| Show TOO byca nationality WHEN the eminent american tragedian edwin forrest paid his first visit to england which was it we remember mamber re correctly in 1843 he met with it a reception many degrees removed from enthusiasm thusia sm this was attributable to two or three causes the asperities asperi ties engendered at New Orleans in 1812 may not have been entirely smoothed out and the english doctrine of once a citizen always a subject naturally had I 1 its ta full fall wei with our relatives across the ti co c causing a using them to look on am ads generally as so many prodigal sons whose waywardness and stubbornness should be chastened chasteney chast ened by indifference it it could not be by force these we say may mayor not have had their effect but it is certain that there was another and more potent reason america or the united states was then to england wt what all of the country west ot of the mississippi once anee was to the eastern coition of the republic the older and more settled divisions Latu naturally rally look upon the younger and fresher communities as incapable and I 1 gre green greant ent in proportion to gaeir ase age and are disposed to receive contributions of whatever nature from such sources with suspicion and even disfavor or thus it was that our artistic re presen i dative was looked upon by all and with actual contempt by some he was the idol of the ata stage e here but bu i that simply secured him in an appearance and a hearing abroad not an aa endorsement dor not a preconceived approval to be thrown down if the subject were found unworthy all doubts and all prejudices were in ii opposition to him and these had to be overcome before he could make a fair showing under proper circumstances asif As if t to 0 make matters worse he made his first appearance in an american play t it at is one written by an american the gladiator ladi ator 11 the performance UCO tell fell flat but the press graciously attributed this to the play P 11 ay saying for the actor that he was a finely proportioned man ma with ith a voice like 11 ke rolling rolling thunder an and that he aou would id doubtless L appear to better advantage iua in a better piece and so on he next gave them metamora mettamora Me tamora not only by ao an american author but a decidedly american subject the scenes being located in new england and the hero hera a native indian worse and worse the rhe engagement promised to be a flat failure english hospitality and natu natural ral friendliness were new taxed to their utmost for al though they did not cot like farrest personally ily or artistically it would never do to permit him to have slender audiences or to break off his contract from such a cause so the house was filled nightly and thus it was when the great actor brought out Shak king lear the people were prepared for a desecration n of the immortal bard by what had preceded it but were determined to grin and bear it it was the most complete and electrifying disappointment ever witnessed anywhere the cheers and other acclamations of nt approval were at time 4 deafening and ao 0 o prolonged as to interrupt the action of the play forrest was again and a again air called before the curtain and nothing was idt left undone to show him that albis Is triumph was complete one of the papers next morning the times we believe pronounced it a perfect performance per fortu and while undoubtedly among amone the greatest dramatic achievements ot 11 any age it wasse way scarcely arcely faultless since twenty or even ten years later it was greatly improved the transition from something they did not like and only endured through cou to some nome thing they did l ilk As so gratA gratifying ying that in their benr y they overstated i the case and were erea 0 o daod iod to repay for not having been good enough this incident is caa g acte and apropos at this time england has never been a 9 haar of the united states her on oa to us and our methods being always tem tempered peed with I 1 sorrow morrow even it if embittered witti anger I 1 tae tac cal campaign recently closed exhibit ea a position aib mb among yonie sanie tew lew pi of st lonal politic iaus ito create ae aerates rotes out oat of international questions and array army the american voter vater against the B gh subject how tar far this wai waa successful we ive donot do not know and it matters not now but after all the beare and bugaboo the bluster and persiflage inseparable trow t tb h a and every camp campaign alga we are arc en ea ailed to obtain A view wf of tho the situation as it is not as it has been and what do we find thir time that toe the principal concon england has in the outcome is the she feels in having to part company with so excellent a gentleman as mr phelps the american the court of st james 1 one touch of nature makes the whole world kin and it Is time such silly distinctions as nationalities should be set bet aside in our contemplation of measures and men caan except where such ench issue is ia directly involved there are rood good bad and indifferent people in every nation bation and every corn com eunity and inis just as well that we cultivate one class clasa and deprecate the misdeeds of thy the other no co matter where or who they may be as anat we observe any other line of propriety pro and good behavior |
