ONCE A WEEK.
which I am acquainted, you never see solecisms committed of the kind I have dwelt upon. Behind the footlights you behold men and
to the circumstances her husband to keep his
deceased wife, or as wbicli
is
baby nily,
admitted
women
dressed in the ordinary attire of the they represent, using appropriate language, and behaving as their originals would behave
the mother-
class
affections instaiitane-
hex and-nieoe,
and her nephew-inand enjoyment
of the features of a piece cted recently with considerable
- iccepted generally as
under
te
the -eription of life as it is amongst I have singled it middle classes of England. out for this reason, though I might quote more at absurdities
from any drama of real
life
now being enacted in the London theatres. Now, unless I am mistaken, a great the of declining popularity of the drama part which
is
to this habit of burlesquing life upon Constantly you will see the part of
the stage.
istocratic lover or the fashionable villain
by a gentleman who describes his manual extremities and the organ of life as his 'and Such a defect in pronunciation and 'art. ought to be absolutely fatal to an actor, just as It may, howsinging false is to a musician. filled
ever, be said that habits of mis-pronunciation ry hard to cure after youth has passed.
This
reason
But then, what conceivable
true.
is is
there
why
English actors should not
trouble themselves to
learn
how
ladies
and
gentlemen are dressed in ordinary society 1 There is, for instance, my friend Mr. Buskin. Off the stage, nothing can be more quiet or On the stage, when he simple than his dress. represents the character of a distinguished nobleman, he wears check trousers, with a pattern so large that Bob Sawyer would have ted to invest his person in them ; a 's Ark coat, such as was the fashion ten and a bread-brimmed hat, stuck years ago rakishly half off his head. My chief comActors plaint, however, is with the authors. in London, from circumstances I cannot now teritably in a very narrow world im and, unless they are men of
great
originality
of mind, I
many
adopt
in
conse-
views of a profes"I fortune, howof our leading playremarkably well-
who know
lu
of the i
livelihood
n.in
is
who works
ever likely
t<>
20, 1S64.
[Feb.
|
I
The individual
circumstances.
like
acting of the English stage, I think, is of a Pathos and sentiment, and very high order. humour and passion, are frequently expressed
by our leading actors
in a
continental rivals could
manner which not excel
their
but the the
accessories of the piece invariably dispel
by the power of individual
created
illusion
genius.
Thus, I cannot but fancy that if a different system were pursued if care were taken, not only to secure good leading actors, but good subordinates if an attempt were made to render the stage not only the mirror of human passions, but the likeness of the outward features of the life we lead, there would be fewer complaints of the decline of the English drama. I shall doubtless be told that I am wrong, and .that practical experience has taught managers that no piece will go down without The an admixture of eccentric buffoonery.
however, that this assertion is made conby competent authorities does not conI speak as one of vince me that I am wrong. I the play-loving, but not play-going, public. go to the theatre to see a delineation of the
fact,
fidently
life
I
know and move
in,
and come away
dis-
appointed when I see a mere burlesque of life. So, I suspect, do many thousands of persons situated like myself.
E. D.
THE CONCIERGE IN "Cordon,
s'il
vous plaIt
PARIS. "
!
Be
polite to
You the concierge under all circumstances. are in his hands. He keeps watch over you.
He
all your letters, sees all your your tradesmen, and your creditors. He marks the hours at which you come and He knows when you have a new coat, go. Observe and what you do with the old one. that he has nothing to do in the world (if he be in a good house) except to make notes from that little window, whence he surveys the It is he who world that passes to and fro.
receives
friends,
answers
all
questions that maybe addressed to friends, or enemies, concerning are only the first-floor lodger, but
him by your
You you. and he will have you he is concierge the difference in your relative positions.
may he
fret,
but you cannot escape him.
mark
You
When
the cord, you must accept the act as ur which he has been gracious enough to
[Mills