Life — November 14, 1895 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

A SUGGESTION TO STREET CAR COMPANIES FOR FORCING PASSENGERS TO PAY MORE PROMPT ATTENTION TO THE GENIAL: UP, PLEASE!" “Move praise. Never before has ‘“ Macbeth” been made so magnificent and picturesque. And there could not be made a stronger argument against the play itself. With every accessory perfect, it remains the dreariest and most depress- ing of tragedies. With all its beauty of language, its wonder- ful analysis of the workings of the human mind, its absorbing strength of situation, it is too melancholy for modern nerves. For the student's closet, yes—for the public stage, no. All orators and actors know the value of the vocal pause in producing emphasis. Lady Macbeth was doubtless of tremendous will and force, but we think that Miss Terry over-portrays these qualities by her over-emphasis. In other words, she goes to the opposite extreme from Mr. Irving in her distinct and too strongly divided enunciation. We are ready and glad to hang upon her speech, but even that happiness may be too long prolonged for the purposes of art. Her interpretation follows the conventional lines a little more closely than was to be expected from an artist of her originality. Mr. Irving's support is fully competent, but not remark- able. Some great reputations have had their origins in the subordinate parts of “ Macbeth,” but in his company there seems to be little material of future promise. Sir Arthur Sullivan's incidental music is appropriate and pleasing. It is accessory to the play without being obtrusive. No student of Shakespeare can afford to miss this magnificent production of * Macbeth.” It is not likely ever to be so adequately presented again, Metcalfe, HE HIRED MAN: I'll bet Jack ‘Il make his mark on the football team this year. JACK’s FATHER: Why? THE HIRED MAN: I give him my pair of brass-knuckles when he went away. comicbooks.com