , finish , or wearing capabilities , to anything produced or
producible from England . In return , it must be admitted that the English double-twilled merinos approach the fabrics of Tourcoing and Elbeuf much closer than ever they did before , although the latter still retain a decided superiority in dye , softness , < tnd lustre . The poverty of the English collection in worsted stufld prevents us from drawing any further contrast between her manufacturers and those of the Continent in that respect ; but the Bradford manufacturers will feel an interest in hearing that since 1851 the use of alpaca and mohair has made immense strides in Franco , Austria , and Prussia . In spite of the conservative sccresy with which these gentlemen surround their works , their foreign competitors succeed in making those light , silky-grey fabrics , which are fast supplanting cotton prints , quite as well and as cheapl } ' as they can . Far from seeing any mutter for regret in this , we are rather disposed to look upon it hopefully , as likely to excite the English manufacturers . into that competitive energy which is the spirit of Free Trade , and induce them to lay aside that island doggodness which ia unfortunately too much their characteristic as a class .
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** Australian is tho beet wool in tho world . It combinos the strength of tho English growth with tho durability of tho Carman . Tho / staple is also uniformly good .
Last At The ^ A The Leadeb. [No. 277, Sa...
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Pjrivate Theatricals At Kisn6ingt0nt. Th...
PJRIVATE THEATRICALS AT KISN 6 INGT 0 NT . The dramatic performance which took place last Tuesday evening , at Campden House , Kensington , for the benefit of the Consumption Hospital , waa of a kind far too remarkable to pass without special notice in these columns . Some weeks before a play , written by Mr . Wilkie Com . xnb , and culled The Lighthouse , had been got up priyately at the house of Mr . Ciujuues Dickbnw . This ploy , with the same cast , tho eamo scones , painted expressly by Mr .
Stanfikld , in every respect the same , was repeated Tuesday private theatre at Campden House , the residence of Colonel Wauoh , who very kindly lent it for the purpose . The parting of the green curtain and the disclosure of an act-drop , most beautifully painted by Mr . Stan field , was the first relief to the curiosity of the audience , which had been considerably stimulated by the reports of those who had seen the play at Mr . Dickens ' s house . . The rising of the act-drop , which showed the outside of the lighthouse , at once took the spectator into the interior of the building . Three lightkeepers—Aaron Gurnock , his son Martin , and Jacob Dale—live alone upon the dreary rock . Martin Gurnock and Jacob Dale are discovered on the stage . The father , Aaron Gtunocft , is not seen . all their calculationshas
A storm , protracted beyond , prevented ttaHUUipply of provisions on which these men depend from reaching them . Sti (| Hp 6 n is staring them in the face . A dense fog surrounds the lighthouse , ami Jamt Dale , true to his duties to the last , leaves the stage to ascend the building , that he may warn any ship that may be near by striking the gong—for the light cannot be seen through the mist . Left alone , with death apparently at hand , the thoughts of poor Martin turn to the pleasant shore , and to Phale ( . / acoi Dale ' s daughter ) , to whom he is betrothed . Thus occupied , he is unconscious of what is now attracting the attention of the audience . The curtain of a bed let into the wall , after the manner of ships' berths , is hastily torn down , and the figure of the half-starved father , Aaron Gurnock , steps into the room . With horror-struck looks , he rouses his son from his reflections , for he has that upon his mind which he must unburden before he can meet the deatli whose approach is now only a question of hours , effect
and but few of them . The tale , disturbed at intervals with immense by the sounding of the gong above , is a sad one . He had not always been a lightkeeper . Years ago he lived in a cottage on the land . One night , when a thick sea mist darkened the country around , a lady riding on a pony having lost her servant and her way together , arrived at his door , begging shelter for the night . With gentle words , she tells him that they ** will talk more of him and his poverty next day . " She is taken to an upper room , and so accepts the shelter of his roof . Beneath that roof she is foully murdered . Not , indeed , by Aaron himself , but by a companion who was in the house with him , who , lifting the lady ' s saddle-bags from the pony , felt their weight , and resolved to make their contents bis own . To Aaron ' s credit he refused all share iu this gain , but he assisted to conceal the body of the lady , and the guilt of her murderer . During this long tale the storm abates , and the boat with provisions arrives . Phabc herself is one of the crew . Of course the first thing to be done is to satisfy the hunger of the starving lightkeepers , and this is hardly done when a fresh inwho the lookout abov
cident occurs . The newly-arrived boatmen , are on [ - e , announce that a ship , wrecked in the storm which is now abating , is drifting with some of her passengers yet clinging to her , towards the lighthouse . Ropes are thrown to these by Martin , Jacob Dale , and others , from the lighthouse window , through which the spray is dashed by some contrivance which we have never before seen attempted . During this sceue of confusion , Aaron Gurnock crouches over the embers , affording no help , and little noticing the occupation , of the rest . He is evidently brooding over his share in the murder of "the Lady Grace" ( for that was her name ) . JBut words shall be spoken shortly which shall not fail to rouse him . For now the brig has drifted so near the lighthouse that the name written on her stern can be seen , aud Pliabe ' s young eyes are strained to read it . For a while she puzzles as the ship is tossed about , and then , "I see it now , " she criea , "it is the Lady Grace . " With Aaron Gurnock ' s scream of horror , as lie recognises the name of his murdered guest , the curtain falls upon the first act .
It rises soon again . There is sunshine and calm now outside the lighthouse , but darkness and storm enough within . Martin , haunted by the thought of his unworthiness , through his father ' s sin to unite Phtebe ' s lot to his—perplexed and distracted—gives offence to honest Jacob , her father , by what keems neglect of his daughter . And now once more Aaron Gurnock and his son are left together , and Aaron , with death no longer staring him in the face , regrets that he has revealed the dreadful story , arid pretends to his son that lie had only told it him in the ravings of delirium . The bewilderment of Martin is at its height , whether he is to believe last night ' s story or tliis morning ' s . He solemnly
adjures his father to set the horrid doubt at rest , and to tell him in one word whether the story of the Iady ' 8 murder was true or false . " False , " cries Aaron . But another voice says " True . " Unperceived by father or son , a lady , one of the passengers rescued from the wreck , has stolen into the room , and as she speaks , Aaron Gurnock falls on his knees , for he recognises the voice and figure of the Lady Grace . To him it seems her spirit as he had seen it in his dreams , but it is indeed herself . When her supposed murderer and Aaron had concealed her body life was not wholly gone , and the story of her restoration follows . Hardly can her forgiveness reassure Aaron , but it gives him peace at last , and Martin , an honest man , can once more take his P / ialte ' s h : ind in hia .
Having thus sketched the plot of this most original and poetical play , it only remains to speak of the acting . Mr . Dickbns ' s Aaron Gurnock was a performance of the most unparalleled beauty and refinement . His marvellous embodiment of the character of the wild , rough , conscience-stricken man , the tender pathos with which he told how the poor neighbours of the Lady Grace travelled from their far-o ( F homes to ask if her body had been found , and how the very children she had taught came there for tidings of her—the weary sighs with which he interrupted his own tale—the passion , of his grief— "tho subtlety and discretion of his by-play—the transition from the man who , when death seemed near , proclaimed his guilt , to the man who , when life returned , denied it—his pleading with tho apparition ( jis he thought it ) of the Lady Grace , that it was hard to stand to truth when it marie him despised by his own son—these and a thousand other beauties in hit * performance were done more juatiee to by the excitement and tears of his audience than by any praise we can bestow .
Mr . Maiik Lismon performed the character of Jacob Dale with tho finest pathos , and at tho same time with consummate truth and reality ; and Mr . Kao B acting of the rough Bailor ' s part was full of dry uiul genuine humour . Great credit in duo , also , to Mr . Wii , kikColuks , tho author of tho play , for tho extreme finish and thoughtful ness of his acting . AH thcao gentlemen we had Been on the st « g « before , and were prepared lor their success ; but there are yet to bo spoken of two performers in this drama , whose powers wo had not previously had an opportunity of estimating . Miaa Hooautu ' m impersonation of tho beautiful uliuructer of the Lady Grace , will live in tho memories of all who brought hearts with them to Campden Houso last Tuesday : the sweet dignity of her manner and appearance—the gentle aud aoothing ueconta of iwv voicetho luxury it waato her to forgive—these are tilings which wo shall all remember , ami often talk of with delight ; and Miss Dickbnh ' s 1 'haibe—what a relief to hackneyed playgoers was that fresh performance ! Tho innocence and purity of feeling with which she sang tho beautiful ballad introduced by Mr . Dickicnh , and tho tender gruce and simplicity of her whole embodiment of tho part were aimply
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 14, 1855, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14071855/page/20/
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