Of account of the affection in his eyes. He could own. "I sat down," she continues, "in my favourite summer-house, and strange thoughts came into my head. At first they were vague and wild; but out of the chaos gradually grew distinctness and order. I thought of my eldest sister, Charlotte. Her gift was for miniature-painting. When the rude storms of adversity had shipwrecked her husband, she had braved the opposition of friends, of the world, and converted what had been a mere accomplishment into the means of support for herself and her children. In the Academy of Drawing at Paris she had been awarded a high prize amid hundreds of native competitors, although her name was unknown. Toiling ever, but ever with a cheerful spirit, she had gone on her pilgrimage rejoicing, overcoming trials with patient endurance, and reaping a priceless reward in the midst of many struggles. Were there no precious gifts within my nature? Had I no talent I could use? Had a life made up of delightful associations and poetic enjoyments unfitted me for exertion? No, there was something stronger within me that cried out, It had not! What, then, could I do to preserve our home? had talents for acting-I could go upon the stage; but that thought only entered my mind to be instantly rejected. The idea of becoming a professional actress was revolting. I rapidly every tone was strengthened, with what increasing enthusiasm she read." Confidence in herself sprang up at these auguries; and after only a fortnight's preparation, she determined to make her début at the American Athens, Boston. Here is the description of the event but I ascended the steps alone. ness of the audience. I began also to become ac- emotion." Thus the Rubicon was passed, the veil rent that overhung the privacy of her domestic life, and Mrs. Mowatt stepped into the arena of art. We will pass over her chapter on mesmeric experiences, and come to her success as a dramatic author * writing. I designed the play wholly as an acting "The elder Vandenhoff had just given a successful course of readings in New York. I had been present on several evenings. His Hall was crowded, and his audiences were highly gratified. I could give public readings. I had often read beening to this intelligence, I very quietly asked myfore large assemblages of friends-that required not a little courage. With a high object in view, I should gain enough additional courage to read before strangers." Once determined upon her course, Mrs. Mowatt tells us she lost no time in carrying her resolutions into action; she made selections from her favourite poets; she commenced strengthening her voice, by reading aloud for a couple of hours daily in the open air, and 66 finding how I was almost too the reasons which made it so favourably received "The secret of that success was, that Fashion' is, strictly speaking, an 'acting play,' and placed in the hands of an accomplished company, the characters were re-created; an amount of interest was thus kept alive, which so simple a plot could not legitimately awaken." This is very modestly phrased; but in those two words, acting play, we suspect lies the whole gist of the secret. The appearance of this successful drama was shortly followed by that of the writer "The success of Fashion,'" says Mrs. Mowatt, "had attracted the attention of managers. Again I received propositions to go upon the stage, coupled with the assurance that I would rapidly acquire an independence. The day had come when all things seemed to work together to force me of necessity to contemplate this step." And in short, as we all know, it was taken-with what effect the lovers of the histrionic art, both in this country as well as in America, recollect. Here is Mrs. Mowatt's description of her first appearance on a public stage, after sketching the "Star dressing-room," and the indignation she felt at the familiarity of the call-boy, who summoned her as usual by the name of her character, Pauline, you are called."-The play was the "Lady of Lyons" "At that moment Mr. Mowatt came to conduct me to the stage. Mrs. Vernon, who played my mother, was already seated at a small table in Madame Deschapelles' drawing-room. I took my place on a sofa opposite to her, holding in my hand a magnificent bouquet, Claude's supposed offering to Pauline. After a few whispered words of encouragement, Mr. Mowatt left me to witness the performance from the front of the house. Somebody spread my Pauline scarf on the chair beside me; somebody arranged the folds of my train symetrically; somebody's fingers gathered into their place a few stray curls. The stage-manager gave the order of Clear the stage, ladies and gentlemen,' and I heard sound the little bell for the rising of the curtain. Until that moment, I do not think a pulse in my frame had quickened its beating; but then I was seized with a stifling sensation as though I was choking. I could only gasp out, 'Not yet-I cannot!' "Of course there was general confusion. Managers, actors, prompter, all rushed on the stage. Everybody seemed prepared to witness a fainting fit or an attack of hysterics, or something equally ridiculous. I was arguing with myself against the absurdity of ungovernable emotion this humiliating exhibition-and making a desperate endeavour to regain my self-possession, when Mr. Skerrett (the low comedian) thrust his comic face over somebody's shoulder. He looked at me with an expression of quizzical exultation, and exclaimed, 'Didn't I tell you so? Where's all the courage, eh?" "The words recalled the boast of the morning, or rather they recalled the recollections upon which that boast was founded. My composure returned as rapidly as it had departed. I laughed at my own weakness. "Are you getting better?' kindly inquired the stage-manager, "Let the curtain rise,' was the satisfactory an swer. Mr. Barry clapped his hands-a signal for the stage to be vacated-the crowd at once disapalone as before. The tinkling bell of warning rang, peared. Madame Deschapelles and Pauline sat and the curtain slowly ascended, disclosing first the footlights, then the ocean of heads beyond them in the pit, then the brilliant array of ladies in the boxes, tier after tier, and finally the thronged galleries. I found those footlights an invaluable aid to the necessary illusion: they formed a dazzling barrier, that separated the spectator from the ideal world in which the actor dwelt: their glare prevented the eye from being distracted by objects without the precincts of that luminous semicircle.', The gifted débutante passed through the trial, not merely creditably, but victoriously; in her own words, she had not mistaken the career which had been clearly pointed out as the one for which she was destined. Henceforth almost every appearance was a triumph on the stageshe literally trod on flowers. No character, she tells us, ever excited her more intensely than that of Juliet; and never shall we forget her delineation of it, or her utterance of the soliloquy before she drinks the potion! Soon after the successful appearance of her second drama, Armand," Mrs. Mowatt entered into an engagement with an English provincial manager, and made her curtesey to a Manchester audi ence, in the same character as that she had imat the theatre at New York. We have not space personated on the first night of her appearance to follow her successful career; everywhere her many accomplishments, graceful manners, and engaging beauty, gave added charms to the young author and actress; friends flocked around her; and it is pleasant to read in this American book, names familiar to us as "household words," embalmed, as it were, in grateful memories, and under circumstances that a true woman's heart never forgets. She was a stranger, and they took her in-in sorrow, and they comforted her; for while here her husband became a confirmed invalid; and owing to this and other misfortunes, they were more than ever dependent upon her personal exertions. Speaking of Mrs. Howitt, she observes "Her personal acquaintance with members of the dramatic profession had awakened an interest in welfare does not Mary Howitt take a ready interest? the stage. But in what subject affecting human of her philanthropic mind strike a vein of gold?" out of what unpretending ore, would not the alchemy Another friendship," she adds, "highly prized, and warmly responded to, and leaned upon with a loving confidence in its lasting strength, was that of a friend of the Howitts-Camilla Crosland (né Camilla Toulmin)." A name so long and intimately connected with these pages, that it seems as if our readers, in common with ourself, must feel pleasure in seeing it wreathed with grateful and deserved panegyric. Across the salt waves of the Atlantic her memory floats the life-like water-lilies of Valentine Bartholomew; and the character of Parthenia, in Mrs. Lovell's translation of "Ingomar," is, she tells us, one of her favourite papers. Georgina the ballet-girl, their only child, embodiments. "There is an innate delicacy, an unconscious goodness, a depth of feeling, a high toned sense of right pervading the poet's creation of Parthenia, which I found irresistibly attractive. Perhaps, too, I liked the play on account of its thorough exemplification of woman's mysterious influence over the sterner sex. 66 Somebody has laughingly called Ingomar a covert woman's rights' drama. I fancy few men would object to the very obvious right of woman to Parthenia-ize without seriously trenching upon their sphere of action." In Dublin, as in London, Mrs. Mowatt met with an enthusiastic reception; some of her reminiscences of the audible criticisms to which an Irish audience subjects the members of the histrionic art are very amusing Before by her energetic exertions, supplied the whole wants of the family. And what were these exertions? The mind of the most imaginative reader could hardly picture what I know to be a reality. Georgina's parents kept no servant; she discharged the entire duties of the household-cooking, washing, sewing, everything. She must be at rehearsal every morning at ten o'clock, and she had two miles and a-half to walk to the theatre. that hour she had the morning meal of her parents to prepare, her marketing to accomplish, her household arrangements for the day to make: if early in the week, her washing; if in the middle of the week, her ironing; if at the close, her sewing-for she made all her own and her mother's dresses. At what hour in the morning must she have risen? Her ten o'clock rehearsal lasted from two to four hours-more frequently the latter. But watch her in the theatre, and you never found her hands idle. When she was not on the stage, you were sure to discover her in some quiet corner, knitting lace, "We were performing Planché's comedietta of cutting grate-aprons out of tissue-paper, making 'Faint Heart; the actor who personated the old artificial flowers, or embroidery articles of fancymarquis had rather an indistinct voice, caused, I work, by the sale of which she added to her narrow think, by loss of teeth. The galleries cried out to means. From rehearsal she hastened home to prehim, 'Spake a little louder, will ye?' His efforts pare the mid-day meal of her parents, and attend to render his voice audible were not sufficiently suc- to her mother's wants. After dinner she received a cessful to please them, and they continued to shout class of children, to whom she taught dancing for a at intervals, Spake up! spake up, old greybeard!' trifling sum. If she had half an hour to spare, she The actor became so much confused, that he could assisted her father in copying law-papers. Then scarcely speak at all. In an under-tone I entreated tea must be prepared, and her mother arranged him to go on without noticing the interruptions: he comfortably for the night. Her long walk to the endeavoured to do so, but signally failed. Some theatre must be accomplished at least half an hour body then sang out, Take a little wather! And before the curtain rose-barely time to make her another voice cried, Blow your nose, will ye? and toilet. If she was belated by her home avocations, let's hear ye'r voice.' Each of these recommenda- she was compelled to run the whole distance. I tions was followed by a peal of merriment. The have known this to occur. Not to have been ready persecuted marquis trembled visibly, and the big for the stage would have subjected her to a forfeit. drops of moisture began to roll from his brows. Between the acts, or when she was not on the stage, Still he uttered every word of his part correctly, then she sat again, in the snug corner of the 'greenthough his voice continued thick and husky. All room,' dressed as a fairy, or a maid of honour, or a at once an individual, who fancied himself particu- peasant, or a page, with a bit of work in her hands, larly penetrating, called out, Ah, its drunk he is! only laying down the needle, which her fingers ache's drunk! he's drunk!' was echoed on every side, tually made fly, when she was summoned by the and the accusation was followed by groans and call-boy, or required to change her costume by the necessities of the play. Sometimes she was at liberty at ten o'clock, but oftener not until halfpast eleven; and then there was the long walk home before her. Her mother generally awoke at the hour Georgina was expected, and a fresh round of filial duties were to be performed. Had not the wearied limbs which that poor ballet-girl laid upon her couch earned their sweet repose? Are there many whose refreshment is so deserved, whose rising up and lying down are rounded by a circle so holy?" hisses." One more quotation, and we must close our notice of this really interesting volume. Mrs. Mowatt is speaking of the position of balletgirls, and the evil estimation in which they are held even by the members of the profession to which they are supplementary. "I have known," she says, amongst this despised class, many an instance of girls endowed with the highest virtues, leading lives of unimpeachable purity, industry, devotion to their kin, and fulfilling the hardest duties of life with a species of stoical heroism." The painful circumstances which interrupted Mrs. Mowatt's London engagement-the death of her husband-and her return to America, are too familiar to our readers to reAnd then she gives the following brief history quire more particular notice. Once more on in support of this position : "She had been educated as a dancer from infancy; she had been upon the stage all her life; had literally grown up behind the scenes of a theatre. Her parents were respectable, though it is difficult to define their position in the social scale. At the time I knew her, her mother was paralyzed and bedridden. The father was enfeebled by age, and could only earn a pittance by copying law the American stage, her matured genius eviher exertions broke down under ill-health, and denced itself more powerfully than ever; but we take leave of Anna Cora Mowatt at Ravenswood (her father's house), surrounded by kind relations and sympathizing friends, but with good hopes that her health will shortly be recovered-then, with the object accomplished which first summoned her to bear the name of actress, Mrs. Mowatt purposes to take her fare- | thoress tells us in her brief preface, are too well of the stage, as calmly and deliberately as poetical to be described in prose." Some of the she entered upon it. lyrics are extremely sweet, in proof of which, we quote one entitled the The volume closes, with quite a learned, and most interesting essay on the "Drama," which we regret, for our readers' sake, we cannot make space to transcribe. THE PRINCE AND THE PEOPLE: a Poem in Two Cantos. By Mrs. Yorick Smythies, author of "Cousin Geoffrey," &c.-(Skeffington.)-The poetry of politics or polemics is so little to our taste, that we are not very sure whether we have any belief in its existence. With this admission on our parts, we are justified in making our notice of what we decidedly consider a fluent and clever panegyric as brief as may be. From this "poem" we have no evidences to draw that would stamp Mrs. Smythies as a poetess. We must look to antecedents, and then, by turning over our records to the year 1835, we come upon her "Bride of Sienna," written when she was very young, but giving promises that have since been amply fulfilled. That exquisite poem, the inspiration of which was drawn from the lamp of genius which illumines the shrine of Dante, is full of grace and pathos; and the subject-long after taken up by Mr. James Grant in his "Madonna Pia"-is of itself so poetical, that we would gladly refer to the story for extracts, which we cannot afford space to quote from her present effusion. We can cheerfully accord our admiration of her poetical creed. The loyalty of the poem is as prominent as the rhythm is graceful and flowing. The passage on the Crystal Palace is graphic and musical; and if the gift of prophecy is an attribute of the poetic faculty, we may hope, with the fair author, that, ere very long Victory, hand in hand with Mercy seen," shall bear "Russia's conquer'd flag to England's Queen." CYCLOPEDIA OF SACRED QUOTATIONS. Edited by H. G. Adams.-(Groombridge and Sons, 5, Paternoster Row.)-We have received the seventh and eighth parts of this work, which grows more interesting as it proceeds, and its utility developes itself. The author exhibits great industry and research, and no less grave judgment than poetic taste in the passages selected to illustrate the various headings. As a work of reference it will supply a long existing want. THE SWEET SOUTH.-(Hope & Co., Marlborough-street.)-Under this title Mrs. Elde Darby has published a little volume of poems, the chief of which conveys a faithful portraiture of "Algiers," the scenes in which, the fair an AMUSEMENTS EASTER MONDAY brought with it the usual accession to our metropolitan dramatic representations, in addition to more than one new piece, which, coming out about the period of our going to press last month, we were not able to mention. First of these, and a real acquisition 66 ROSE AND THE HEART." And from its crimson cell A fragrant, glowing leaf bestows As lavish of its sweets! Pure as that child of Nature fair, Full many a leaf for friendship there, MODERN HOUSEWIFE'S RECEIPT-Book. By Mrs. Pullan. (Aird and Hutton, 340, Strand.)-Under this unpretending title, Mrs. Pullan has produced a serviceable little volume, and supplied a need which a large proportion of young housewives have often felt, of a practical and inexpensive cookery-book. Many of our popular periodicals have attempted to supply this requisition; but receipts scattered through separate numbers of a work, are always a source of provokement rather than of utility. An economist of time (as all good housewives should be) does not like to fritter away her moments in seeking the proper way to make one; and those to whom M. Soyer's works are sealed books, and even Miss Acton's and Mrs. Rundell's volumes unknown, will be glad to avail themselves of the help to be derived from this little manual, the receipts in which combine niceness with economy. THE TEMPERANCE OFFERING. Edited by J. Silk Buckingham, Esq. (W. Tweedie, 337, Strand.)-Literature appears in these days to be the right-hand of every work aiming at social improvement. This little volume of tales, essays, and poetry are the joint contributions of several writers, amongst whom the names of Mrs. S. C. Hall, Mrs. Clara Balfour, and Mrs. Sigourney are conspicuous. With such talented assistance, "The Temperance Offering” is what it should be-an earnest advocate of the cause on behalf of the principles of which it is written. Many of the papers are as remarkable for their clear logic as their earnestness-virtues which do not always go together. Amongst the poetry we noticed "The Banner of Temperance," by Mr. Geary, which has been set to music by Perry. OF THE MONTH. to the stage, was a drama at the ADELPHI, entitled "Two Loves and a Life," and from the pens of Messrs. Tom Taylor and Charles Read. Striking situations, boldly drawn characters, perpetual movement, and a faultlessly constructed plot, are the elements of popularity; unfortunately, anything to do with him, that he will stand no humbug! The dashing, spirited manner in which Mr. C. Kean struck off his part is one of the best things we have seen him do. Most ably and prettily was he supported by Carlotta Leclerq, as Marguerite; this young lady is advancing steadily in art and merit, and displayed a power and pathos that were seldom marred by her delicacy of physique. The scenery was exquisite, nor can anything exceed the surpassing beauty of the final scene, including the startling effects of Marguerite's apotheosis and aerial ascent to heaven. and the combination of these in this exquisite | lignity in every act, and convincing all who have, drama rendered it more than customarily successful. It has been played every night, and will continue to draw for a long time; on Easter Monday it was followed by a new entertainment, "The Overland Journey to Constantinople," which amply satisfied a crowded audience; in addition to which, during the month, a small piece d'occasion, "The Moustache Movement," has sent many a spectator laughing to his bed. If Madame Celeste's activity at the Adelphi demand public appreciation in the form of visitors, no less does Mr. Buckstone's management of affairs at the HAYMARKET deserve success, although the high prices of admission at this theatre are in antagonism to the cheap rate of amusements of the day. The Easter piece, entitled "Mr. Buckstone's Voyage Round the Globe (in Leicester Square)" is a pendant to his "Ascent of Mount Parnassus," of last season, and is likely to prove as favourable to the treasury. It is a very amusing affair, full of puns and quibbles in allusion to passing events -of clever parodies to popular tunes-of dazzling tableaux and striking scenes-and seemed highly satisfactory to the "children of all ages, Since our last report the PRINCESS's theatre has rejoiced in several successful novelties novelties, be it avowed, derived from French sources. Of these, a new drama, "Married Unmarried," by Morris Barnett, has attained permanent popularity as an interesting and effective, if not very highly-toned play. Our clever and caustic contemporary," Punch," has condescended to tax it with immoral tendencies, by so doing perhaps adding to the number of spectators who flock to admire the excellent acting of Mr. Ryder and Miss Heath. Away with Melancholy," and "A Storm in a Teacup, are two lively bits of fun that merrily conclude a night's pastime; but the Easter piece deserves more notice. It is also from the French "Faust and Margaret ”—A magical drama in three acts, and completely successful. It is a new version of the old story, too familiar to require any repetition of the incidents-the chief novelty and attraction being the portraiture of Mephistophiles by Mr. Charles Kean, which is so perfectly original and so cleverly achieved as to add most materially to his fame. No stern, severe, fiendish influence-such as an ordinary artist might have made of the subtle Demonhas the Tempter become in our manager's hands; but a flippant, cunning, merry fiendin all his fun intent upon "business"-and though always civil and gentlemanly in his demonry, still showing the foot of diabolical ma The LYCEUM is again open, with a new twoact comedietta, called "Give a Dog a bad Name : " it is reported to be attractive. DRURY is pro tem. an asylum for an Italian Company, who very creditably delight all lovers of good music by giving "Norma," in a style that we have seen unsurpassed at Her Majesty's theatre. Madame Caradori's Diva is a thing to see and to hear with pleasure; and though the Pollio is unable to second her affectively, the Adalgisa of Mdle. Sedlazek is highly gratifying, THE CABINET THEATRE, KING'S CROSS. دو Having been favoured with a card of admis sion to this fairy arena for dramatic repre sentations, performed by amateurs, we attended on the evening of the 13th April, prepared to be pleased with a sort of amusement into which, in our young-soldier days, we had entered with no frigid zeal. The performance of amateurs has perhaps justly been styled "more stagy than the stage; " and with every wish to eulogize, we cannot conscientiously compliment the Company of Cabineteers by saying they "surpassed any we had ever seen; " but we can tell them that they evinced a very tolerable share of merit, and that a few more rehearsals might have effectively improved them, rendering the stentorian whispers of a too zealous prompter unneccessary. The performances were "The Hunchback," and the " Honeymoon. In the former, Miss Clara Grosvenor, late of Drury Lane, proved the superior quality of the stage over the stagy. She is extremely lovely, and displayed no inconsiderable talent. Of the others we cheerfully ascribe the palm of merit to the gentlemen who enacted Sir Thomas Clifford and Master Walter; the latter would do well to modulate his voice more naturally. Stage elocution should never be confounded with operatic recitative; and occasionally his declamation was monotonously rythmed. Modus was altogether a gigantic blunder; and we would kindly hint the necessity of conferring on the unfortunate letter H its full powers in certain legitimate positions, and of sparing them when their lawful use was not desirable. The affair was altogether creditable. C. C. |