The New York Herald Newspaper, December 12, 1873, Page 3

WASHINGTON, | er 1 Alexander H. Stephens Addresses the House on the Salaries Bill. —_—_-————_ Aisles and Galleries Full and Members Earnestly Attentive. Spicy Tilting in the Sub- sequent Debate. WasHincron, Dec, 11, 1873, Debate in the House on the “Grab” and the Salaries Bill—Speech by Alex- ander H. Stephens—Imposing Scene While the Rebel Ex-Vice President Was Speaking—Other Members’ Views Spicily Got Om. ‘The scene in the House to-day when the Speaker announced that Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, had the flour was grandly picturesque. It was intimated yesterday that he desired to say something on the question of pay of members of Congress, and his infirmity pleaded for bim more eloquently than the request 0/ his colleague. But it was not what Mr. Stephens would say that made the prospect of a speech from him so attractive. There was some- thing more heroic than mere curiosity in the earn- est desire of Senators to be informed when the distinguished Southron had the hoor. A few minutes after one the Speaker gently tapped his desk, to remind the members of their obligation not to disturb debate, and attention at once centred on the gaunt figure of the Repre- sentative from Georgia, who occupies a desk imme- Giately in front of the Speaker, on the inner circle of seats. The galleries were full of eager listen- ers. Under the eagle’s wing, which over- @hadows the clock, stood a youth, peer- ing down the aisies, which were filled to suffocation. Jt was Young America contemplat- ‘mg an event, the counterpart of which is preserved on canvas in Webster's reply to Hayne, and in history, when Chatham inveighed against the recognition of American independence. What @ ecene was this! The Vice President of the or- ganized rebellion, who 14 years ago was @ mem- ber, without spot or blemish, of Congress, to-day the cynosure of all eyes! How strange in contrast ‘with the story of Bazaine’s condemnation, and how passing strange in comparison between the strength of the French and American republics! The doors leading to the galleries are jammed; only the diplomatic gallery is empty, save two solitary Individuals of foreign toilet. The reporters sharpen their pencils, put on their eyeglasses, and a hush, produced by the gentle tapping of the small end of the Speaker's gavel, ensues, The surroundings in the House, and especially about the orator, make a picture which must strike him with a sense of strangeness. 1n all that crowd of Representatives there are only a halfdozen ‘whom he knew in his previous Congressional experi- ence. Whoare they? The tall, gaunt, Indian form of Maynard, looming up above the throng; the herculean form of Bufinton, of Massachusetts; the somewhat grizzly face of Dawes, and the odd Bpectacied English physiognomy of his colleague, Mr, Gooch, togetner with the black haired Marshall, of Minois, from the Egyptian part of the State, and 8 8. Cox, whose new name. “Dew Drop,” sparkles on every tongue. These six men arejthe only ones of this Forty-third Congress who are Samiliar with the voice of the Georgian and who served with him in the Thirty-fifth. How coriously his little black eyes must have gazed upon the strange faces about him! What an eagerness on the part of all others to catch the words as they fall! He rises, drops one of ‘this crutches in the aisle; he leans heavily upon the other. Death the skeleton and Time the shadow paint his picture, and put a glossy black dress coat hanging loosely on the shoulders, with a small, cadaverous head, covered with a plum-colored vel- vet smoking cap, from under which the stecl-gray hair creeps. Now for the ear—‘Mr. Speaker?"? The first words have # music tinged with the full-vowelled Africanese dialect of the South. All are intent. The democratic seats are vacant; the crowd presses close up to the erator. He indulges in a comparison between the good demagogue who leads the people right and the bad ones who pander to them. He makes a Classical, then a Biblical illustration. Does he strike the keynote all expect? Does he inveigh against corruption, profligacy, extravagance? Does he applaud economy and self-sacrifice ? There is disappointment. Most think he has changed with the times, The old days of chivalry are gone; the mercenary years have come. He hascome with them. Gifted and pure bimeelf, passionless and almost disembodied, he ‘would have been the man to herald the barter day, or to renew that other time when John Letcher, George W. Jones and others of the South gave up tw the public their service to save millions for the public and make nothing for themselves, It was @ strange scene, however, whatever may be the sentimeuts expressed, the one nearly parallel be- ing when Chatham, to whom the orator referred, came into the House of Lords swathed in flannels and leaning on crutches. Only this difference ex- ists in the two cases—Chatham’s demise soon fol- lowed, Mr. Stephens bids fair to live as long here hereafter as he has lived since he left here in 1859. Again, the clarion voice of the young Cornet Pitt and old statesman Chatham, which used to make St. Stephen’s resonant, even to the purlieus of Westminster Hall, are in strange contrast with the shrill, fife-hke, octave voice of the skeieton orator trom Georgia. But they group about him. The orator is talking about the Salary bill, and what can he say that is #0 marvellously attractive? In the centre aisle are Senators Conkling, Windom, Thurman, Bogy, Con- over and others, Within almost arm’s reach sits Ben Butler. To the rear Judge Hoar, thoughtful and silent. A number of members who served as generals and colonels in both the Union and Con- tederate armies form a cordon about the old man’s Gesk. The Speaker is intent. He has laid aside his gavel, for no one even whispers or disturbs the good order of the House, All eyes are fixed upon the orator, and yet the burden of his remarks was ‘that he was not only opposed to the repeal of the salary bill, but did not believe the representatives NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. covery after so doing were all exceedingly amus- ing, and convulsed the House with laughter. Mr. ‘W. Seudder, of New Jersey, thought it was out of the power of Congress to change the past, but it shouki fix the compensation for the future in ac- cordance with the feeling of the country. Mr. Dun- hell, of Minnegota, said he had been directed to vote for a law repealing ali increase made last ses- sion; therefore he should sustain the minority bill, Mr. Crossland, of Kentucky, wae the next man who amused the House by his observations. He boldly declared that the great cry raised about the grab was made by those who wanted our seats. He took the increased pay, and couldn’t return it if he would, and, so help him God, he wouldn’t if he could, which assertion was received with shouts of laughter. He paid his respects to Mr. Cox, whom he designated, a8 hig friend “Dew Drop.” After stating that Cunset nad been the author Of a great deal of wise and good legislation in Congress he said he would read one of the bills of which the gentleman was the author. He then quoted an order introduced by Mr. Cox changing the name of the ship “Industry” to “William M. Tweed.” This was the sign for @ general uproar, which continued for many minutes, Was this the ship, he asked, that was to transport our “Dew Drop” to Europe last spring? When Mr. Crossland’s time had expired the desire to have the fun continue was 80 great that he was allowed to proceed, say- ing to Mr. Hale that he never had addressed the House before and never would again if thay gentleman would give way. And so he rambled on in @ disconnected manner until he came to con- sider the case of the economical gentleman from Ohio, who not only had his likeness placed in the New York election {rauds report, but had a nice ram kept at the Agricultural Departmnnt the whole of one winter at the expense o1 the govern- ment, and also had its picture engraved and bound in the agricultural report of that year. Mr, Crossland held up the report in question, and the House fairly roared with laugnter, Mr. Hale here arose to call the previous question, but gave way to Mr. Maynard to offer a few re- marks about the law relating to the pay of de- ceased members and to Mr. Lawrence, of Ohio, who wished to extricate himself from his unfor- tunate dilemma. The Judge read a written ex- Planation of his position, claiming that he had beem misrepresented. He said that the gov- erpment did not pay for the likeness shown to the House on Tuesday by Mr. Lamison and that it was only bound in a few copies of the re- port in question. He dodged the ram matter by saying that it was presented by @ friend, who in- sisted that the picture should be placed in the re- port with the other engravings. He excused his taking back pay in 1866 by declaring that the peo- ple did not oppose it then, but do at the present time, The Judge was laughed at a good deal by the members, who evidently thought that his ex- planation was @ little thin, Judge Orth then offered a substitute providing . that the bill should be recommitted and amended 80 a8 to repeal the whole of the salary act, as tar 8 the constitution would permit, and practically place the salary at $6,000. The previous question being demanded the House refused to second the demand, and, after much parliamentary sparring, the question was postponed by adjournment until to-morrow. The Senate Committee on Transporta- tion Routes to the Seaboard. During the last recess of Congress the Senate Committee on Transportation Routes to the Sea- board travelled together, or as sub-committees, an aggregate for one person of over 60,000 miles and were engaged in the collection of statistics, &c., an aggregate for one pérson of over 365 days. The total expenditures of the committee for travelling, hotel bilis and all other personal expenses have amounted to $4,459 25. The purpose of the appli- cation for leave to hold sessions and travel during the coming recess, which was asked by the chairmar (Mr. Windom) and unanimously granted by the Senate to-day, is to enable the committee to visit New Orleans and other points in the South, in furtherance of the work for which It was created. The committee will leave Washington as soon as the holiday recess commences, The Senate Judiciary Committee to Re= port Favorably for Mr. Williams. At the next executive session of the Senate, the Committee on Judiciary will make a favorable re- port on the nomination o! George H. Williams to be Chief Justice. The Civil Rights Convention. In the National Civil Rignts Convention to-day, Mr. Melord, of Virginia, said that there was a class of colored men in this city who are not willing to accord to colored men the same rights as are ac- corded by white men, He was opped to any measure offered by a man who is unwilling to ac- cord such rights te all, Proprietors of barber shops and saloons in Washington, run by colored men, do not allow colored men to enter their places of business. He wanted the right, when he felt like going into a barroom to take a drink, to do it, and not to be told by the barkeeper that he has no liquor, The Civil Rights Committee Recommend f Mr. Sumner’s Bill. The Committee on Civil Rights submitted a re- port to-night recommending the passage of Mr. Sumner’s bill, or its equivalent. Debate on the report was commenced by Colonel Robert Harlan, of Ohio, who advocated the passage of the Civil Rights bill, but questioned the propriety of asking special privileges. The session was remarkably quiet and orderly, Delegations to the Civil Rights Conven- tion Visit the President, The Missouri delegation attending the Civil Rights Convention ahd headed by Representative Stannard, the Mississippi delegation beaded by Representative Lynch, and the Virginia and other colored delegations, called in separate bodies to- day upon the President and had interviews with him, Aiter leaving the President's office they expressed themselves as well satisied with what he said to them. The New York Delegates to the Colored Convention on a Round of Visits. The New York delegation of the National Civil Rights Convention, now in session here, headed by Professor Reason, called on Senators Von$ling and Fenton to-day. Petitions were placed in the hands of Senator Conkling, who promised to present them. Both Senators gave the delegation assur- ance that they are favorable to the passage of a supplementary civil rights bill. The delegation also waited on several Represent- atives in the House, and received satistactory promises from them. of the people were suMictently paid for the services rendered, That is all, His time is up. Garfield and Kellogg, of Connecticut, ask that it be ex- tended. Members press closer about him and give undivided attention until be concludes his speech, resuming his seat. The Speaker announces & message from the Senate, among other things a bill removing the political disabilities of certain persons, and one of them, Reagan, the Postmaster General of the South- ern Confederacy and a former member of Con- Bress, who sat near Mr. Stephens all through his speech, This over, General Butler was the first to shake hands across the vloody chasm, congratulat- ‘mg the gentleman from Georgia on nis manly assertions, and the debate was continued. General Garfield arose and took some excep- tions to the position assumed by the gentie- man from Georgia, Mr, Samuel Randall then looked at the matter from a Pennsylv: a point of view, which was that he voted for the increased pay and proposed to rise or fallon his action, Mr. Kasson spoke [strongly im favor of the bill offered by the minor- ity. Mr. Clarkson Potter said that the saaries paid were not enough for members to live upon; but a8 the people demanded a repeal of the present law he should so vote. Mr. Storm, of Pennsylvania, tried to lay the burden of the bill upon the Senatorial members of the Committee of Conference last year. He opposed the bill then, but as long as it was passed he took the money and is going to Keep it. Alvah Crocker, of Massa- chasetts, was the first funny man of the day. His allusions to the letter received from a con- stitvent telling him that he ought to be on Blackball Island because he took the back pay, his disposition of the salary after he had drawn it, his sickness before he made over the grab bo the United States and dis immediass The Effects of the Lost Captain Briggs and Family. Tne Treasury Department is advised that the Collector of Customs at New York has received from Gibraltar sixteen packages containing the effects of B. 8. Briggs, master of the missing brig Mary Celeste, and of his wife and child, It will be remembered that the vessel was found derelict on the high seas, uninjured, and with the effects of all on board apparently undisturbed, on her voyage from New York to Genoa, the master, his wife and child and the crew all having mysteriously disap- peared, leaving no trace. They have never been heard from since, though every effort has been made by the government to ascertain their fate. The Bill Appointing a Commiss: on Liquor Traffic. Mr. William E. Dodge, of New York; Judge Pitman, of Massachusetts; A. M. Powell, of the National Temperance Advocate, and others, ex- pect to have a hearing betore the House Judiciary Committee at an early day in behalf of @ bill pro- viding for the appointment of a commission to in- vestigate the liquor traMc, They will advocate the passage of the bill introduced in the Senate by Mr, Howe, of Wisconsin, Confirmations by the Senate. The Senate, in executive session to-day, con- firmed the following nominations :— Jonn A. bee end of Ohio, to be Envoy Ex- Minister Plenipotentiary to Tpan, troardinary ant vice Charles B. Long, resigned; William L. of Georgia, Minister Resident to the scragee, United States of Columbia, vice 8. A, Hurlbert, resigned; James H. Howe, United States District Jud for the Eastern district of Wisconsin, vice Andrew G, Miller, resigned; ¥. Torbert, to be Con- sul General at Paris. Collectors af Internal Revenue.—Edgar P. Snow, for Wyoming Territory; Thomas P. Fuller, for Mon- bn Constantine Maguire, First District of Mis- Postm@sieroeObarien Frapm Qt Kenosha. Wis.: | for poner work. that 1 owe someting J, ©. Starkweather, Oconomowok, Wis.; Irwin Heath, Oshkosh, Wis, ; Jerome L. Sheboy- gan, Wis.; Philip Allen, Jr., Mineral Point, Wis. ; heodore Stewart, Debare, Wis, ; Robert Shields, Neenah, Wis.; Luman 8. Gilkey, Rockport, Ind. ; Cyrus T, Prouty, Carlinville, Ul. ; John K. Hotaling, Rochelle, I, The Southern Claims Commission. It appears from the report of the Southern Claims Commission that the gross amount of claims filed is $60,000,000 and the aggregate amount Passed on $10,000,000, there remaining 17,000 claims, amounting to $50,000,000, to be adjudicated, The amount claimed in the whole number of cases reported 1s $4,718,891, and the amount allowed in settlement of the 1,093 approved claims is $644,365, an average allowance of $590 to each claimant, STAGE REFORM. Dion Boncicault Gives His Views on the Theatre of the Future—-New York Too Critical—Italian Opera Sensuons— “ Anti-Puff” Defends Our Critic and Attacks “Led stray.” About four o’clock yesterday afternoon a HERALD reporter walked up the stoopof a house in East } Fifteenth street, between Broadway and Fiftn ave- nue, ‘The number is 20, and the bons vivants of this city know it well. The second foor of this house is occupied by Mr. Boucicault, Having ascertained that “the master spirit of the English stage’? was at home, the HERALD reporter was promptly shown into his apartment. Two rooms thickly carpeted and the walls hung with blue merino, the doors taken off their hinges and curtains filling their Openings, a secretary busily engaged scripbling in one room and Mr. Boucicault similarly engaged in the other, were the objects the H#RaLD reporter silently admired until the dramatist had finished concocting some pretty speech. He rose and joined the HERALD reporter, who explained the object of his visit, and with the same curt rapidity he shows in his plays when he jumps at once into the ac- tion of the story, so he plunged at once into business. Having expressed the hope we had not intruded in a moment of inspiration, Mr, Boucicault answered, “No. I was at the mo- ment replying to one of the most delightful letters I have ever received; there it 1s.” He handed to me a letter, which proved to be from the company of Union Square Theatre, pay- ing Mr. Boucicault many delightful compliments on the excellence of his new play, and thanking him for the help of his experience in preparing their several rdles, REPORTER—You have stated that you have the intention of making the attempt to revive the legitimate drama in New York. Mr. BouvcicauT—I have arranged with Mr. Wallack, Mr. Daly and Messrs. Shook & Palmer to try the experiment upon the public at their three theatres almost simultaneously. The new comedy at Wallack’s will be produced in Christmas week. Mr. Daly will produce my third comedy on Monday, the 5th of January. ach of these works requires an audience of the highest intelligence to understand it, They are comedies of character and conversation, in which melodramatic (pow called sensational) effects have been avoided. REPORTER—Which do you consider to be the best of the three? Mr. BoucicauLt—The most experienced dram- atist cannot undertake to distinguish the merit of any work previously to performance, The public alone can decide, In “Led astray” Ihad the as- sistance of Octave Feuillet, In Wallack’s piece I have also derived some of the material trom others. In Daly’s comedy I have relied on my own resources. You may therefore fairly conclude that, two heads being better than one, my original comedy will not be the best of the three. ReporTeR—Is it fair to ask you the title of the comedy you have writien for Mr. Daly’s theatre ? Mr. BoucicavuLr (aiter a little hesitation)—Well, it 18 called “The Bridal Tour.” REPORTER—Do you call “Led Astray” siriotly a legitimate play ? Mr. BovcicavuLT—Strictly so. If legitimate, as applied to the drama, means anythiug, it signifies a work in which the sole object of the plot is to exhibit character. The interest in trueSolumedy lies not in following the tncidents, but in watching the development of the characters subjected toa series of incidents, which should not be more nu- merous than necessary for that development. REPORTER—You maintain, then, that Astray” is a purely legitimate play? Mr. BoUcICAULT—AS purely so as any that have ever been presented as such at the Thédtre Fran- ais, Were they are critically sensitive, REPORTER—How about its morality ? Mr. BoucicauLi—It is not so immoral as “Othello,” nor as the “School for Scandal,” nor as “London Assurance.’ But morality is a question of convention, a8 decency is a matter of jashion, We expose to-day whac we covered up a century 0. REPORTER—Have you any faith in the result of your experiment on public taste? Don’t you think the audiences of the day are degraded by “Black Crooks” and variety shows? Mr. BoucicauLT—I think they have had a surfeit of such entertainments, and, although there is a Jarge section of the public who desire a sensual spectacle, there is an important minority craving for more intellectual !ooa. RerorTER—You mean the upper class? Mr. BoucicavLt—No, Ido not. This upper class is devoted to a sensual entertainment oi another kind, much more destructive to the drama than “Black Crooks.”” REPORTER—What do you mean? Mr. BovcicavLt—I mean the Italian opera; that bastard, misbegotten creature. Have you ever ob- served the expression on the faces of an audience at the opera? How sensuous it is; how full of ani- mal enjoyment! The science of music can no fur- ther go than the captivation of the senses, Itis simply & pleasure; a sweet and very innocent one, I admit, but the nonsense “that is writ ten about it amazes me, I have seen the greatest singers since Malibran, and there is not one of them that would be tolerated in a third class theatre asan actress. Music, like Charity, covers up @ multitude of sins in them. Yet the acting of these artists is lauded above the skies, I believe this 13 tue mania of the century. From Adelina Patti down to Mumbo Jim in Christy's Minstrels, music hath made sdiots ofus all. It is the esthetic stimulant of the day, and we are all in the condition of harmonic deliriam tremens, When a nation becomes thoroughly musical, as Greece did in its decadence, as Italy has done within the last 300 years, it is a sure sign of soften. Ua Ae the national brain. REPORTER—You maintain that music had no ‘ht to invade the drama in the shape of opera? BovcicavLt—It is properly an adjunct, as ehnery, or costume; bnt opera is a hybrid crea- ture. speak as one who has written operas; I mean, of course, the words ior an opera. ‘he re- quirements of the music oblige a ridiculous distor- tion of the subject. For example, | assisted in arranging my drama, the ‘Colleen Bawn,” for an Opera for the composer Sir Julius Benedict. The shape it was obliged to assume was more than rovesque, All that was dramatic and poetic fed rom the subject. It lost all s! and symmetry. The charm of the music was ung like a golden drapery over the wooden thing, it served asa hideous lay _ serves to exhibit the gracetul folds of & mantle, Reronres—I see you aré not enthusiastic about music. Mr. BovucicavLT—I am, in its proper piace. I think a symphony ol Beethoven the most exquisite specimen of pure esthetics ever imagined. I ob- ject to the musical drama as I would to a woolly horse, It is @ monster, REPORTER—You believe also that it indisposes a large and Wealthy and educated class of the com- munity vo visit the theatre, Mr. Boucicavit—1 am sure of it, The higher class of drama calls on their brains for too much effort. Itis not that they want brains, but their brains dawdle, KEPORTER—Do you expect your new comedies to be played in New York as well as they could be played in London or in Paris? r. BOUCICAULT,—Much better than they could be played in London; not better than they could be played at the Theatre Francais, at the Gymnase orat the Vaudeville, The performance of ‘Led Astray,” at the Union Square Theatre, is better than any I have seen in London since 1844, No theatre in that city has @ group of artists like those employed in that piece. If a selection were made irom ‘all the comedians in Great Britain [ doubt if a single company could be collected to- gether to play the “School for Scandal” in a man- ner that would be tolerated in this city. The truth 1s New York has been spoiled and is not aware of what excellent theatrical entertainments it t. It has been surfeited with the cream of all hat was Ui) in Europe, and it has put its standard of excellence too high—ar above concert pitch, When | saw that performance of “Led Astray parang aside my piece Series felt the audience did not know how good it was; and when I perceived in the journals the cool way in which they spoke of the admirable acting 1 was sure my impression was right. RerorTsr—If the production of these three comedies should not answer all your expectations, what step do you propose to take then? Mr, BOUCICAULT—I shall write three better ones, I can aiford to stand @ want of appreciation from the public—I have had so much favor when I earned but littie. Ihave been rewarded so highly Wo bhom “Led and to myself. The pleasure I feel in reflecting that 1 dia Service to the Lrish dr: and ageetion regard | have ‘rows Aero? on ‘this account gives me the ambit re) at I can do in a broader field, ReroxrER—Your announcement caused some bit- ter remarks in the press, Mr. BovcicauLt—Oh, I don’t mind that. 1 am like Earetian one who fortune’s buffets and rewards can take witn equal thanks; read the bitterest attacks with attention and respect if 1 think they written earnestly and conscientiously, rv) rom these I learn my faults. RerorrgR—The favorite point of attack is that Jou crehede ata nae eRe ae Bocca =I might answer as Moltere: aia en reproached in precisely the same words :— "Je prende mon bien Cu Ye wowve.?” I take a good ny wnerever but I am content ply tha that it of pieces Mmyent them all, and as I require, Since last March 1 have written “Daddy O'Dowd,” “Mora,” “Mimi,” “bed Astray,” the comedy for Mr. Wallack, the comedy 10) ' Daly, an Irish drama, exclusive of articles and con- tributions to periodicals, Add to this that I have pia ed for twenty weeks and superintended the uilding and decoration of a new theatre, REPORTER—The press may Shing you do not re- gard them with sumicient réspect Mr. BoucicauLt—They are mistaken. Ihave no leisure, nor have I the taste to frequent the places of social resort, where, perhaps if I were more seen and better known, I might overcome the prejudice some people I have never seen entertain about me. I am extremely sorry to excite ani- mosity in any one, Some persons have the misior- tune to provoke it—I may say to radiate it. REPORTER—You are generally called the best abused man in the dramatic world? Mr. BOUCICAULT—It is @ pre-eminence of some sort. I must reflect with some satisfaction that I never say @ word, nor allow a word to be said in bs 4 presence, against anybody. You have no idea what a saving ot time it is. Rerorrer—When do you expect to get your new theatre open? Mr. BovcrcavLt—You mean the Park Theatre. Pardon the correction. It is not mine. It belongs to Mr. W. Stuart, who has engaged me to superin- tend the entertainments. The theatre will, | think, be ready in February. The Other Side of the Story—Anti-Puff and Anti-Immorality. To THE EpiToR oF THE HERALD:— The critics of your critic’s remarks on Bouci- cault’s “Astray” are good at calling names, but not one of them understands what he is writing about or the real question at issue. Your corre- spondent, ‘Fiibbertigibbet,” endeavors at great length to prove that it is impossible to impugn the moral of “Astray.”? I did not understand your critic to attack its morality further than to say it was of the worst type of French drama, for he expressly declared that in tue selection of the subject matter of a dramatic representation he would allow the widest latitude. In any allusion he may have made to the morality 1 think it was not in the temptation of the wife that he saw the immorality, else I cannot account for his exception of Miss Eytinge when he said the piece was played as if the morals of the audience were as bad as those of the play. Let us see what ground there is for this. I have seen Mr. Thorne in this part ef the Count and !n many others and I never yet saw him play a gentleman. His gentie- men are the kind who rest their elbows on tavern bars and talk blatant profanity about their in- trigues, His Count de Chandoce is this kind of a fellow. He makes love to a vulgar adventuress, who plies her vocation all through the piay and looks and acts like the commonest street pad of the city, Nolady, such as Miss Eytinge’s Chandoce, would mistake Miss Weathersby’s Miss O'Hara for @ virtuous woman. The appointment of the rendezvous at the opera, made by means of the bouquet im the apart- ments of Chandoce, and the hinted interview in the garden are suggestive of such an intrigue as only a blackguard would promote and in which only @ most abandoned woman would take part. The introduction of such a creature to the house of pure woman in order to turther the husband's guilty love isa frightinl piece of immorality. In these remarks I wish to make no reflections upon Miss Weathersby further than to say that her em- bodiment of the part—an embodiment strictly in keeping with the conception of the dramatist—is such as no decen$ man cares to look upon, much more to bring to the notice oi his wife and daughter. Acommon woman practising the arts of her profes- sion in a play where all the parts are acted, as in this one, as fit companions of such a heroine is not @ moral lesson, to say the least of it, but a com- plete justification of your critic's remark. But I conceive that I, as well as your corre- spondents, have wandered from the real question at issue between Mr. Boucicault and your critic. If I read the criticism aright it was Mr. Boucicauit’s pretensions and his impudent falsity to those pre- tensions against which your critic was contending. After Boucicault’s letter in yesterday’s HERALD I presume his sublime egotism and vanity will not bedoubted, Perhaps it would be best to call his claim to be considered the only dramatist of the age impertinent impudence—too impudent to be merely impertinent and too childish to be aito- gether impudent. This was even more fully tilus- trated by his conduct at the Union Square Theatre on Saturday night. It is well known that this theatre is equipped witha well organized ana @ thoroughly effictent claque. It is one of those singularly conducted theatres which are always full, though other places of amusement be empty. Its “paper” even flows into the Lotos and other clubs for distribution. Under such circumstances it is not to be wondered at that its claque should be so effective that its attachés, irom the manager to the scene painter, should be frequently called before the curtain. It was in obedience to the call of this claque that Mr. Boucicault, after having been escorted to the theatre by a delegation of fifteen, was called before the curtain at the close of the third act. Up to this time it was firmly claimed that “‘Astray’? was an original comedy of the same class with “VUld Heads and Young Hearts.” We were toid that this comedy “was in Mr. Boucicault’s best vein.” And it was thus he came and bowed his acknowledgments to the audience; but he did not acknowledge, in turn, that it was in somebody else’s vein also. If he desired to share the honor with his “personal friend,” M. Cctave Feuillet, then was the time for the “divide,” ior the same obedient clague whioh called him to the footlights in the first instance could easily have brought him back for a speech. But no, and it was not till the final fall of the curtain and after he had been gibed for his false pretensions of authorship that the real author got any share of the glory. When it is considered that the play is not high class legitimate comedy at all, and that this vase trick had been practised upon an intelligent audience, [ think your critic was right in being indignant and telling Mr. Boucicault that his baseless claim that bis ‘“‘Astray’’ is of the same order as his “Old Heads and Young Hearts’ is simply to suppose that all the world but he are doits and fools. As I understood your critic he was castigat- ing Mr. Boucicault tor endeavoring to practise two distinct frauds upon the public—one in claiming credit for the authorship of a play written by some- body else, and the the other in seeking to pass of @ putrescent French. drama as moral, high toned, first class English comedy. English playwriting in which the characters breathe a manly and womanly spirit and the situations are as pure as love itself is pure is one thing, but French comedy in which married women lapse from virtue, or are tempted to lapse from virtue, is another, Mr. Boucicault gave us the latter, and he called it by the name of the former at the same time that he and his managers declared that they were testing the public taste by keeping the illicit relations of the sexes off the stage. Now that Mr. Boucicault has made reparation to M. Feuillet it mignt be well to give John Brougham @ part of the credit for “London Assurance,” and several other playwrights may have unrecognized claims upon his new sense of justice, Thus this companioniess dramatist will pe not only the greatest dramatic writer of the age, but many other persons will get credit for plays he has long called his own. Putting aside the advertising qualities of the communications of your three cor- respondents, I think, if I have properly understood your critic’s intention, that I have answered all of them, and ¢ven the modest Dion himself. The pub- lic may understand from the manner of Mr. Thorne and Miss Weathersby what “Playgoer’s” opinion of the “‘well-bred finish” of the acting is worth or “Flibbertigibbet’s” flibbertigibbet praise, inde. pendent dramatic criticism is something to be promoted and defended, not condemned, and I am glad to believe your critic was right in this matter, and thas J am. AWTLREPR. i —— POLITICS AND POVERTY Mass Meeting of Workingmen at the Cooper Institute Last Night. RELIEF FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. es Communism and the Internation- alists to the Rescue. Every Man His Own Capitalist—No Speculator to Make More Than $300,000 a Year— Salaries of All City Officials To Be Re- duced to $5,000 Per Year—The Gov- ernment to Provide Shelter, Clothing and Food for Everybody Who Cannot Get It for Himself. Outside and inside Cooper Institute last night the workingmen of this clty made what is known as a‘‘demonstration.” At the entrance to the building two speakers’ stands were placed, and these were occupied by ‘‘workingmen” orators. One stand was appropriated by tne German and the other by the Englisp speakers, Inside, the crypt of the institute was packed with a dense mass of the sons of toil, bearing unquestioned marks upon their countenances that they were liv- ing laborious days, and that life to them wasa very earnest, practical thing. On the platform was an array of men and women, the features of nearly all of whom were familiar to the frequenters of the various “International” and ‘Communistic” sec- tions which held their meetings in different parts of the city during the Franco-German war. The ladies wore the “crimson tie” of the Commune, and were as demonstrative, determined and ex- citable as these women generally are. Among these were “Minnie Merton,” the celestial kite- flier. The chair was taken by Theodore H. Banks, who, it will be remembered, was at one time Presi- dent of the Internationalists of the city. The platform was decorated with a variety of mottoes of aCommunistic order, and included the follow- ing :— Government Employment a Remedy for Strikes. We Want No India Kubber Dollar, We Demand a Suspension of Rent for Three Months. A Pill tor Panics—Graduated Taxes, whe Workingmen Begin to Think Monopoly Begins to Trembie. We Strike at Evils, Not at Men. ee General that Commands This Army is the General stress, Man's Avarice Must Be Limited. We Have Sworn Upon the Altar of Justice that the Wealth Barned by Labor Shall Pay the Taxcs. The Unemployed Demand Work. The Dawn ef Liverty—December I, 1873. Death to Monopoly. Does Speculation or Labor Create Wealth ? Grand Labor Rally. We Mean Business. Politicians, Please Take a Back Seat. The speeches were, with one or two exceptions, delivered by the prominent members of the Work- ingmen’s Union, and comprised the usual negation of all the accepted principles of political economp and the recommendation of the equal distribution of accumulated wealth all round. The working- men who were present received all these state- ments with incredulity and surprise, anda were evi- dently under the impression that they had been asking either for bread or work, and were getting only the stone of played-out Internationslism. . THE CHAIRMAN’S SPEECH. THEODORE H. Banks said that he had every rea_ son to be thankiul that the meeting approved of his past action. The committee who had got up this meeting had “no axes to grind” of their own, All they sought was to obtain measures by which thousands new out of employ may get work. (Ap- plause.) 1t was not only to meet the present panic that this scheme was devised, but also to meet the general question of labor. He then recited the programme of the meeting, and afterwards called upon the next speaker. STATISTICS AS TO THE UNEMPLOYED. Mr. BLAIR read the Jollowing report of the com- mittee appointed to examine into the number and Kovvestbaties of the anemiployed werking people of this city:— First—We would state hat we have investigated the condition of the working classes, in order to learn as rly as possible the number ot ‘idle men and women; to searn if their idleness be enforced or voluntary. ‘Second—We would report that there are at this time 10,00 idle working peonle walking our streets, seekiug employment or charity by day and sleeping in charitabie institutions, station houses, stables, carts and involuntary idlers. hallways at night, all of whom ar that in this whole ta million human beings there are only 1,200 so-called vagrants outside of almshouses. We also find that only about s5irce beds are furnished in the whole city, and that 60 of these are provided by a private citizen, at No. 510 Pearl street, the most of the balance being furnisued by the Young Men's Christian Association. . 5 We turther learn that 11 trades in this city usually employing 26,20 men, only employ 5,950 at this time, leaving 20,26) industrious men in ebforced idleness. ‘We nlso find that there are to-day 182000 men, mem- bers of various organizations, seeking work, not charity, in this State, and thatin the’ United States among me: chanics and blacksmiths alone $2,000 are demanding Jabor, ‘The number of unskilled workmen and of unemployed women it is Impossible to learn. We als) find that 60.00) people live in tenement houses in the city; 100,000 females who earn their own living. We would state, also, that this number of 182,000 men idle in the State of New York, represents nearly 1,000,000 human sonlseutirely dependent upon them. And we find, also, that over 200) men and women ‘are turned away mghtly trom our station houses, and that these Places are reeking with gith and vermin and have be: come living charnel hollses, and that those who find shelter im them are worse provided for than the criml- } nals nnder the same roof. We Jearnea from the Commisstoners of Charity that more than 200 respectable poor persons And lodging each night upon the floor of our overcrowded alimshouses, and that no more can be admitied under preseut pro: visions. We learn further, that from the various lodging houses for women and girls, about 100 per night are turned away to the mercies of the street, and that many helpless wo- meu, widows and children, find themselves on the streets for Hon-payment of rent, and totally unable to provide, themselves with food, and that the average wages of 38,100 working Wonien’ and children In this city is $3 34 per, week, even when work Is urnished them. We learned trou the branch office of the Young Men’s Christian Association, in the Bowery, that this organiz tion bas 1,000 names of honest, industrious men stanci upon its books waiting tor work, and that 15,000 app cations were made for places, and that out of this nuni ber only 26 men obtained situations during one month. At this place 1,000 men can be fed per day, receivin either a Low! of soup, or a cup of coffee and a half poun of bread, for five cenis.. At the Strangers’ Rest, No. 510 Pear! street, we found 20 clean, comfortable beds, with warm rooms and every convenience for bathing, shaving, and washing clothing and person, also a pleasant reading room and two substan- tial meals @ day tor all who apply—tree. An examination of tne books showed that during last year 1,200 men found employment rom this place, and that the major! plying for relier are teachers, clerks, skilled mech with here and there a laborer. The cook we iound to be & graduate of a colle Be. ‘e would state that this pare ts povaed by a private citizen and maintained entirely at his own expense. A member of this committee saw at the residence of this same citizen 1.500 starving men and women fed in one day, and 40 industrious, law abiding men lodged in his stable at night, . ‘We further found all of the charitable institutions in the city overcrowded, and, notwithstanding they were their means admitted, were still obliged to turn away hundreds unaccommodated. ‘We learned from the President of the Commissioners of Charity that the funds to relieve the poor were wholly led. The committee visited the President of the Citizens’ and Chureh organizations, formed to consider the destitution of the poor in the city, and drew from their interview the iact that nothing had been or could be ope outside the limited channels of charity already rovided. * ‘they ‘also visited the Comptroller and Mayor, but were unable to obtain a hearing from these gentlemen, al- though other visitors were freely admitted. Your commit further learned from the heads of dif- ferent departments that the law already provides tor city. improvements, appropriations bad already been made and contracts entered into that would furnish em- ployment to 50,000 men, and that 30,000 could immediately be put to, work to advantage to the city; but we also Jearned that the city tressury 1s bankrup' All of which is respectfully submitted, RESOLUTIONS. ‘The following resolutions were read by Mr. JoHN HURLBUT, and then adopted with acclamation :— Whereas we are passing through @ great financial cri- sis, which has throw suddenly and without warn. ing, and through no it of our own, out of work; and urselves and all who are dependent upon hus deprived of all the necessaries ot life, through the government sanctioning, without our consent, nora lation by @ few individuals in our circulating mediums, which has been the sole cause of the panic; and whereas we are industrious. law abiding oe ait who have alwa: paid our taxes and given our entire allegiance and su port to the government, even in its time of peril durii the late war, by our work and ae up arms in its fence; and whereas we wish to avuid outrage on and deprec the means of obtaining the ne- of ehurity, Dut as law-abiding citizens, whose right It of chal ut as law-abiding citizen: to demand'these. from the gove which we have always protected and supported; ore, Resolved, That a in this our time of need, supply ourselves and our tf smilies ‘with proper shelter land he necessaries of lite, and will send ail our bills for the same to the city treasury to be liquidated) until nd time as Myce Ter AG Ata” he edd olen. Resolved, That we wiil no! ewer cae id pay tor at stant nnd Yentire abrogation of nment contract syste! fo Supervisor Mullett or flomat thereutting down. the in fe or extending the hours of nd persistently demand that legal day’s Work in all priv me future we will demand the immediate enactment a law that shall limit the accumulations of any vidual, ie,% sgrmen having i in his wasn shall pre- vent any man or me: s OF thelr power a any time to lock up our circulating whe be gold, stocks or greenbacks. ber Ie esol at we will at this time appotnt » Commit tee of Safety from this assembly, whose duty it will be to look alter and protect the interests of all the people, and, if need be, enforce them; said committee to have power to increase its numbers @s occasion demands, andi dismiss any member for cause. Resolved, That this Committee ot Safety shall have) power to.call « convention of all the representatives o industry in the United States to consider the interests all the people, and to form plans for their united actior and thatthe secretary correspond with labor organiza- tions, farmers’ granges and the various representati' of industry, with a view to insure harmony and concer@ of action fii the convention. Resolved, That this Committee of Safety shall call = meeting of all the industries of this city, whenever It is seeme expedient, to give force and expression to theis acl . Tesolved, That we recognize in the farmers’ ee movement throughout the country our most efficient cov workers in the limitation principle, and bid them Bod speed in combating with the hydra monster of monopo! Upon our national highways. WALL STREET DENOUNCED. After the reading.of the resolutions it was pros osed irom the audience that “ail them thieves im) all street and Broad street be arrested.” This' was received with immense cheering and laughter.' SPEECH OF DR, FREDRIC A. PALMER. Dr. Frederic A. Palmer commenced his speech by de; sorang the misery of the unemployed; then commente, “Tammany Ring” doings and the “reform” e difference between which he descriped as 1ol- The Tammany “Ring” divided the spoils with, the working people, who earned the money, while the: reform party have. on the contrary, put all, the money put them into office. He then gave his views. of political economy, which were as follows :— First—We find that many laws are put upon the statute, books for the protection of the privileges, not mghts, of capital, thus rendering the unsuspicious working people, | who have entrusted their interests to unscrupulous re-. resentatives, who foe money or place have betraye: heir Seay onerly. Darplare. Therefore, tor the protee-, tion of all the people in their inalienable rights, ag’ against the privileges of capital, and in order to compel! capital oa to a level with labor, we shall, first, legislators to put upon our statute books this law 104 law ever be enforced until it has first been Sabai mitted to the people and sanctioned by the people.” (Loud cheers.) ‘Second—In order that Isbor may stand on its natural level with capital (which is the product of labor), whereas it is always found expedient, necessary and) wise to limit the wages of working people who produce, or create all capital (in order that all soph there may live),' until we have well nigh destroyed the liberties of our: whole people; therefore, to the end that we may keep! the scales between capital and labor evenly balanced, and to insure the healthful conditions of the whois; body politic, we now deem it expedient, wise! and absolutely necessary to limit the cum! jor! of capital we shall be fhandandy able; to accomplish the ends which political economists in alk. countries have so long and so vainly sought—viz, the natural, peaceful and harmonious union between the two! most important elements in solecy eaves and labor. When we have accomplished this limitation of capital we have embraced all other limitations, and have done away forever with the whole wicked, unjust machinery’ , tor the support of waich you pay enormous gala~ ies and fees to sheriffs, county Clerks, judges and law- yers and their innumerable satellites, for supporting and) protecting capital, in privileges (not rights). cause our) we have put it beyond the power of any vidual to lock up circulating mediums, by law that shall prohibit ' any passing a Inatviduat holding a sum ot money large enough to be determined by the wellbeing of society, we have stopped the leak through the bunghole of our political economy and puta stop forever to speculation in our gold, green- backs or Bonds, which is legalized gambling: | When we have passed the law of limitation tor capital and thus stop to the gambling in our moneys, then, nly, will it be possible tor us to have a curs rency, the steady and even flow of which into the hands of the people will never be interrupted it any gam- bier in Wall street or any other " street should fail and all of the banks in the United States be- come bankrupt, for our sole currency will then be the greenback, based upou all the taxes of the nation, issued directly to’ the people in the same manner ihat the, postage stamp now is, and which atone time during the war was largely circulated as currency; and as the amount of real, not speculative, wealth of the nation will be increased lov told, by limiting capital and ens couraging labor, there can ever be ally lack of curreny:y: that shall consequently cripple industry. ADDRESS OF GEORGE H. HART. Mr. Hart said:— Fe.vow Crtizens—I hold in my hand a paper whic! rports to be the Second Declaration of Independence, ‘ou all remember the circumstances under which the: first was given. Then a brave people, crushed by, oppression of Great Britain, proclaimed to the world that all men were created equal, and that ail had an inallen- able pant to life, uberty and the pi From this declaration sprang our public, thence arose this, our right to be heard on the affairs o' the nation. One hundred years have scarce elapsed sineo) the first declaration was le, and we, lescendants' of its framers, have learned that though men be created) equal they yet suffer wnegosliy, and tbat the phantom! happiness, though ever pursued, is never overtaken. find that life is maintafned too often at thi fi liberty or of that which 1s far more od, For, under existing laws, the houseless, hu: mechanic has two alternatives to choose from—whether to enter the Poorhouse and become a pauper or to com- mit a crime and besentto the Penitentiary. In the latter place only will ne be well fed. Our declaration of inde- pendence is not to withdraw our allegiance from our gov- ernment; but it is to declare ourindepenndence for ever- more from the tyranny of poverty and to proclaim the emancipation of labor. If, in the olden time, to be a Roman, citizen were to be greater than a king, then should the ‘American citizen be greater than an emperor. Surely in | this land there is many a hungry sbirdess monarch, who! in sorrow waiks the streets, and many an infant prince lies starving on its mother’s breast. Would you, 0 men; ot America, prefer poverty to prosperity, disgrace to honor, . slavery freedom? Nol’ A thou- sand ' times, “no! Then rise the majesty of your manhocd, and swear upon the altar of justice, in the presence of the Supreme sudge of the universe, that the wealth earned by the people shall pay the taxes; that the word “pauper” shall be forever banished trom the statute books and thatthe laws shall become the protectors, not the destroyers, ot the people. And your vow shall be recorded In the heavens and the angels will rejoice that man at length is tree. Speeches were made aiterwards in German and French, and the meeting broke up about ten o'clock. MBE. FEOHTER AS OLAUDE MSLNOTTE AT THE LYCEUM Last evening Mr. Charles Fechter, with a come pany not possessing particular merit, played Bul- wer’s romantic play, “The Lady of Lyons.” The Ciaude Melnotte of Mr. Fechter is a very fine study of the romantic school. It gives play to the grace of his training as well as the manly vigor which he Knows how to impart with the rapidity of lightning in the midst of the most tender passages. Indeed, alter nis Ruy Bias, the gardener’s son may be said to rank best in his romantic répertotre. It does not depend less on trick, like Lagardere in the “Duke’s Motto,” where such effective use is made of a hump. The indifference of the support but little marred the effectiveness of his portrayal, although it would be Mighly desirable that the other materials, such as they are, should pe drilled into something like order. Beauseant, Mr. Henry Dalton, was presented as a highly-cooked dra- matic villain, and stumbled in his-lines, The minor parts, such as Gaspar, Glavis and Mons. Des- chappelles, were poor as posstble, redeemed a little by the Landlord, Mr. Dan Leeson, who, if he did not jump so much and grimaced a little less, would be excellent, Of the gentlemen, Colonel Damas only remains to be alluded to. Mr. Wheatleigh is not altogether the bluff Colonel designed by the author. He js a littie too cool for the part, but does not jose his balance as most of the support do. The Pauline of the evening was Miss Minnie Fos- ter. This lady 18 youag and prepossessing and looked well last night, but in the test scene, in the widow’s cottage, where Claude dis- covers his bumble parentage to the haughty Lyonnaise beauty, Miss Foster failed to respond avequately to the position, Her passion was feeble and her struggle with her love at the magic of Claude's Words was laintly marked by @ stare. she is not ungracefu) and may do better, but sne mus& not be afraid of getting into a downright passion wher the occasion demands. ‘the Widow Melnotte was very iairiy played by Mrs. J. L. Carhart, but Mrs. Soi Smith was @ rather vulgar ime. Deschappelles. The management claim some in- duigence ou the ground 0! hasty preparation, bus that wili not compensate the pubiic, Which pays to see a Gnished periormance. The programme wilt be repeated until further notice and at the Satar- day matinee. THE AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH. Demonstration of the New System at the New York Office=Messages Passing Between the Postmaster of this City and the Postmaster of the United States. ‘The Automatic Telegraph Company gave a demon- stration, last evening, of the capabilities of its sys- tem of telegraphy by the transmission of messages between its Washington office and its headquar- ters at No. 66 Broadway. The exhibition was made for the purpose of justifying Secretary Creswell in having applied certain phrases of commendation to the system in his recent report. There were present at the New York office Postmaster James, Assistant Postmaster Pierson and General Super intendent Yeomans, who received despajches from fand sent replies to Postmaster General Creswell 5 ey and Sherman and a number of Senators Ratvere at the Washington office. ‘The wonderful precision with which Post Office officiais are kept at duty 1s possibly illustrated by the firss. despatch of Secretary Creswell, wherein he in- kindly after the health of Pestmasier es and if he were ready for service, The Post- r replied, with equal concern, that his healta good and his desire for work intense, The Automatic ‘Yelegraph Company claims that tem of which it 19 the owner is capable of itting despatches at @ speed about eight times as great as that of the Morse system. The full strength o1 the battery is utilized. The de- spatches are first prepared, their matter veing transierred {0 slips of paper by means of a perforat- mg machine. These slips are placed upon volving upon the paper, which is a non-conductor, passes over the perforations, This despatch is received at its destination on prepared paper, on which the dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet are im- printed, This short statement of the automatic system of telegraphy develops its Loy ity, ana its capacity seems to be limited only by the scar+ city of expert Sopris of the despatches from the Morse hieroglyphics. This capacit; robabiy best illustrated by the statement that the Preei- dent’s Message was sent to Pottaville. Pa. irom New York in 46 minutes.