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740 THE LEADER. T^Aa^Bo ^
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GERMAN PLAYS : OTHELLO. T To-night tho s...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Two Novels. The Life And Death Of Silas ...
instead of dying lonely and wretched amid his money-bags , dies l # e j « iy other man fromTan infection ! It is doubtless . true , that m life a miser s as liable to the Plague aa any one else ; but in A ^ hlch A f C ?^ W Art , is a selection of typical elements , that is not the m ^ njer-The author has not only evaded the rea 1 , though d ^ culJ f 1 eno ^ ie ^ n but by the introduction of the actress with whom Silas falls ^ madly n love , it seems as if some such idea had been in his mind , and subsequently E Withall * drawbacks , however , Silas SarnsiarJceis a readable story , sometimes remarkable , and always displaying a strength m the writer extract the where
greater than is put forth . As a specimen , we scene Silas murders his cousin : — " The sky was covered by gray clouds : not a star was visible . Js . light fresh wind blew in the travellers' faces and whistled through the hedges above them . « The bridle road now led them up a gentle rise , at the top of which spread out a large , sweet-emelling , healthy common ; desolate , little frequented , and not having a house within two miles of it . . " The spot wag well-known to Barnstarke , as , indeed , was every inch ot that road so of ten passed over by him from his youth upwards . "As they left the bridle road , he leant his hand on the crupper , and , turning his head , looked with piercing glance down the hill .
"' My friend David Waller in doublet white , ^ "Without any arms either dusky or bright . Charged through them twice like a little sprite , Which nobody can deny I ' " Thus sang Francis Lovell in his melodious bass voice , continuing the ditty as he went . . " Barnstarke ' s heart gave one dull , heavy bound ; he raised himself up m his Btirrups ; drew forth one of his pistolsj leant over the horse ' s head ; stretched out his arm ; and , pointing the muzzle between Lovell ' s shoulders , fired . " ' Help , Silas , help I' cried Francis Lovell , and fell dying from his horse . " The merchant dismounted , catching his cousin ' s horse by the rein ; then with his remaining pistol he shot his own through the head . " The fine creature , with a rear , fell dead at his feet .
" Barnstarke stooped beside his cousin . " Torrents of blood were flowing from LovelFs mouth . He feebly lifted his hand , made an effort to raise himself and to speak , and then fell back suffocated by his blood . " Barnstarke , avoiding the crimson stream , proceeded , with trembling hands , to rifle the dead man ; turning his pockets wrongside out , and concealing the money he found therein on his own person . He then took the valises off the horses and scattered their contents about . He next discharged his and LovelFs pistols , reloading one of his own and one of his cousin ' s ; which last he placed beside the still warm body , whilst he returned his own to the holster . He then let LovelFs horse go free ; and disarranging his own garments , to makeihem appear as though robbers had maltreated him , he laid himself down beside his horse to await the event .
. "As he lay with head to earth , Barnstarke could hear the heath on the common rustling in the night breeze , as also the heavy beating of his own heart . " The excitement of his murderous deed was still upon him . He tried to calm bit hurried thoughts and to compose his trembling body , which shook as the body of a man tired and worn out by an over-long and over-rapid race . His teeth chattered , and the sweat broke out at every pore , whilst he felt the mute presence of his victim , although he beheld him not . " * Tush ! tush ! ' quoth the murderer to himself . ' I have been strong to act , and the deed hath been well thought over and carefully planned . Shall I lose all , through quaking and terror ? Shall I find but the gallows for the lands I have won i "
" By degrees the trembling passed away , and Barnstarko remained stretched on the ground as one stunned . Faint and sick was he , but well prepared to act the part he had cut out for himself . " Like unto one who , receiving a shot in hot blood , feels not the pain at once , no Barnstarke ' s soul , wounded by sin in hot blood , felt not as yet the agony of crime . His thoughts were intent on bo comporting himself that no suspicion should fasten upon him ; and , that such might bo tho case , he felt that coolness and firmness of heart were above all things necessary . He therofore removed his thoughts from the deed he had done , to fix them on probable contingencies , and the manner
in which such contingencies were to be met , reviewing them over nnd over again in all their various bearings , and fixing on the words and acts they might necessitate on his part . He hud planned the murder before he left his home , had chosen the very spot on which to commit it , having intended to delay on the road that they might arrive on the common at night-fall . Poor LovelFs late rising had saved the merchant all trouble in that respect . As Barnstarke lay pondering , yet listening , the moon had arisen , and , shining through a thin cloud without being vioible , gave light enough to distinguish objects near at hand . " The merchant , raining his head , looked towards LovelFs body .
" There it lay in tho dark pool of murderously-spilt blood , one leg drawn up , and tho arms Bpre « ul abroad . The face shono out in marble whiteness , and tho rising , Htoriny wind , blowing a fold of LovcIFb heavy cloak , the moonlight at tho moment bursting through tho clouds , caused the body to look as though moving to arise . " Bnrnptarko , leaning on his hand , remained as ono turned to stono ; his mouth opon and his Htaring eyeB fixed upon the corpse . " A thick mass of bluck clouds wan driven by the wind over tho moon , and darkness overspread tho earth .
* ' A few drops of rain fell upon Bnrnntarke s flushing fuce , cooling and refreshing to Iris beating temples . He had been ubovfi two hours on tho desolate common , nlono with tho victim of hin covetous piiBHions . It Beemcd to him days nnd , day » » inco ho luul fired , and had seen his cousin fall : he recollected LovolFa Hong broken off , and his cry to him for help ; he thought of the struggling , distreBHcd , cxpros-» ion of Franci «' H fiicc as he had stooped nt liiu nido , and u Chill sensation of horror cropt over him . " Presently , in tho distance , ho beheld light * drawing tienr . He composed his thoughts , and stretched himself out on his faco . Two rough nhoep-dogB run up to him , ( miffing him and loudly barking ; then dartod away , again to return and bark beBide htm . " Voice * Bounded , Wno to Burnrtarko ' n car by tho rushing wind . Anon tho
speakers were on the spot to be marked for year * to come as the scene of mnnta The merchant could hear the voice of Joyce , his servant , who , having been ma , fe uneasy by the non-arrival of his master at the appointed sleeping-place , ^ ^ out , with the landlord and others , in quest of him . " The common was looked on as a bad place at night , oh account of footpads and highwaymen , a fact well known to Barnstarke . " The first object that met the eyes of Joyce arid his party , 6 ft arriving * fc tfo place singled out by the barking dogs , was the merchant ' s horse lying dead 1 and ¦ tark . They threw the . light of their lanterns full upon him . . v " " Tis master ' s horse ! ' ^ t
" Here be one lying dead in his own blood / said the landlord , kneeling down by Lovell and raising his arm , which had already begun to stiffen , '"faint Master Barhstarkei however / he added , As he held his lantern full in the ghastly face of Sir Francis . ¦ " * 'Tis Sir Francis Lovell ! He hath been murdered of thieves : look here hs ^ they have thrown things about / cried Joyce . " ' Here be another lying dead too / said the hostler who had accompanied Big master the landlord , and who now raised Barnstarke , turning him over , and calling
for a light . " The merchant let his head fall back , and uttered a moan . " Joyce held the light in His face , calling out that it was his master , and telling the hostler to support his head . " Barnstarke slowly opened his eyes , and fixing them on his servant , said in a voice so husky , tremulous , and unnatural , as even to strike himself with horror "' Is that you , Joyce ? methinks I have been stunned !' sir ? his master
" « Were you set on of rogue * , ' inquired Joyce , Wrapping ' s cloak close around him to keep off the rain . "' Ay / replied the merchant , turning away his looks , as he said : * take ydur lantern away , it doth hurt and scorch my eyes / ;\; " There was a silence : the men , hot knowing whether Barnstarke was aware of his cousin ' s death , were doubtful what to say , and he , being afraid of compromising himself , held his peace , still lying supported by the hostler . " The merchant shut his eyes and hung his head , affecting to be bat half sensible of what was going on around him . " Joyce and the landlord whispered together . After awhile , Joyce said to Barnstarke : "' Sir Francis Lovell hath not been at the ' Three Kings / sir !' "' Where is he ? What time is it P * returned Barnstarke , muttering : ' Carry
me to the inn , I ana sick and shaken ! " More whispering here took place , which ended in the hostler being sent with others to the nearest house for a cart . " During his absence , Joyce by degrees informed his master of Sir Francis LovelFs death . " On hearing of it , Barnstarke , pretending to be aroused by the tiding 3 , asked where his cousin ' s body was , and if they had taken the murderer . Joyce replied that the body was there ; the murderer untaken . & . . " The lanterns were held to LovelFs face , leaving Barnstarke in darkness to gazo on the sad work of his own murderous hand . " No man can know , until he has committed it , the effect the commission of a crime may have on him .
"On seeing LovelFs blood-stained , ashy-pale face , with the long Wet hair clinging about it—nought beside that face of death being visible in the darictieas of night—Barnstarke ' s hardened heart felt a beginning of gnawing remorse . For a fevr minutes , he felt that he would give all his wealth to bring Lovell back to life again . " John at Home is apparently a first work , and has serious deficiencies betokening want of practice in this department . But it has Borne cap ital sense , and many lively passages . John Smith , the money-prizing , money-getting city man , to whom business is at once the end and aim of existence , to whom being " worth a plum , " appear the goal of human perfection ; John ' s place of business , and his suburban home , his weakheaded wife Annie , his commanding mother-in-law , Mrs . Brown his highly valued son , his little regarded daughter , his convenient friend , Jack Thompson , and his maiden , but monied cousin , Miss Jobson , with kindred
other sundries , including a French refugee , and a low , but family , make up the scenes and persons of the story . It is with the lessons , rather than romance , the author deals . We are told how John Smith prospered in commerce , how he married—how first a daug hter , and then a son , were born to him ; how the latter being his heir , his future partner , and the transmitter of his name , was spoiled by father , mother , and most of his other relatives , till a weak intellect and downward tendencies fulfilled their destiny in early vice and a disgraceful end ; how the sins of John ' s youth came back upon him in the shape of an illegitimate neglected son , who , under the tuition of his vindictive grandmother , helps tho merchant's heir into all kinds of mischief , and how the despised daughter Jane , eventually rises above circumstances , and turns out the only respectable person , saving the aforesaid Mw " Jobaon , in her family . «¦
740 The Leader. T^Aa^Bo ^
740 THE LEADER . T ^ Aa ^ Bo ^
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German Plays : Othello. T To-Night Tho S...
GERMAN PLAYS : OTHELLO . T To-night tho short season of Gorman Plays is brought to a close . was short , but , as Dr . Johnson Baid to the unhappy proachor , ( who congratulated himsolf on tho Doctor ' s not haying found his sermon long */ " I feared lest I might bo tedious , "— " Sir , you were not long ; but you «>^ todious . " » 1 v For a few nights I suffered myself to bo dragged to tho St . James s , &> a compound ofgallantry and duty—gallantry to fair friends , insanely ? K sirous of seeing that mild mediocrity , Emil Devriont , and duty to Ki » and curious readers , wanting to know " what was going on at * fj theatres . " But not oven Julia ' s violet eyes , nor Jane ' s persuasive snutf , not oven tho fear of insatiablo correspondents , nor demands for " ^ W ' could induce mo to sit out tho final performances of ffiosco , JDon Carlo > and the JDraut von . Messina ; so that all I can , this week , write a » out > *» Othello , which was played last Friday , in a quiet dreary etylo .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 30, 1853, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30071853/page/20/
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