Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 25, 1877, Page 12

. 12 Y CHICAGO ‘IikiBUNE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY .23, 1877—SIXTEEN PAGE ] = ' lotte Thompson at Louisville; Frank Mayo at EL GIOUS. 7 a8 1o gire man the e, s AMUSEMENTS. Miss Julia Rive’s Matinees at Hershey Hall. The Tabernacle Concert and Beethoven Reunion-— Soldene Is Com- ing. Second Philharmonic Con- cert---A Wagner Fes- tival at New York. - @ossip in Chicago Musical Circles— ¥ The New “La Peri- chole.” Albani’s Grand Success---Operatic Notes in Europe and America. Renewal of the Dull Season at the Chicago Theatres. Criticisms of the London Press on Mr. Irving’s “Richard.” Greon-Room Notes Gathered from Home and Foreign Papers, MUSIC. AT HOME. THE RIVE RECITALS. 1n some respects the piano matinees of Miss Julia Rive, given Thursday and Saturday after- noons in the Hershey Music Hall, mark an epoch in the musical history of this city, for there the public were able ,to learn for the first time the real qualities of the finest pianist America bhas yet produced. Of her concert-playing we have frequently had occasion to speak, and always with the Dizhest praise. - Indeed, if we mistake not, it was TRE TRIBUNE, of all American papers, whicn first recognized and boldly proclaimed Miss Rive’s true rank, that, namely, of being the first of American artists. But in spite of all shic has done here before in the line of brill- jaot playing, in which her immense and irre- proachable fechnigue i3 of itself sufficient to place her in the highest rank, there are always some who come in with their “ifs” and “buts.” “Oh, yes,™ they say, “this is all very well. It is brilliant, to be sure. But can she play classi- cal music! Can sheinterpret?” This question bas now been pefore the house for nearly two years, and although aunswered in private sev- cral times to the satisfaction of some of the Uest judges, the public has had no opportunity to form an opinion unti nOW, when Miss Rive has “risen to explain.” Tne TRiRCNE fs gratified to find its former opinions so fully justificd,and its pronb- cdes fulfilled far beyond their strict letter, znd it now has pleasure in declaring that in these recitals Miss Rive has shown herself to be a virtuoso pianist of the highest merit, and a great artist. It is truc that the programmes of these two matinces have not covered the widest range of piano music, but content themeelves with Becthoven, Chopin, and Liszt. But if shecan deal adequately with these great writers, a_fortior, she can cope with all the emaller lights. Of Beethoven she has given two examples, the always lovely concerto in C_minor, and the sonate in E flat, op. 27 The concerto was one of the most enjoyable pleces of work cver offered to our musical public. The ideas initare fresh and romantic, and from begin- ning toend 1t moves on like a picture from airy-land. Here the artiste was at Lome, and {rom the first note to the last played deligit- fuliv. So admirable were all her readings that we hardly knew which to prefer, the allegro, the largo, or the rondo. In the allegro’ she cave Reinecke's elegant cadenza, which althonsh scemingly easy contains really very formidable difficultics, Which of course were eurmounted _superbly. Probably as an inter- preter of Chopin )Ess Rive disappointed the Jarger part of her bearers, for from the well- ¥nown character of her concert—playiue the in- {erence was drawn that she would lack the true “Chopin morbide=za,” as some ome calls it. -But euch a notion if entertained must now have been thoromghly ex- ploded. Her two programmes brought five pieces h{\(}hopin: the passionate Ballade in G aminor, the Rondoin E fist, Funeral March, Im- employed, there should be an immense at- tendance” The proxramme will be as follows: * Arise and Shine panTI A N e vy 2. Quartette. 2rs. 0. L K5 Uron L i by dir W L Tomi 4. 50l0,-eens 5. **See, the conquering Hero conies "—from i *“.Iudas Maccabeus ..., —— thic oratorto of udas Maccabeus VAT IF ‘a. ** All power {s given unto me "....Geo.F. Root .4 6. ** All hall the power of Jesus' name ™. % gl e IR SoRaw: Hoiden, 1708 uanir and congregation. &¢It 1s well with my soul ™. The balf was never Lol the Lord "—1, s, 10. "EveninzSnngof Pra ‘vcu o uarier 11, Ladtes' chioras.... Conducted by 7. L. Tom 12. **There's & beautiful land on igh *. bbins. Conducte by 0. 13 g * THE BEETHOVEN REUNION. The Beethoven Society held its fifth rewnion on Friday cvening last at the Hershey Music Hall, with its customary success. The instru- mental numbers were the Beethoven Sonata in A major (Messrs. Wolfsohn and Eichhelm); the Raff tro in L (Messrs. Wolfsohn, Lewls, and Eichheim); and a Spohr Barcarole (Mr. Lewis.). ‘Mrs. Thurston, Mrs. Balfour, and r. Bergstein had the vocal numbers, aud a new English ten- Mr., Devon, made nis debut quitc success- n the - Prayer” from Mercadunte’s “Mis- r. Stebbins. @. ** Though He siay me yet will I trust Him i K 8. ** Nearer my God Hallelajak Chorus TUE SECOND PHILIARMONIC CONCLRT. 11 be pleasant intelligence to all lovers of £ood music in the city that the recent obstacles piaced in the way of Mr. Licsegang’s symphony concerts by some musicians have been o far re- moved that the sccond concert of the new Phil- ‘harmonic Society will take place March 15, upon which occasion the orchestra will play Schu- maon’s D minor_symphony. The overture to Beethoven’s *“Egmont,” and an entr’ acte of “Lohengrin.” At this concert, also, Mme. Eberlein, recently of Munich, will make her debut, and the violinist, Dr. 'J. Jordan, from Boston. We sincurely hope that those having the best interests of music at heart will give Mr. Licsezang, a cordial and gencrous support in the way of patronage, and encouraze him in the work he has commenced so ausbiciousty. His first concert was certainly attended with a e of success which removes any susvicion of experiment from his schemein a musical sense. What he needs now is patronage and financial support. A WAGNER FESTIVAL. ‘The Wagner operatic festival, previously an- nounced to take place at the Academy of Music in New York, will bezin on the 12th of March. 1t will contivue two weeks, performances taking place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,evenings and Saturday matinces. The operas sclected for the season are * Tannhauser,” “Lohengrin,” “‘Die Walkure,” and *The Fiying Dutclunan.” The last named will probably be the opening opera, with Mme. Pappenheim as Senta, Mr. Blum as The Dutchman, Mr. Sullivan as Daland, Mr. Fritsch as Erik, and Miss Cooney as Vary. The orchestra will be 2 strong one, some sixty pieces in number, while the chorus will be one of the largest ever scen in New York. The conductor of the festival isthe well-known Adolph Neueadorf and the mana- ! ‘ryer. It will intcrest mu- icago t0 learn that there is a prob- .y Mr. Fryer, who is no stranger here, may bring his combination to the city, as a letter he writes us closes with the declaration: ¢ is very probable if the representations are very successful that I shall go West. Of course if I do 1 sball take in Chicago.” LOCAL MISCELLANY. Prof. H. 8. Perkins, of this city, is announced to preside over a Convention of the Ashtabula County Musical Association at Austinburg, 0., commencing March 6. Balatks is hard at work in St. Louis, not only with his orcbestra and society, but also witi his quintette club,.which gave its third chamber concert last week with success. 1t is now officially announced that the second concert of the Becthoven Socicty will take place March 22, upon which oceasion Verdi's ** 3an- zoni Requiem * will be produccd. Miss Julia Rive’s dates for® her forthcomin J:4 concert tour are as follows: Ripon, Wis., %th; Milwaukee, 25th; Keokuk, March 2-3; Bur- lington, 5th; Boone, 7th; DesMoines, 9th; and St. Louis, 12¢h, 13th, 14th. The second rehearsal of the mew Trimity Church Choral Socicty takes place next Thurs- day evening. About sisty were present at the first rehearsal, and those desiring admission should make application at once. Maurice Strakosch, resting awhile from the opera-ousc projects, has sgain turned im- presario. During his recent visit to this ity he went up to Madison and compieted negotiz- tious with Ole Bule for a farewell (positivety farewell) season of concerts which are to com- wence in New York shortiy. The managers of the Apollo Clubare negotiat- ing with some of the best musical taient in this country, whose names we cannot yet give, for a grand “masical festival in June, which will vrompti in C sharp, and the Scherzo in B flat auinor, which represent pretty thoroushly the Gifferent sides ot the Chopin nature. In read- inz Chopin she has two immense advantages to Lezin with, namely, her zrcat technique und Liszt's -instractions. But these wozld net carry her through so trium- yhantly were it not for her owh essentially artis- e nature. Taking all these thines together, hier immense reading of the Balizde, the refine ment and poetry of ber playing in the Rondo, the unusually finpressive effect of the Faneral March, and the dramatic sienificance of the Scherzo in B fiat (which as ofteq plaved is mere- 1y insipid), all these explain themselves when we consider the performances to be those of a Freat artist. If this be not granted, we cannot ¢xplsin them, but dismiss them at once 1o the ibeological limbo of miracles. Of her playing in the Liszt concerto we will not speals, ard simply for the reason that to those who were there it carried its own demonstration with it a5 being omc of the most astonishing combinations of remarkable virtuosity and dramstie interpretation” ever heard by those present, while to those who were 60 unfortunate as to miss it, what we <hould write would pas< merely as rhapsody. Mr. H. Clarcoce Eddy also must not be for- rotten, his able assistance at tlic orzan adding cery frm‘.lr to the success of the concerts, while fn the Guilmant Morceau de Concert he uffered us one of the greatest afsplays of virtu- 0z organ-plaving ever heard in this city. Mrs. Stacey also added zreatly to the plessure of these recitals with her admirablesinging, which in method, development of voice, and dramatic ability. shows such decided_improvement over hercilorts of last year. Her sclections were nade with exquisite taste, and were sunz de- lightfully. After twosuch concerts 2s these it 153 matier for sencral_congyatulation that Miss Rive is about Lo make Chicago her home. TIT SOLDENE SEASON. Tke week of opera bonffe at Haverly’s by the Oats Troupe has closed, but this week at the same place the Soldene Troupe takes up the strain again. The company is a new one, and much stronzer than that of last scason, espe- I cclipse anything ever given in this city. The arrangements will be” made upon a colossal scale that will rival even Cincinnati’s famous festivals. The next concert of the Apollo Club will be given by the gentlemen alone, and, as an earnest of what it will be, it may be stated that the Club Lias adopted a rule requiring every mem- ber to attend every regular rehearsal and evers extra rehearsal but oue that Mr. Tomlins shafl demand. An absence from two rebearsals wilt cxclude the absentes from the concerr. This means business. The Reiigio-Philosophical Journal of March3 contains a very long essay, from the spiritual- Istic point of view, treating of Miss Ellen Mc- Allister, daughter of the Hon. W. K. McAllis- ter, of this city, as i musical improvisatrice un- der psychical influcnces. Whatever may be the views of the reader. the artiele will possess con- siderable interest, aud develops many curious {:fimn the musical expericnces of this young y. The programme for the Turner Hall concert this afternoon will beas follows: March, by ZickoI; * Concert Overture,” by Graners finale from “11 Giuramento,” by Mercadante; pot- nour “Bouquet of Melodics,” by E. Bach; 1+ Victoria Waltz," by Bilse; violin solo, by De Beriot, performed by William Fenl; overture to + Ezmont,” by Beethoven; fantasie, * lutselio Polka,” by Stasny; and Arm-in-Arm Quad- rille,” by Weingarien. Tlie Germauia Mznuerchor gave one of its pleasaut concerts last evening at Brand’s Hall. Besides the choral uumbers, Mr. Sehmoll, the conductor, played the well-known A B C famne and Liszt’s’ transcription ‘of Schubert’s * 1,1 King™: Messrs. Schueider, Weber, Frieze, and Schmoll, the Weber quariet. for Flano, wlolin, viola, and *cello; and Mrs, Clara Huck, who so rarely of Iate appears In the concert-room, lent the assistance and charm of her lovely voice. _Mr. H. Ciarence Eddy, the orzanist, will avail himself of the new and elegunt organ in the Hershey Hall by giving an_hour's ongan recital every Saturday at 12 o'clock, the scries: to con- tinue until June. Hershey Hall will thus be a cially in singers, a very decided accession o the ruuks having been madein Mr, Knight Aston, an Engiish tenor, who comes liere with 1 good musical reputation. The repertoire is an at- tractive ove. The keason will open on Monday night with Herve's latest. work, ““Poulet and Poulette,” which has ncver been givea here bofore, grd which was ar- ranged by Herve Limself for Miss Soldene, who some time since studied opera bonfTe with this Trisky ¥renchinan, OnTuudnycvcu(ng. “ Cail- peric?: Wednesday evening, ¢ Madame slArchiduc ;. Thursday evening. * Trial by Jury® aud 'i Chilperie”: Friddy evening, The Graud Duchess,” for MissSoldenc’s benpe fie: Saterday evening, © Trial by Jury” gud ilperic. - The ~opera for the turdsy matinec 15 not yet announced. TEE TABERNACLE CONCERT. Tie Young Men's Christian Association have mpleted thelr arrangements for tne sacred concert at the Tabernacle on Tucsday cvening nest, and spread out quite an appetizing dis- piay of musical attractions. As will be seen by the programme below, a mixed chorus of about 400 voices, selected by Mr. Tomlins and AMr. Blackman, will smg several oumbers, among them four of the songs of the lamented P. P. Bliss, a ladies’ chorus will give two numbers, Mr. Stebbins and _chorus onc iumber, the choir of the Third Presbyterian Church two or three pleces, and Mrs. Clara D. Stacey, Mrs. Watrous, aud Mr. Bowen some + choice solos. The programme is very pleasing of its kind, and as the object of the concert 15 for the benefit of the Assocation in its out- door, practical work among the poor and un- delfelittul piace of resort for ladies and mu- sicans at a very convenfent hour, and they will be richly repaid with Mr. Eddy's clegant play- ing. 1lehas prepared over fifty programmos ‘without auy repetitious, all of whiich are eqnally as good as those of last yearat the First Con. gregational Church. M. Tissot, a French author, has just publish- ed aworkon German life, 'in_the cburse of which he has much to say of the Bayreuth Festi- val last summer. In one part of his narrative, hie says: nn! u‘zfl{d; Q.I?eom]:d me \;ilh' Slee eeated e front benches re gz.p’l:%x;s '.hel.\bbe)lfisz F covered with shawls and Schiosser. from Munich; 3. Hill, of Schweri; ), —: Eupezh baes, —and several celcbritios, sompeiiiig & masicz] cortespondent of the Standard anda music. 2l monomaniac from w is for- tune in the pork trade. e .D Tade, s fos ‘Who is the monomaniact During the recent Moody and Sankey.meet- ings in this city, there was a vory mensral pression that Mr. Sankey had been overrated as 2 singer, but at that time 1t would not do to say 80, least of allin a secular paper. We are now able, however, to let a religione paper say what we thougbt all the time. ‘(i Christian Leyister says: The only thing ead abont the Tabernacle or its service is Mir. Sankey's singing. 4 voice combin: ing great power and” sweetniess, of 8o pnre 3 tone that it might he well heard by 3 hundred thousand people at” once, it set often shows the cifect of iaving been overstralned and abnecd, While it con- xinuously reveals the lack of musfcal calture be. hindit. Aiming always at the pathetic, it facs Thole lincs Inio prosalc dreariness, with'a com: plete loss of melody. Never is there In it 2 sound of jor. Never does It warm the heart, or 1l it witha sense of exulistion. His * Hallelojah ™ is 2nd lus donghter, the tenor | wholly joyless. *‘Rejoice! I have found my Shoep, " i & Tong cry, Trom the. desert, indecd, lonely and cold. ABROAD. ALBANI'S WONDERPUL 8UCCESS. The Pall Mall Gazette says: 4 Our French correspondents haye maucl about the success of Mlle. Albant in Paris thix fea” son. The publicis entusiastic, and ine critics more than cordial. ** Ambroise Thomas, whos Humlet and Mignon huve both heen unng by Mile. Albnol, says there is but one Francesa di Zlmini; Tubinstein offers lier the leading role in bis new opora of *Nero: aud it is pretty well gottled tha although Victor Masee failed o obtain her services to sing the part of Virginie at the Theatro Lyrique, he wifl have her to Interpet the role nest season o the Royal Italian Opera in- London. ' M. Gounod, it s eald, bids nll dircctors . beware that, bo mus bave either Mme, Pattior Mlle. Albani for the chief part fnLis ‘Poliuto’; and Goldmarks hopes ghe will sing in his opera, *La Reme de i But, as the leading part is Httle suited to Mlle. Albani, Herr Goldmarik's hope is not very likely to be realized.” We can but rejoice to hear all this of the Canadian girl who only four or five years ago arrived in Europe fricndless and unknown, liaving no enconragement but confidence In_ the posscasion of powers which only necded study. anc hard work to give her success. ~ So she worked on, obliged meanwhile to sing in_public in order to provide means for instruction, It must be very leasant now to look back on those years of reso- futé perseverance under didicaltics. THE NEW LA PERICHOLE. ‘The New York World of the 22d says: 3 +*La Perichole, "'-as rewritten and enlarged, was performed last nignt at the Eagle Theatre for the Boet time i New York, and in its new form, which is a great improvement upon the old, achieved an uncquivocal success, ‘The main alteration that bas been made in the constraction of the story is & new act which has been introduced and made ct third, showing Piguillo in the prison of theobstinate h band. For thisact new mausic has been written, and initoccurs a cavalina by La Perichole, the burden of which is *‘Je Uadore," that iu one of the most inigned melodies composed by Offenbach since the **Dites-Lul " of **La Grand Duchesse, 1t Jeads into a _comic duct, **Cest la verite, which is & happy barlesque of’ cortain Italian com- posers. Al the old well-known airs are retained,. und in the last acta new and eflective chorus for soldiers (en avant) has been introduced. A catchy, pleasing air in polka-time has beeu written in also in thisact. The situutions in the added actare extoemely funny, a new chamcter—a buriesque of the old prisoner in **Kidelio "—contributing to vroduce very comical combinations.. Mile. Alce's rendering of the new cavatina wus excellent and was _cnthusiastically “redemanded. The opera throughout was very well piayed, and was loudly applauded. WHEREABOUTS. Tma Df Murska has arrived in Californis, and was announced for a concert in San Francisco on the 224, with Susini and others. Theodore Thomas' Orchestra was in Bostor last week, and will be there this weck also. Adelaide and Mathilda Phillipps sang in Boston last Friday evening. Heine, the blind violinist, played in Detroit on the 24d inst. *“Trovatore” will be given in Philadelphia to-morrow evening, with Gazzaniga as dzucena. Rudolphson’s English Overa_Company sung in Detroit on the 22d. The_Richings-Bernard Troupe was in Buffalo Inst week. The Berger Family were in Hartford, Conn., on the 19th.” Cawilla’ Urso had a benefit concert in San Francisco last week. The Lisa Weber Burlesque Troupe were in Cincinnati lastweek, A Wamner Opera Festival commences in New York on March 12, under Necuendorfl’s direction. Aimee is still in New York. Gitmore brought out Darley’s * Malchiers” n New Yor o on the 23d, with Mrs. Guiager, Mrs. Elliot, Dr. Avers, Castle, and_Sobst in the caste. Emma Abbott sang at Springficld, Mass., on the 19ik, at Hartford on the 20th, and in the “Daughter of the Regiment,” in New York, on tbe 23d. Essipoff closed her con- certs in New York yesterday. Her Boston sea- son begins March G, four concerts, after which shewill leave for California. The Kellogg Troupe was in Baltimore iast week, will be m Wash- ington this week, and open in Boston Mareh 12, The Payson English Opera Compauy was in Sa- vanoah last week. MUSICAL NOTES. Fabbri is teaching in San Francisca. The new music hall in Cincinnati is to have a $20,000 organ. Mr. William Castle has given up bis fnterest inthe Club Albion in New York. Mr. James Pesiics is now general manager. Sivort, the well-known violinist, recently zave a coneert at Genoa, his native town. Thehouse was crowded, Verdi being among the audience, who gave an enthusiastic reception to the artist. The Musical Club of Cincinnati has won the horor of being the first orzanization in this couutry to move in the matter of contributing 1o the Becthoven Monument Fund now raising in Vicuna. At the last meeting it was resolve: 10 give a public concert in aid of that fund. The Committee of this year's Nether-Rhenish Musical Festival, which will be held at Cologne under the dircetion of Dr. Hiller, has arranged that on the first day Haydn’s “Creation,” and on the-second day Verdi's Requiem ” shall be performed. It is expected that Sigmor Verdi will be preseat. Mme. Maric Roze-Perkins, it is expected, will return to the Opera Comique in_Paris to play the “Miznon " of M. Ambroisc Thomas. The Iady has been singingat Orleans, where she gave the grand eccne from * Der Freischutz,” the Romacnce from M. Messe's ** Paul et Vor- ginie,” an air by M. Faure, and Signor Arditl’s waltz, % 11 Bacio.” TIn the revival of “Faust?” at Kiralfy’s The- atre, Philadelphia, by the company organized by Ar. Strakosch, the opera fs given in its entirety, as revised by Charles Gounod for the new Grand Opera-flouse, Paris. For the first time in this country, probably, the opening scene of the fifth act, “The Walpurais Night,” is performed. The cast of the opera includes Mme. Pappen- helm as Marguerite, Mr. Tom Karl as Jraust, Mr. L. 8. Gottschalld as enhistopheles, Sigmora };xllmberil as Siebel, and Mr. G. Hall as Valen- ine. Mdme. Nileson's first_appearance in the Aus- trian Capital is described by the Vienna papers as 2 most unqualified success. The part she sc- lected was that of Uphelia in Ambrofse Thomas® opera, * Hamlet.” " This was followed by the part of Murguerite in Gounoil's * Faust,” both of which she sang in French, while the other char- acters were sung in German. She also sang at aconcert. at the Carl Theatre the scena from * Trovatore,” ““ Tacea Ia Notte,” n serenade by Brage, and the ‘“Ave Maria,” arranzed by Gounod from Bach, in both of which the violin obligato was performed by Wieniawslki. The JMusical Times publishes the translation of a letter which Herr Wagner has eflst issued to the committees of the various Wagner so- cleties, in which he prooses they should amal- tamate Into one_general society, to be called the “Society of Patrons of tlie Festival Plays of Bayreuth,” with a_view to avoid the public gale of vouchers for scats, or of-speculation therewith. e wants the new society in the first place to dispose of £5,000 worth of seats among the members, and, furthermore, to make efforts towards obtaining a Government grant or another sum of £5,000 per annum, to be set aside for the purchase of free seats to bo distributed among persons chosen by the Gov- croment. Tie committees of the Boston Handel and IHaydn Socicty have made considerable progress in arranging the programmes of the triennial festival in May. The concerts begin on Wednes- day eveninz, May 16, with a and chorus, writtea for the occas John K. Paine, followed Hayan’s *Scasons,” of T’salm xcv. jon by Mr. by_“Spring,” from and Mendelssohn’s eetting Thursday afternoon, “Redemp. tion,” hymn for contralio solo, orchestra, and chorus, ‘written for the festival by Mr. J. C. D. Parker; Nieler's cantata, “Isracl's Song of Tri- umph 2 and poszibly Mendelssohn’s * Fear My Praver.” Thursday. evening, sclections from Bacl's Christmas Oratorio.” Friday evening, Handel’s “Samson.” Saturda; atternoon, Saint-Sacn’s #Noel.” Closing, Sunday even- Ing, with Handel's “Isracl in T pt.”? Miss Kellogz, Miss Cary, Mr. M. W. Whitney, Mr. J. F. Winch, and "Mr. William J. “'ini have already been engaged as solo singers, THE DRANA. CHICAG(.). AN UNIMPORTANT WEER. Theatrical affairs in this city during the past weck have deserved no attention, and have re- ceived little. The solitary *“star "—wre will not. say attraction—bhas been Miss Lettie Allen, who has appeared a number of times in & play called ““The Crabbed Age.” Thie picce is possitly not the worst cver scen at MeVicker's Theatre, ‘where bad plays largely abound; but i is bad for serous eriti- altozether too cism. By running back over the year past @ number of plays slmost es bad as “The Crabbed Aze” can be associated with McVicker's Theatre. May Howerd's “Solid Silver,” Minnic Palmer’s ‘“Laughing Egyes,* ““Magrie Mitchell’s ““ Nanuette O'Wearithorne” and “Becky Mix,” Mr. Charles Barry’s “ Spy,” Alr. Fawcett Rowe's “ Brass,” Mr. Joseph Mur- phy’s Kerry Gow,” Cofiquest and Pettit’s “Law of the Land,” have vied Wwith each other - for supremacy. None of them had merits guf- ficient to entitle it to a place In o first-class theatre, and none would have seen the light of McVicker's had & competent literary judgment been excrcised by the managemeat. The Crabbed Age” is fit to be classed with tug plays that have been mentfoned. As a dramatic com- position 1t is simply stupid,—so stupid that its careful production on the stage is a discredit to the management. Tt does not con- tain one scene that partalkies of the elements of drama. The only possible way in which it can convey entertainment is by appealing to zh,e sense that delights in burlesque. Miss Allen’s scting is not importunt enough to call for harsh commient.- She is an engaging young lady who has a desire to shineon the stage, and may shine yet if she will conaent to begin her profes- sion at the bottom and work up, 1nstead of pur- suing her present discouraging method of be- ginning at the top and working rapidly down- ward. She needs, moreover, to be separated from her mentor, Mr. Atwater, who is an actor of an old and a bad school, and who is chietly respousibie for placing her in the false nosition she now holds with relation to the pub- fie? “Thie attempt to bribe one of the city papers in favor of Miss Allen was made, it is fair to say, without the consent or knowledge of her- sefl' or any one of her immediate fricnds. NOTES. Mr. France will be at the Adelphi this week with his play called “Marked for Life,” the chief beauty of which consists in the fact that the leading actor has a finger, or a thumb, or some other part of bis hand, missing. Miss Don’s engagement at McVicker's Thea- tre begins March 5, when “Lemons™ will be produced. The following weck Mr. Boucicault comes with * The Shaughraun,” and Miss Don will remain through the run of that piece. This weck will be seen at McVicker’s Theatre Miss Genevieve Rogers, daughter of the scenic- artist of the establishment. She bas a play called '* Maud Muller,” some of the ideas of which bhave Leen taken from Whitti- er’s poem, but which s not pre- sented as a _dramatization of that which cannot be dramatized. Miss Rogers has been bhighly praised for her impersonation ot the rakish™ country damsel wherever she has been seen. Her success in the South was Pnrt(culnfly marked. She plaved Ifenriette in *The Two Orphans ' at the Academy of Music a year ago very preitily. THOE OUTER WORLD. MR, IRVING'S *RICHARD IIL” The revival of Shakspeare’s * Richard IfI.," as distinguished from Colley Cibber's, has been the chief theatrical cvent of the scason in Lon- don. Mr. Smalley writes to the New York Tribuue: *“There were not two opinions about the performance. From beginning to end the perception grew clearer that Shakspeare’s knowledze of stage business was not less than Cibber’s, but greater. ‘Richard IIL' in its genuine form, with some omissions necessary to shorten 'it, and some transpositions of a less excusable kind, was found to be an ‘acting?’ play in every scnse of theword. . : . Mr Irving’s Richard showed him once more in a better light, inspired by the same feeling that made parts of his Hamlet so much finer than any Jlamlet that had of late years been seen in Londou.” Mr. Conway, on the other hand, sends the following striking criticism to the Cincinnati Commereial 3Mr, Irving's talent no one doubts, but his con- ventionnl umbition to be the great new interpreter of Shukepeare can hardly fail to end in dizappoint- meat. 1fe is quite unable to conquer the vices of manner which he acquired in the long popular suc- cessof “The Bells,” for he i3 unconscious of them. Whether it be Hamiet, Macbeth, or Rtich- ard 111, they are all conscence-stricken inn-kecp- ers dying of mghtmaro. But his failure will not result from this caase alone; it will result from the fact that tue age for which Shakspeare wrote no lonzer exists. The people, as Charles Mathews suys. 20 to the theatre to be rid of their miseries, and the gloomy ficures of Shakspeare's weird im- agination afford no such reliel. Some may think the tact scandalous, but factitis. The tragedies of Shukspeare increase in Lterary and antiquarian intercst every day, but they no longer respond to the requirements of the playgoer. Mir. Irving is o man of many attractive social and intellcctual qualities; bie has many friends, and they will, per- haps, be able to give his ** Richard III." & fair ssrun." But if ever he carries that or his other Shakspearcan impersonations outside of his intiu- ential circle, nn unbappy disappointment s likely 1o awaken him to the trath of which his friends geem not disposed to inform him. The Pall Mall Gazette says Richard is of all the Shakspearean characters the best suited to the genias of Mr. Irving, because it is the most melodramatic. ~The same authority ~praises hizhly his opening scenes, except tle famous first speech, which it pronounces conventional and stagey. ‘The Spectator says: On thewhole, Mr. Irving’s is a performance full of fine and flery qualities, which it is to be hoped will not encounter the risk of belog rufned by the sense- less custom of long runs. No actor can nizht after night play such a fatiguing part as Rickard J11. without injury to himself and his art. ‘When Kean was announced fora third represent- ation of the part, even after the rest of a Sun- day night, cries of *No! no!” from every part of the house testified the sense entertainied by the audience of the impropricty of requiring the repetition (so soon) of this extraordinary effort.” —The London Zimes says: “In this play Mr. Irving surpasses all his former representations of the characters of Shakespeare. There is no one passage in bis Richard as good, perhaps, as ope or two which we can remember in the carlier days of his Hamlet, but asa whole the performance is, we think, a better one and, beyond all comparigon, superivr to his AMacbeth” or nis Othello. The unfortunate and unpleasant, because wholly unratural, tricks of speech and action in which Mr. Irving bas fallen are in many scenes agreeably conspicuous by their absence, and even where the; orevail they are, as will be readily conceived, less painfully prominent. than in such characters as Hamlel, UOthello, or Macbeth.” NEW YORE NOTES. The enterprising manager, Ad. Neunendorf, of the Germania Theatre, in New York, has just completed arrangements for taking his company ona tour around the world. They are going with Cook’s caravan, and their expenses will be $700 day. There was no novelty of importance in New York last weck. * Our Boys* was produced at the new Broadway Theatré, and Mr. Thomas Whillin obtained hizh praise_from all quarters for his_impersonation of Perkyn AMiddieuyck. “Les Danicheff” = continued 2t _the Union Square, “ Lemons™ at Daly’s, * Wild Oats » at Wallack’s, “ Around the World in Eighty Days at Niblo's, ““Fifth Avenue * at Booth's, “ Our Boarding-House » at the Park. Dals’s people gave “ Round the Clock ™ at the Olym- Il\‘ic, * Divorce ” at the Bowery, and © The wo Orphans ? at the Grand ~Opera-House, having in the last place the assistance of Mrs. Wilkins as Za Frochard, ‘The Dramatic News has the following items: Mr. Winter, the dramatic critic of the New York Tribune, was the gucst of John McCul- lougl in Boston latels. Ile was the gucst of George Fawcett Rowe when that actor was playing in Bufalo. Mr. Wheeler, late dramatic critic of the 1World, is to take a similar position on the Sun March J. Mr. Leonard Grover will shortly take “Our Boarding-House " traveling. Mr. Joc Jefferson will not appear at the Fifth Avenue Theatre next §cason, 0§ an- nounced by that management. He will remain_in " Enogland througlout the year. Mr. E. Lamb. the comedian, is on a fair way to recovery from the Injury he received at the Olympic last weel, in having his clothes catch tire. He will soon be able to reappear. It isre- Eomd that Miss Adelaiae Netlson will shortly ¢ maitied to Mr. Schwab, the dramatic critic of the New York Zimes. She is under enzage- ment to appear at Daly’s Fifth Avenue Theatre in_the commencement of Avril, presenting “Twelfth Night,” *Measure. for Measure,” ‘‘Cymbeline.” and *Romeo and Julict.” The cogagemest is to extend over four weeks. 2 :GENERAL AMERICAN NOTES. Mr. J. L. Gossin, who played leading parts at MeVicker's last season s engaged for MissFenny Marsh’s Theatre at Porland, Me. John McCullough will be at St. Lonis this week, Charles Fechter at_Alban; 5 Mary Ande son and the Florences at Bammgré e Tt is interesting to motice that “Gus the Masher "—whoever he may be—has arrived at Baltimore, and is playine at the New Central Theatre in that city. - - Joln Dillon, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Stoddard, Mari Louisc Dillon, Mrs. Wallack, Mr. Weber ang giers have been plaving “The Great Divorce ase” and * Our Boys » u 31 ith ex- traordinary success. i 1 “?som e The run of “Uur Boarding-House™ at the Chestnat-Street Theatre, Philadelpnia, conclud- cd last night. It extended over five weeks, To- moiTow night” “The Two Orphans® is to be put on the stage of ‘this' model theatre. The unmpnnrv 18 fortunzte in possessing two of the originnl actors in_the Union Square cast.— 3 Mackay, the Plerre, and Mr. Rankin,the Jacques. An essay from the Pen of Mr. Joscph Watson has lately appeared on ghnkwenre iv‘\’ America. Mr. Watson scts forth not only what Shak- has done for America, but what Ameriea has done for Shakspeare. He-says that Amers. ca is the bard’ Aome, rather than Englana, ‘Cét;! mqu;l_.:‘ls?hpr_ c;:y&(ong fl:lfl Fretg(‘h l:althorities n ¢ Jact, and traces the infiuence of Shakspeare from 1776 to 1876. e 8 T o b 2 nati; tinge at Clevaland; Dion Bondeust ot Biooris "t 3 v lle: George Fawcett Rowe at New Or- fi:l;‘?]\hr;; Anltllcrson at_Richmond; Jobn E. Owens at Washington; Benirlce Straflord at Baltimore; Edwin Booth and Rachel Mu-:\Hnln at Philadelpbis; Maggie Mitchell and oo Montague at Boston; Adelaide Nellson at To- ronto. i an Francisco Chronicle reports that l-‘rix:gfi Lwlor, the well-known actor, who re- turned from Australia by the iast stcamer, speaks well of that distant country, but does not think he would care to live there as a steady thing. He bas had various offers from theatrical managers, but has made no definite engagement asyet. Clara Morris has gone to Sauta Bar- bara. She was scarcely out of bed while in San Francisco. The physicians have until within a year past entirely mistaken her disease, and the moxa with all the other severs treatment she has underzone has been worse than uscless. 8he will spend nearly two months *mid the mild airs of Southern California, but will hardly be able to play in San Francisco before returning East, us she begins an enzagement in Boston on the 15th of April. - Thebenefit to Mr. Adams was a success, bringing him in $2,700. He was on the stage, and scemed to be emaciat- ed. His good-by to the kind peo- ple o the audlence was _ virtually 4 good-by to life, and was touching. The profits at the Jate benellt of Alice Harrison at the Cali- fornia Theatre were something handsome. One box brought $160, another $50, and two_others $40. The gifts of flowers aud birds were pro- fuse. There was beside an elegant cameo sar- donyx Iocket, sct tastefully with pearls and dia- monds, presented by some unknown admirer to the beneficiary. FOREIGN NOTES. Mr. H. J. Byron’s new barlesque at the Opera Comique, in London, has for subject and title ““The Bohemian Girl.” John 8. Clarke has Iately been playing The Scuttied Ship” at the London Olympie, with Miss Bella Pateman as his heroine. Olive Logan writes that Pauline Markbam has aged sadly since she was in America, and is now only tle wreck of her former self. The Shakspearcan performances of Miss Gen- cvieve Ward in French, at the Porte St. Martin . Theatre, Paris, are attracting great attention. Rosina Vokes is to be married in April, but Victoria has withdrawn from her matrimonial engagement, and the family will still flourish on the stage. ; Sarah Bernhardt has been asked by the cure. of her parish in Paris to carve for the church a statue of its patron, 8t. Francols de Sales, and lias consented to do so. The Junior Garrick Club, in Adeiphi Terrace, London, gave a banquet to ex-Mayor Cotton in return foF the dinner tendered to the theatrical profession at the Guildhall last October. The ex-Lord Mayor was good enough to designate the drama as the sixth estate, placing it next to the Church. Sardou is still confined to hia bed; his malady is stated to be acute ncuralgia, but it is whis- pered that he 15 suffering from some serious in- ternal disease. Another current whisper is that Crofzette is shortly to be_marricd to the son of a well-know Parisian banker, in which case she will retire definitely from the stage. The Theatre Francaise isin full nrosperity. The result of the year 1876 hasbeen magnificent, and the share aceruing to each associate exceeds 20.000 francs. The year 1677 commences just as brilliantly, and the "“Ami Fritz” continues to make 50 much moncy that the revival of * Chat- terton ” will have to be postponed. A fortnight ago Mr. Bressant officially retired from the Francaise, after a brilliznt carecr there extend- ing over twenty-three years. For maay of his tm.s, and notably thosein “Hernani,” “Le ion Amoureux,’” and “Le Verre d’Ean,” M. Bressant has left no successor, and, so far, his loss scens irreparable. He will now give him- self up entirely to his course ‘of dramatic in- struction at the Conservatoire. Gossip roports from the Comedie Francaise that the new tras- edy now under rehearsal atthat theatre, and entitied ““Jean @’ Acier,” is expected to Inaugu- rate a new era in dramatic literature, some of the critics going so far asto style M. Lomon, the authior, a second Corneille. He is very young, having written this play at the age of 23. AR A HUMOR. New York sensations—Spitz and Bergh.—Bos- ton Z'ost. Among all breeds of dogs none s saliva-ly as the Spitz.—New York Comimercial. A Shakspearcan bint for smokers: “ He jests at s’zars who never felt awound —in the dark for a match. ““Which is the bottom of a battercake?”’ is the question that impedes the progress of the La- grange (Kentucky) debating club. The cditor of a St. Louis paper pulls up the waistband of his trousers aiter breakfast, and says, “ The wheat-belf 1s shifting.” A grocer had a. J}ouml of sugar returned with a note saying: “ Too much sand for table use, and not enough for building purposcs.” Albany bas a medal. The city boasts of a man who is so cold-blooded that'a dog twho bit him in the leg had all his front Lceth(igrozen. Bluegrass (z\'{/.) Clipper: Ninoty-nine out of a hundred people make a great mistake when they cut off a dog’s tail, in throwing away the wrong end. A glass-blower has recently died at the age of 110 vcars. Iis zreat age is anotber proof of the “truth of the blew-glass theory.— Philadel- phia Lulletin, The pocm entitled “A sigh for my pet poodle,” is respectfully declined. We cannot afllict our readers with such a sigh-at-a-cur.— Doston Bulletin. It i8 0 hot in the East Indles sometimes that people tan even indoors—which explains, prob- ably, why they call that country Tn-doors.tan, — Boston: Travetier. Philadelphia Bulltin: A younz lad whose teacher s rather free with the rod remarked the other day, * That they had toomany holler- days at their school.” Au unknown incbriate threw up a$5billina Western police-statfon the other night. He mizht have looked as “‘A-merry-cus V-spew- cius."— }orcester Prees. Detroit Zree Press: There are lots of men in }hli jmunlt"l-:y \vln;) don’t care for money, but they eel just likeusing a postage-stamp over aeain if the ink bas only touched-one corner, Rochester Democrat: Clara Morris rode a very wild mustang the other day, and fairl;'con- quéred bim. *Iknow all about riding, she 6aid, to begin with. “You must first mount, and then you mustanz on.” Professor in Psychology —¢ Now, Mr. D., in regard to how the mind forms a material thing from several percepts; take an apple and illus trate.” Mr. D.—“T don't careif 1 do.” Class murmur, ** Pass ’em around.” The metric system Is before the Legislature. Clad of it; the butchers lave practiced the meat-trick system of charging for nine ‘pounds of beef and trimming it down to seven and a half long enough.—Boston Bultetin. * Yes,” said Mrs. Blank, as she sat gossiping with her sister, “ you have no idea how much my Jack thinks of You. Only this morning as I went o wake him, Theard him calling out In his sleep, ¢ Ob, come, ante, will you » Andrews’ Bazar: The Duke of Edinbure has introduced the manly fashion of wearing brace- lets. He possesses u smooth, white, dimpled wrist, wears lis coat slceves cut short, and, when riding in 2 horse-car, always prefers to stand up and hold on to the strap. ‘ What’s the use of mnaking such a fuss ut a little water?” said a Judge before \vhomnh:m— tion after motion had come ina czse where a small spring was the object of contention. ““The partics are botk milkmen,” quietly said gng of the lawyers. “Oh!I see gaid the udge. Pettengill says that the first “returnin, board ” of which he has any’ recollection wus’:i shingle in the hands of his father. The three— father, son, and hinle—used to hold frequont committec-meetings in the back shed, but the returns came in 5o swiftly thata fair count was impracticable. During cholera time a Glaszow joiner was osked by a lady, who was em loying him at some household work, whether gn Would have o glass of Wlnskf‘ now or wait till he had finished lhfi‘jgh. n:t&n be, ;akn}; the glass 100, mem,” said the , *for there’s. &.power.o’, sudden deaths fately.” L A gentleman traveling in Ohio some years agoturned in at a country tavera for dinner. The bar-room was garnished with a_dirty washe basin, a piece of sonp the size of a lozenge, and square yard of crash dimly visible through ep- idermic deposits. Having slightly washed, the traveler eyed the rag doubtfully, and then ask. ed the proprietor, “Haven’t you, sir, about the premises a this year's towel 3" “ A boy came down Linwood avenue on the Tush a few nights since, and, in_an excited man- ner, said there were a lot of lights in the Jewish burial-ground. - Hall a dozen scicatific men, four loafers, and 2 doz started off to see them. The graveyard was as dark 2s such places sually are. “Where are the lizhts? asked a big man of the boy. The youngster backed off bt o e e 3 are Israelites ! an | i g e el 5t e 3 The Truifi of the New Dis- pensation Further Set Forth. A Country Clergyman Objects to Prof, Swing’s Views Con- cerning Miracles. WHy He Considers the Pro- fessor Unsound in Doctrine. Sunday-School Teachers' Mesting.---Dr. Talmage Talks to the Drummers. Fiddler Joss and His Revival Services- Rationalism Among the Jews Notes and Personals at Home ana Abroad---Church Services. WHAT IS TRUTH? FOURTH PAPER. To the Editor of The Tridune. Cmrcago, Feb. 22.—In attempting a brief exposition of the truths of the New Dispensa- tion, it was cxpected that some who had been taught to believe the false doctrines of the tri- personality of God, the vicarious atoncment, sulvation by faith in the imputed merits of Christ, and other kindred falsities, would be aroused to the emdeavor to controvert the beaven-descended trutns of the New Jerusalem. But, as stated in my opening article, as my only object is to.ald in drawing the attention of truth-seekers to the real meaning of the Divine Word, as made known by the Lord through Swedenborg, it will be out of place, at present, to show the fallacy of the arzuments which may be adduced in opposition to these truths. ~ After the leading doctrines have been briefly presented, shonld space be allowed, and time permit, the argu- ments brought forward against the truths may be considered. In the meantime, I wonld earnestly invite all whoare *“in search of truth,"” as ““Abcl Anderson” avows himself to be, to read with unprejudiced minds some of Sweden- borg’s own works, such as “The True Clristian Religion,” “Tleaven and Hell,” “The Apocs- lypse Revealed,” or *'The Athanasian Creed,” in which the true sensc ot the Word is proved by ftself. and confirmed by arsuments of the most enlightened reason. Or, as introductory to these, it might be well to read first some good collateral work, such as “Ountlines of the Religion and Philosophyof Swedenbors,” by the lion. Theophilus Pursons; or * Lecturcs on the New Dispensacion,” by the Rev. B. F. Barrett. If, as 1 suspect, **Abel’Anderson” be a clerzy- man, he can obtain the three works of Sweden- borg first mentioned by only sending the post- age” in_advance to J. B. Lippincott & Co., 715 Murket strect, Philadelphia, which will be 20 _cents for the “T. C. R..” 13 cents for “H. and H.,”and 18 cents for “ A. R.,” 51 ceats in all, for three of the most valuable works of the illuminated Secr. In these books (which may be procured by all clergyimen and theological studeats free, by ‘paving postage) all the passages quoted by L3 D hecon ™ art fuily ** reconciled to Swedenborg’s doctrine.” 1 will only say, m reply to “A. As" bold position, that there are three distinct persons in the One God; that the word “ person,” in reference to God, is found in only one passage in the Bible (Hebrews, &, 3), and that Is a mistranslation; the Greek word (ypwstasis) properly denoting substance; when, therefore, the Apostle speaks of the Son as being the express image or mani- festation of the I'ather’s substance (or, of the inmost principle of Deity), he gives a descrip- tion of the Lord us to His Divine Humauity, whom he thus presents to us as being Himscl? the Person of the Futher, or the Divine Form of the Diviue Esscace. We will now resume the subject of Faith. ‘¢ How is true saving faith obtained? In pre- cisely the same meuner in which faith in any other subject is gaincd. On this point men bave had more difficuity than any other. The teaching of the Lord, that our salvation depends upon our belief in Him, is clear enough; but when the sinner asks, Howam I to zet this faithi? the answers have been various. In one breath it is taught that this faith is the gift ot God; that it is produced by the influence of the Holy Spirit, in answer to prayer; and, in anoth- er, that we must have it before the Holy Spirit can operate upon us. This causes confusion of ideas, and the minas of many, who sincerely de- sire to know what to do, are filled with doubt. Msny adopt a spurious faith, think they have it, when they have not, and that they are saved, when they are just os sinfal, and, there. fore, just as much exposed to the com- sequences ‘of sin, as ever. All faith, upon all subjects, is formed by knowledge, and it can be formed in no other way. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is formed by learning the truth about Him. Itcannot be gained by prayer, by urging, by excitement, by Iear, or by the mere force of willing. And yet it is tie gift of God. So is faith upon every vther subject. Force of will may help, friends muyhclrs, but they can hielp in only one way, and that is in presciting motives, and in giving assistance in learning the truth. True faith 1s formed by man’sapproach- ing the Lord. learning truths from Iis Word, and living according to them. We must approach the Lord, because He 1s the object of faith; it is derived from Him and directed to Him. Wemust learn truths from the Word, for He is the Word, or the embodiment of Truth. The way of obtaming spiritual faith does not dif- fer in “principle from the way of obtain ing natural faith. We must acquire knowledze about the object of our faith. Before having faith'in a man who wants to buy moods of you on credit, you will first learn some truth about him—wnether heis honest, whether he is a zood man in a commercial sense, and whether he is doinz s good business. Beforc having faith fn a physician you must learn some truth about him—whetner he has kuowledgze and skill, aud has been suceessful in his practice. If you learn that he bas cured mdny cases like your own, you will have faith fn him. It is pre- cisely so with our: belief onthe Lord. Our faith is formed by learning truth couverning Him; and’ thosc truths must be learncd from the Bible; becausc in their origin they all come from there: and you must learn them as you Jearn truths upon dny other subject. They are not miraculously bestowed. One reason wh men have so little genuine faith in the Lord. I! that they know so little about Him. A firent amount of theological teaching about im is false, or it is such a jumble of contradictions that the honest mind becomes confused, and finds it diflicult to gain any cer- tain and "satisfying knowledge. He is repre- sented as three” persons in one Gog, as three Divine beings—cach one laving a distinct per- sonality, performing a distinct office, and yet there is only one. 'The moment one beging to try to comprehend this singular Ehcnnm:non, he becomes confused; he cannot think it. Yon cau say that one beiug is three beings, or that three persons are one God, but. youcannot think 50. **The Divine character is also represented as composcd of the most opposite and contradic- toryclements. The Lord loves and hates. He is mercy itseif, and yet He punishes with the most unrclenting fury. The Father is so just that He raonot forgive.the sinner, unicss some- budy is pupished. " There must be so much punishment . for so much sin, no maticr Whether the guilty or innocent suffer, so that the sum of it is completc. But if the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is each divine, an each is the embodiment of Divine perfection, and justice is one of those perfections, as it is sald to be {n the Father, why should it not . be the same in the'Son and id the “Holy: Spirit? And why should not each show His love for the sinner by being willing tosacrifice the others tor him? And why should not the jurtice of each onc demand that the other should guffer? The more rizidly the commoa theology is examined, the more _difficult it is-to believe it, and the more loudly we are cailed upon todo it. The doctrines cannot be understood; it is eaid they are mysteries; they must be accepted by Iaith; that is, we must belicve that of which we have no knowledge; that which we - cannot under- stand. Thus faith has come to mean something mystical,—something which cannot be under- stood. It is first deprived of all the clements which constitate it; the possibility of its cxistence is taken away, and thenthesinner is ro- quired to excreise it. By the, teachings of the prevalent theology, faith has come to mean practically a eubstitute for knowledge, nnd something quite different from it. Relirions teachers do not interpret the Bible insucha { clear, cousistent, and atro, “ But saving faith is aors, og truths from the Wongyyrmcd, 3,00k ing to them, Knowledge estenipy) to the forming of faith, bt troth alone nothing unless it is -carei out in acti example: the farmer may have faith Iom' sccurate knowledge that g certain r?] o PrEER cordivg o it; unless he puts it o> may know that a oertn(npmedlril:en ?1:1“ i of a certain disease, but unless you tak will not save you. = The machinist may ekt:’n& how to construct a machine, but nis Enowledgy ualess applied, will never” constrprs g 0% miner may know that there iz gold ing Th mountain, but knowledze along will ney, it for him. You all know the way iR omes, but unless you pat your know} practice, step by step, you will never r&fnfi' them, | So it is 1n sprritual things. We are sinoers. g, is a violation of the 1aws of our beiny S oaly way we canbe saved from our fi%!h learn those laws, and live according tothn: We have waodered away from the Lorg: must learn the way back to Him; and e must wallc (o it. ~There aro 0o exssppcay™ this law. A faith which falls short of action is utterly Ipowcrleu. It lacks the elements. 1t is an engine that is never motion. It is a ship that never sails. Itis that is never caten. It is seed never planted Faith, then, is no more a mystery thap gy, Qieractof the mind. T¢Iy a it of the ] butno more so than our taith in onr fellow: men, or in any of the business affairs of it is given only through our voluntary co-q tion with the Lord. A false faith, an Jdesl f 2 faith which cannot be understood, neyer 8 any one. Faith becomes saving when we Jiyp according to the commandments which compose it. The ten commandments are the summary of all true faith. *If thou would enterinto life, our Lord Himself said, ‘keep the ‘commandments.! Keeping the commandments i3 eating. and drinking His blood. Keeping the co; ments ls believing on Him, and there fs no othes belief which will ever save any one. JUst as far as we live according to them fie can saveus, and nofarther. Keepingthe commandments. inspirit, and in the letter, aceording to the best of our ability, is the oaly saving faith. You know how to acquire this faith. Yon know bow to live dm:corg.mg dwk(t ‘Lge {l.bgl I;IAIII Mg com- mandments, and keepeth them, he loveth Me.? % P RS But we cannot at once break off all our sinfal habits, and_root, out all our evil propens; Wemuat frst examine ourselveholons oo our own hearts, and sec if the love of self and love of the world are the motives which ear wl:;luun; nt]or ttlmm two loves are opposed to the two great comman 3 fion shait love the Lom thy God m“"ifi"fi, heart, and with all ug soul, and with all mind, and with all strength; and thy neighbor as thyself.” If we find anyth our motives and conduct which conflicts with these two great Iaws of our being, as we most certainly will, then,' looking to the Lord, the source and sustaincrof our life, for strengthand assistance, we must firmly resolve to make it the business of our lives to resist 2ad forsaks our cvils, as sins against the Lonl. Tbis is cop. version. Conversion is simply a turniog round. Before conversion a man is marching towands hell; but, on being couverted, he faces abous, or turns around spiritually, and is then in a con. dition to sct out on his jonrney towards heaven, Having been converted,—that is, his conrse hav. ing been turned from hell toward heaven,—his work of rezeneration begins. Mind, ltv::]y be- gins. Our Lord says, “Except a man be bom again, lie cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Re- feneration bezius with repentance and conyes. sion, but is continued by a persistent confict with our_ evils, “fighting the rood fight of faith.” This fight is symbolized by the wars of the Israelites to zain possession a(’ the land of Caoaan. They were sometimes ‘viciorious, soma. tim defeated, just as the rezcoemtine Christian is often” defeated by the wic native occupants of his heart, his spirit Puilistines. The Lord told the Israelites that He would drive out the natives from the Prom- iscd Land from before His people, but says to them: *I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, - lest the land become desolate, and the bensts of the fleld maltiply aginst thee. By little and little I will drive them out {from before thee, until thou be increased and inherit the land.”— Ezodus, zziii.. 2030, 8o the cvil propensities of our regencrating hearts will Dot be driven out any faster than -the relizions virtues can take their place, but the Captain of our Saivation never deserts a follower wto is faithful to the end, and makes the best fight bs can. And 50, when we are tempted to do an evil thing, we should first refase to do it, and thendoa food thing in its stead. Andhe who docs this. Iooking to the Lord for help, will fight bis battle of regeneration with sbeoluts certainty of ultimate success, no matter what vicissitudes may overtake him in the course of the conflict. ¢ The truth, sum, and essencs of the whols matteris, that we shun evils as sins, anddo zood, looking to the Lord. *Wash ye, make youclean; put away the evil of your doings Irom beforc mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn todo well; seek judgment, relleve the oo~ pressed. judge the” fatherless, plead for the widow.—Isa., i., 16-17. Love of truth must reign in our minds, and love of in our hearts. Looking'to the Lord for guidance and strength, we must strive to work truthand good up into the very substance of our souls. In fact, Divine truth is the warp, and Divine ood the woof out of which wcL ?i our daily ives, must, in the name of the Lord, weave that spotless wedding garment in which our seuls must be clothed if we wouldhave them welcome guiesta at the Marriage Supper of the Lunbt *The Rev. Chauncey Giles. +The Rev. Oliver Dyer. PROF. SWING- HIS VIEWS ON MIRACLES CRITICTSED. To the Editor of The Tritune, ! JoLIET, Feb. 22.—Reading the discussion that has appeared in your paper upon the so-callel Chicago miracle, we notice the sermon by Frof. Swing, entitled “Law the Point Where God Meets Man.” If we understand his position, be occupies a place between orthodox Christisaity and Christianity modernized by science and lit- eral calture. On a careful study of his cerman. on Law vs. Miracle, one can reach no other con- clusion than that the Professor holds a situation bard to maintain and defend. He berrins with a true stacement: ‘Once mat knew little of secondary causes, and then toths simple world God acted directly. Not of any law of gravitation, a god was employ: ed to drive the sun about in a charios’ **The old ages swarmed with gods, but flg were ignorant of natural causes, and_hence, 3 cach strange event, a living azent had f? produced.” He then proceeds to sav: “The dawn of * sclence became the evening of f-l!;: deities.” He then traces the discharge of ‘m army of deities trom their occupation of field of human rccognition under heathenist, following down_history from the time when z thousand miracles took place until the present when Chicago bas become holy ground, by 3 spevial interposition in healing a sicx womll!-m The Professor continues, Not, only bas G study of the times exalted law, but it L\:& K’; veloped a mew scverity about eyidence.’ > says: “The miraculous cure which csme pass in this city would have stood unchall in the olden time, not only because was no sclence i that day, but because 4 had been no atteation pnfll to the atudy of e dence.” He continues: ** The present bas sp- ‘proached miracles from two points of LVIIW‘:' from a study of natural canses and from & study of the rature of evidence, and before this com- bined assault the miracle Is making a rapid re- treat. Itis a_perpetually-diminishing qwm‘, or quantity in human affairs.”” Thus far §) er moves in accordance with science 7 the whole spirit of modern research, which 18 to dismiss the interfercnce of the in s affairs of the world, and to find, through changing law, adequate cause for all the vlfl"flfll henomena of life. He says: * The miracles fialy Writ must be placed ina class by thea selves, for as Christ Himself was an anm?m{- His surroundings must go nlun% with Hid, | and must be allowed a space by themselves”s and in the next sentence he calls the “‘unique one.” Here appears the weakness his position. And not only his, but_so mfl' others who in the present are tryingto monize the two idess of supernatural influcuces, 23 recorded o Holy Writ, and the deductions of e e o pereriy, of evidne the idea of the aniversality of law, % This question very naturally arises m‘i A‘{‘tgr bm‘:fihmg ’lhe i.ndn?_mcmbtl’,c ".'h’d.’z so dieties of all peoples and times, by Wi d;{;w. historical or fuden&i!flc, are the miracles of this period to be retaine Holy Writ contains a history mn{dl‘:g through long ages and over large spaces oOf . ritory of superhuman interference in the llb’-l‘k of the race, but does the Book bear say mark by which it can claim and maintain 3 umlr;“ position from uthex_; histories containing narvelous accounts Does not the position appear like this: Ilmb: faith sou allow oue “unique period ” in the lifo of the race, ls it not reasonable by faith 12 « ailow mirales in eInaia or Chicago, or, in other words, admit the existence of more than ong these “unique periods”’? On the other hand, if by reason, formed by the stydy of nature, using the modern sevesisy