Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/242

 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