Life — January 5, 1888 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| thing to confess, but I cannot help it. When- ever I go toseea nice old tragedy, rich with the flavor of age, such abominably modern thoughts force themselves upon me, that, try as I will, I cannot lose myself in the play. The other night, at the Academy of Music, I was a fraction of the delighted audience that welcomed Edwin Booth and Lawrence Bar- rett to the city, and applauded their magnificent work in “ Julius Cesar.” Anything more impressive than this production I have never seen—and yet I could not imagine myself a Roman, or thoroughly sympathize with the gentlemen who wore tunics and legs, and were supposed to be a Roman mob. People who speak in blank verse never seem living creatures to me. I can admire the beauty of the language, and the force of the delivery, but it is all such evident acting that I never can forget the fact, though I suppose I ought to be able to do so. When I hear Calphurnia talking about “ drizzled blood upon the capitol,” the noise of battle “hurtling” in the air, and saying it all in mah" anh such lovely metre, I cannot help wondering whether she knew how to cook Brutus a beefsteak, or, if she had any idea how long it took to boil eggs. Now, Brutus must have thought about his meals—I don’t care how heroic a man is, he must dine—but I defy anybody to imag- ine Mr. and Mrs. Brutus discussing household matters. I para- phrased mentally, the other night, in order that my horribly modern mind might be satisfied. Here is the result of a fragment of this work: SHAKESPEARE, Por. : Brutus, my lord! Bru. : Portia, what mean you ? where- fore rise you now ? It is not for your health thus to | PARAPHRASE, Por.: Hallo, Brutus! Bru. : Portia, what the deuce do you mean by getting up so disgust- You know quite full success at the Academy of Music. commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. : Nor for yours neither. ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed ; and yester- night at supper, You suddenly arose and walked | about, Musing and sighing, with your | arms across, And when I asked you what the matter was You stared upon me with un- gentle looks. I urged you further; then you scratched your head. You've ingly early. well you've had pneumonia, and yet you come out in this beastly weather. : Brutus, you're another, You jumped ‘up suddenly without warning me. Last night at din- ner, you got up from the table and paced up and down the room, sighing and crossing your arms. When I asked you what this behavior meant, you put your glass in your eye and stared me out of countenance. I begged for the favor of an explanation; then you rubbed your nose. When they came to the “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears,” I felt quite at home, however, as I used to recite it beauti- y. There is no doubt, however, that “ Julius Casar" will be a great Booth and Barrett in harmony were simply magnificent, and the supers were the best drilled men I have ever seen. theatrical season. The production is undoubtedly the event of the Alan Date, ahs eho cl <n Ft aim mm . uy te guar .. eee aiaoenamns ———— comicbooks.com