sel, W. T. Richards, H. G. Hime, T. Roberts,
J. H. Mole, S. J. Ferris, J. D. Harding, Thos.
Faed, J. E. Buckley, J. A. Houston, H. Jut
sum, J. Marony, Eastman Johnson, and soores
more whom we cannot here enumerate.
In the Art Gallery there is a number of fine
pieces of sculpture and of moulding in clay.
Among the statuary is an infant “Bacchus,”
by Trechell, which is the property of Joseph
Harrison, Jr., Esq., and an exquisite Agnus
Dei, by Steinhnuser, which was presented to
the Fair by Miss S. Stevens, of Princeton,
N. J.
Vanderlyn’s “Ariadne,” which has become
the property of Mr. Harrison, is made the
subject of a special exhibition at the Fair.
To praise this exquisite gem to those who have
seen it, is like painting the lily and gilding
refined gold. Mr. Harrison has also thrown
open his splendid picture gallery in his man
sion, Eighteenth street, below Walnut, for the
benefit of the Fair fund.
RECOLLECTIONS OE THE METROPOLITAN
PAIR.
BY A WOUNDED SOLDIEB.
The Dramatic Committee, like the Constitu
tution of the United States, was destined to a
more important work than its original framers
imagined. It was constituted to draw into
the insatiate maw of the Fair all of those
things represented by the term “ Public
Amusements.” Private theatricals were at
first deemed rather impossible, in so immense
a society as that of New York, made up, too,
of such different elements. Mr. Wallack, as
the veteran of the drama, was first approach
ed, and readily responded with “ Rosedale,”
which brought the Committee in $904, and the
check for the same was given at a private sup
per the same evening. The other theatres,
such as Mrs. John Wood’s and others, re
sponded most generously. Mrs. General Fre
mont (one of the members of the Committee,
and whose ability is immeasureable) got up an
opera of “ Cinderella ”at Niblo’s. The troupe
was composed of her own children and those
of her friends, with a little girl to play Cinde
rella whose right to beauty and genius is he
reditary. It was a perfect performance, and
Mrs. Fremont gave the Committee no care in
the matter except that of receiving a check
for the neat sum of $3,000.
But it was as the patron of six private per
formances that the committee won its undying
laurels. The laurel has other qualities than
that of forming wreaths. It is said to be a
poison, deadly and certain. Whether the
wrinkled brows of the oommittee suffered from
this quality of the “ plant of immortality ” I
know not, perhaps an occasional headache must
always be the price of fame. Mr. Jerome was
just then beginning his beautiful theatre, on
Twenty-sixth street. He offered it to the ladies
Oite D_a.iliTz- e.
of the committee, for the month of March, if
they chose to get up some private plays. It
was, of course, accepted. lam told the first
rehearsals in a theatre not yet half-finished
were dreary and dusty. Be that as it may,
Mr. Jerome has but to rub his ring, and fres
coes start out of the wall. The rehearsals and
the painters—Art and the Drama—flourished
together. The committee were so fortunate as
to have Mr. Lester Wallack among their num
ber, and he had the great kindness to take out
of his busy life, time enough to attend all the
rehearsals, and to instruct a party of amateurs
in the exceedingly difficult art of dramatif
representation.
The stage is such an artificial atmosphere,
the perspective is so different from that of
every-day life, that an expert can alone tell
how to walk it, to speak on it, and above all
to leave it. “ You leave your character be
hind you,” more certainly when you make
your exit as an actor, “ R. H. E.” than in any
other position of life, see that you leave it
gracefully. The Committee committed many
mistakes, but it made the golden maxim, one
that should be written on every private theatre,
it was:
‘ The Stage Manager should be Absolute."
No throwing up of parts without his will; no
denying his authority; no acting on “one’s
own hook.” So it came about that these plays
which, thanks to Mr. Wallack’s skill, patience,
knowledge, and authority, were carefully re
hearsed and diligently criticised, came to be
played with a propriety and finish which as
tonished every one.
It was the great good fortune of the Com
mittee to have so well-bred a troupe of ladies
and gentlemen that there were but few of
those quarrels which seem to form the inside
element of almost every private dramatic corps.
Two or three served “to point a moral and
adorn a tale,” and at one crisis it was cur
rently reported that the Dramatic Committee
met, and voted Life a Failure, but an excel
lent lunch, prepared by their hostess, restored
them to hope and renewed exertion.
But tho stories which wore told of them,
Who shall number tho waves of tho soa t
Let him alone who dares such an arithmeti
cal profanity attempt to number the stories
which were told of this Committee! At first
they attempted to deny some of them, but
gave it up in despair, and determined to “ Live
it Down.” Obliged to shut the doors of their
committee room and of the theatre to the out
side world, they were obliged, like all great
bodies who “sit in secret,” to be condemned
openly ; but the time came when the too-much
injured public acknowledged that their work
was good, and their cash account is now
among the things which are to be respected.
After numerous discouragements, the first
performance came off on the 6th of April. It
was the play of “ Circumstances alter Cases,”
translated from the French by Mr. W. J. Hop
pin. It may not be improper to say that one
of the “Queens of Society” played the pretty
and capricious “ Madame D’Long” in her own
winning and elegant manner. That the part
of “ Mathilde” fell into the hands of a young
lady, who won not only laurels, but roses,
praises and smiles. That Mr. W. H. L. Gra
ham rendered the difficult part of “De Sol,”
lawyer and favored lover, in a very neat and
finished manner. The moral of the piece was
considered perfect by the legal lights, as it'
gave the pretty woman to the lawyer. How
the rest of mankind view this is a matter for
future meditation.
The great prima donna of society, after this
play, threw herself into the most passionate
scene of “ Linda,” with all the lyric and dra
matic talent for which she is so famous. She
was ably supported by Madame D’Angri and
Mr. Barry and Signor Mougiardine, so that
the operatic performance was surpassingly
good. The farce of the “Buzzards ” finished
this most successful evening.
The Dramatic Committee breathed freer and
deeper. The five-dollar ticket buyers consi
dered themselves “saved.” The theatre was
just as beautiful as it could be, the women
were more so, and the toilettes—words fail
here. Virfolet! magicienne that you are, from
the “ fair and sunny land of France,” how can
you make such pretty dresses ? To be sure,
the men call you “ fearful ” when they look
at your bills, but one must suffer that thou
sands may enjoy!
The second evening opened with “ the La
dies’ Battle,” famous for the excellent render
ing of “De Grignon” by Mr. A. Rodney Mao
donough, followed by a scena from “ Ilernani.”
This piece was much admired, and very care
fully and well played in all its parts.
The third evening was filled by the “ Follies
of a Night” and the roaring farce of “ A Dead
Shot.”
“ The “ Follies of a Night,” is the most
charming of all plays for private representa
tions. Its costly costumes, its dramatic situ
ations, its continuous interests make it almost
play itself; so this evening may, from these
accidents, be considered (except the last,) the
most successful night of the season. Mr. Ed
ward Henry Anderson, who played the “Duo
de Chartres” was very much the “Grand Seig
neur” in dress, appearance and acting. This
gentleman has historical, as well as histrionic
right to talent, as he is the grand-son of the
author of the Libretto of “Don Giovani,”
Lorenzo da Ponte. Mr. Charles Fearing
played “ Pierre Paillot” admirably, showing
much humorous talent. The “ Duchesse” and
her “ Lady in Waiting,” were most charm
ingly dressed and played like perfect ladies,
than which I know no higher praise. Mr.
Emmet, played “ Dr. Druggendraft”very well.
In the “ Dead Shot,” Mr. W. P. Talboys