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Leader (1850-1860), 8th March 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 236, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      portion of his book , they do not fill all ; Mr . Ewbank is too good a traveller xic [ tto observe * and to describe other aspects of Brazilian life , as well as the gorgeous natural scenery of . the coast and interior . One of his chapters is particularly or iginal . It is a study in colours—a chromatic view of the ocgan , with all the lights and shades , and changes noted from hour to hour . Tfttie Brazilians seem to have caught from the variegations of their landscapes a ' singular fondness for ^ olour . They bury youths and virgius in blue , yellow , and scarlet coffins , and often dress the dead in white , green , and gold-coloured silk . Their houses are stuccoed , and sometimes painted in pink , red , and amber panels , with gilt cornices and borders .

      ., MJr . Ewbank was in Brazil when the Imperial Budget for 184 7-48 appeared . Th ^ lists of officials and pensioner suggested to Mm a chapter on Brazilian Barnes . The results are . sufficiently curious . -Among " " primitive patronyrnics / ' we find Angelica Dead Branch , Amelia Quiet , Imogen Pilchard , Clara of , the JFrying Pans , Flora Scourge of the House , . Claudihe Little Fin , Good Shepherdess of the Coast of Navarre , Joaquim the Sucking Pig of Almeida , ittfirie of thjgi Olive Tree Beautiful , Isabella of the Great Beard , Barbara of the ' Doorbolt , Innocencia the Torch of Armda . Others are combinations of prhnitiye surnames : Mary of the Partridge ami Brook , Maurel of tlie Shucking Kg and Banner , Barbara of the Latch and Spider , Anne Woe to

      Alencon . Still more fantastic are—Purification and Male Partridge , Purity and the Sparrow-Hawk , Cross-bowman of the Saints . Mr . Ewbank found a vpine-merchant named Sylvan Milk , Simon of Nazareth , a gunsmith , Michael , Archangel o Miranda , a paper-hanger , Augustus Caesar Orange , a customhous e clerk , and Antonio Jose of the Holy Plough Tail Handle , a secretary . % ' . * PP v Theatrfetthe ; bbx-keeper was called John Aranjo of the Holy Spirit , ascene-shifteiv Joseph of the Nativity , one of the actors , A Flaw from a £ * J *? S ?^ - Certain fatherss of the Church , having eccentric appellations , gkvgiho ^ ght fit to change them , as did Setgius , siirnamed Os Porci . Senor SuiC ^ g ^ ig hovrever is ^^ not yet ashamed of his patronymic : Ifi' ^ W ^ a ^' s volume an idea may be gained of the social aspects of BS&Jl b ^ lF-way in the nineteenth century . The report is not encouraging .

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      J . ^ v - A ' ¦' ¦ WW BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY . Tht ^ g ? i ^ < % elop < 2 did . Conducted -by -Charles Knight . Biography : Part 1 . ««^ . v-. j . "; .-. '" . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - p , * -n- , Braaburyand Evans . i ^^ ^ " of Mr . Knight's adinirable Cyclopssdia—those comprising ^ # ^ 9 lsto 7 geography—being now finished , a third is here entered upon , and we have before us the Mrst Part of a new Biographical Dictionary , whichi ^ wlMai completed , will form a perfect work in itself , and will present a huge v ^ d y of mfbrmatipn on the petsonal history of distinguished men , W ? jm $ .. down j ^ most to' % he day of publication . Glancing over the instalm ^*^ u f * W . torth , we find ifcuch to commend—many evidences that the witrng is sohd . ^ and the editorship generally careful with respect to essentials . ^ M S menof any degree of celebrity are included in this collection , and the very freshest incidents in their lives are not foreatfeen so thatrti * Chirir ^ K with the

      almost , l ^ eps pae e Newspaper . For instance , in the sketch of the ^^ t Russian Emperor , Alexander , we have a . brief mention of his visit to Wf ^^ ea duruig last November - an event which , hut a few weeks ago , we W ^ I ° ^ C ^ S —^ news columns in the form of Latest Intelligence from ? £ MJ War ; The memoirs are written witlk a reasonable fulness of de-^ ^ ra ^ d ^ i conciseness of expression ; and the reade r will perceive S—3 ^ ^ ^ S 9 ^ , 5 ^ system of liberal inclusiveness when we inform " ^ JP ^ li ^ Pr ^ e ^ t part contains a sketch of Mr . Harrison Ainsworth . ^ S ^^ ^ P ^^ T - ^ t ^ ichAve are disposed to quarrel . A ^? , P *? P _ Pr _ tlon ° f * nebiographical history of mankind ennsista in rw *;*

      , ]™ ° » s exhibitions of our nature , the fcnowledge of which itis right to ke « p fr ? m t « e Je ! 7 y ° " ° g » -but which cannot and need not be muffled up from the eyes of adults . Now , a Cyclopaedia is not issued for the benefit of little boys and girls-and an ultra prudery becomes absurd . But upon some such principle it would seer * ithat the Biographical portion of the "English Cyclopaedia" is tobe conducted . Witness thelpe of the Infamous . Pope Alexande / VlSderic * % & * \ . Whose immoralities are delicately skim « ned over . This is a mistake - ^ msfcake which will have the effect of turning History , with its grand and SfSS ^ T ^ &S ^^ t ^ ' * - *•**• -

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      " THE FIRST PRINTER . " JS " y " J «* Pinter" » as vexed a question as that of who " wrote brtit " £ "„« f « 5 " * eKberg * generally credited with the invention ; diabfJl wTm Wn tbat he ^ r a fair claim t 0 { t than that he te * ti ^ for / Ton ^ ! ^ phis-tophus . Haarle m , in Holland , claims the honour devLrtv ^ L < J ) J ' . ^ u ^ nc ^ ^ o ^ tar , who ( according to the story h 7 thfhtt ^ ai J P » f wnatoly asserted by tne Dutch , though denii 8 n «« , raaua ) "' «? cheated of his idea by John Faust of Gutenberg , a SSff 3 £ a possession , the tlnef , according to the Dutch story , set up a " S fi ^ n Jh 0 SUn / hn <) ° f / "Pa ™* favour , and became recogniseS as fi ?« fiS i ? ? P * ^ , noble art of PWRting . " If such be really the £ ¦ * £ t + | Certamlyfitto be makeel among the tragedies of history ; uuw unouffn tnere are manv rensfkns fnr imii » v ;< in . u . «« w ,,. c * „! ... „„„ .. „ ni '* .

      the burgomaster of Haarlem , the Cuuntess ( disguised as a bov ) induces Costar ( performed by Mr . Kban ) to copy , a ! insurrectionary placard Costar , inspired by his love of Margaret ( Miss Heath ) , undertakerbv means of his new and secret art , to post twenty copies within an hour - " and while he is absent , m order to put the copies on the walls , John of Gutm , berg ( Mr . Ryder ) , who is also in love with Margaret , induces her and Jacqueline ( Miss Murray ) , to believe he has gone to betray them . Thev fl y ; and John having abstracted the types and broken the presses , flies too But the really betrayed person is Costar , whom Gutenberg has caused to be * arrested for treason ; and , with this accumulation of misery on the head of the artist , the second act concludes . In the third act , Gutenberg is holdinea festival on his inauguration as chief of the guild of printers ; but Costar rendered prematurely old by four years of imprisonment , conies accidentally to his enemy s house in a state of mendicancy . Meeting with John l 4 brands lnrn with his crime , and , though not successful in establishing his claim to his own invention , obtains the hand of Margaret , and rests satisfied with love and obscurity . Such is the conclusion of the drama—a conclusion boldly repugnant to the popular theory of " poetical justice . ' *

      'lhe play was successful , though not overwhelmingly so . The vigorous acting of Mr . Kean during the whole of the second act , and the striking termination of the act itself , produced loud and long applause j but the wood temper of the audience was somewhat baulked by Mr . Kean ' s refusal to ° present himself after the second act , though vehemently called for ; and the climax of the play was felt to be unsatisfactory . The part of Costar is peculiarly ntted for Mr . Kean , being in the best or most intellectual style oi melodrama , with opportunities for strong gusts of passion , and a prevailing picturesqueness . His grief when He finds that he has been robbed-was strikingly and touchingiy delineated . Mr .. Ryder , as the villain of the

      piece , had abundant opportunities for rant ; and it is therefore to his credit to say that he did not avail himself of them . Mr . Frank Matthews , in the character of the senile burgomaster , was adroit , as usual , but failed to give any speciality to a rather weak part ; and Mr . Fisher did the best he could , but not very successfully , with a heavy jester who utters bad jokes . JWiss . Heath and Miss Murray , as the Jatlies , do not call for much notice : their , acting offered no features for objection , but—possibly owing to the slightness of the parts—lacked vigour and interest . The first act of the drama moves slovvly ; but the second and third are well wrought-up and well written . Praise must also be given to the scenery and dresses , which are very picturesque .

      SS ? Sf £ !? *> rove < i ; We ftre therefore inclined to question the affiE £ ™^ 8 t Ji Ptwy . tn « object of « drama , aa Mr . ToM Taylor 3 \ C £ riV ? ? l 4 ?? 8 ( I ^ I > IIJ 'Jkave doixo at the Princess ' s Theatre , and vfflS ? ^ $ Ji % ? . i Q * m * ivg with the odium of ji mont execrable piece of iruiW - WJ ? ° ? i ntly , ^ lf thc"re werc no two opinions on the question of his mWWS ^ J& ^ T ?**' ¦ * y 9 WW » th ^ fche subject , dramatically consimrmSS ^ ff ^ fS ^ ^ effective P ^ y *«• *><** produced . Weaving wSMWffi ^^ i ? !}? *^ . f OwtM . JAcaWiNK of Hollan d , iuffw © ffirJ ^ S ' ^ l whleh ^ endeavoured to excite against the Plfitoom ^ 2 £ ^;^^ ? ' ^ " «»» twta «» ve preaented o lively W W * mvr * M . u ^ ded by her lminWe friqud , Margaret , daughter of

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      English want of Self-respect . —It is an Insularity well worth general eon : sideration and correction , that the English people are wanting in self-respect ' 3 b would be difficult to bear higher testimony to the merits of the English aristocracy than they themselves afford in not being very arrogaut or intolerant , with so large a public always ready to abase themselves before titles ., On all occasions , public and private , where the ppportuuity is afforded , this readiness is to be observed . So long as it obtains so widely , it is impossible that we should be justly appreciated and comprehended , by those who have the greatest part in ruling ua . And tlius it happens that now we are facetiously pooh-poohed by our Premier in the English capital , now the accredited representatives of our a . rts and sciences are disdainfully slighted "by our Ambassador in the French capital , and we "wonder to find ourselves in Buch curious and disadvantageous comparison with the people of other countries . Those people may , through many

      cause 3 , be less fortunate and less free ; t > ut , they have more social self-respect and that self-respect muBt , through all their changes , be deferred to , and will assert itself . We apprehend that few persons are disposed to contend that Rank does n ° t receive ifcd due share of homage on the continent of Europe ; but , between the homage it receives there , and the homage ifc receives in our island , there is an immense difference . Half-a-dozen dukes and lords , at an English county ball , or public dinner , or any tolerably miscellaneous gathering , are painful andl disagreeable company ; not because they have any disposition undxily to exalt themselves , or are generally otherwise than cultivated and polite gentlemen , but , because too many of us are prone to twist ourselves out of shape before them , into contortions of servility and adulation . Elsewhere , Self-respect usually steps in to prevent thiB ,- there is much less toadying and tuft hunting ; and the intercourse between tho two orders is infinitely more agreeable to both , and far more edifying to both , — " Insula . iuties . " Household Words .

      Thjc Court Newsman . —Not one of our Insularities is ao astonishing in the eyes of an intelligent foreigner , as the Court Newsman . He ia one of the absurd little obstructions perpetually in the way of our being understood abroad , The quiet greatness and independence of the national charaoter seems so iirecon * Oileable with ita having any satisfaction in the dull slipslop about the slopes and the gardens , and about the Prince Consort ' s going a-hunting and coming back to lunch , and about Mr . GKbba and the ponieff ; and about the Royal Highnesses on horseback and the Royal infants taking corriago exerciso , and about the slopes and the gardens again , and the Prince Consort again , and Mr . Gibbs aud tho ponies agaiu , and the Boyal Highnesses on horseback again , and tho Royal

      infants taking carriage oxcrciao again , and ao on for every day in tho week and ovory week in tho year , that in questions of importance the English as a people , really miaa their just recognition . Similar small boor is ohrouiolod with the greatest care about the nobility iu their country-houses . Ifc is in voin to represent that the English people don't care about these insignificant details , and don't want them j that aggravates the misunderstanding . If they don't want them , why do they have them ? If they feel tho effect of them to bo vldiouloua , why do they consent to bo mode ridiculous ? If they can't help it , why , then the bewildered foreigner submits that ho waa right at firat ; and that it ia not tho English people th « t is the power , but Lord Aberdeen , or Lord PalmoiHton , or Lojd Aldborough , Ov Lord Know / whom . — " Inbu&ajhties . " Household Words .

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      m § Ti jBE : E LEA D E R . rNo . 311 > sAtPrDat .

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      BentueY's Standard Novels . —The recent sale of the copyrights of the collection of the works known as Bentlcy ' s Standard Nove ' s * has afforded Messrs . Eoutledge an opportunity of carrying out-then * scheme for issuing the best productions of modern writers at a cheap rate . The Bulwer novels will therefore be immediately followed by a succession of fictions by Captain Marrjat , J . Fennimore Cooper , Albert Smith , Q . R . Gleig , Ingoldsby , Maxwell , Mrs , Gore , Lady Scott , and Thomas " Hood . The sale realised nearly £ 7 , 000 . Thus , for One Shilling and Eighteenpence , the public will b e enabled to purchase works which were originally published at a Guinea and a Guinea-and-a-half , and which , until now , have been thought cheap at half-a-crown or tliree-and-s 3 ± pence .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 8, 1856, page 236, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2131/page/20/