-
Articles/Ads
Article ANECDOTES OF THE LATE HUGH KELLY. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly.
To speak impartially of the merits of this comedy , we must allow it no inconsiderable share of praise ; for though it boasts no ori g inality of character , or no very refined turn of thinking , it exhibits just views of human-life , and shews the business of the drama with much pleasantry and effect . This praise we cannot deny to its intrinsic merit ; but AA'hen Ave consider it as the first efforts of an indigent manand
Avithyoung , out a regular education , unskilled in the range of" character , and destitute of the means of keeping good company , where the manners of the Stage are best studied , We must raise' the voice of eulogiuin , and pronounce it a very extraordinary performance . Kelly was lucky too in some adventitious circumstances . The state of the times ( for what reason we know notexcept that great practical
, vice requires a proportioned share of hypocrisy ) Avas A'erging fast , at that period , to Avhat is called sentimental comedy . The Belles and . Beaux in the boxes not only shrunk from the least equivoque , or strong expression , no matter how tinctured Avith Avit and character , but John Bull , the truant , affected to grOAV delicate at the same time : —hence all the broad discriminating traits of comic humour were in a great degree
neglected , and sentiment alone filled up the mighty A'oid . This was fiyourable to our Author ' s talents and opportunities . Little versed in the polite circles of life , and not much experienced in the knowledge of mankind , he drew for his balance principally on the circulating libraries , and by the assistance of his own genius , accommodating to the taste and temper of the times , he furnished a play which
then received unbounded applause , and Avhich Ave even noAv think deserves a place in the stock-list of any well-regulated Theatre . > The profits of this comedy brought the Author above seven hundred pounds , besides-a degree of feme that was A'ery creditable to his talents . In the Summer of the year it Avas brought out it Avas acted atmost of the . country towns in Great Britain and Ireland . Nor Avas its reputation confined to these dominions , it was translated into several of the modern
languages—into Portuguese at . Lisbon , by command of the Marquis of Pombal—and into French at Paris , by the celebrated Madame Riccobo-: ni—in both of which places it Avas received with uncommon success . Poor Goldsmith , who could so little endure the English reputation of " False Delicacy , " Avas ill prepared to enjoy its foreign honours . When he first heard of its being translated and . played abroad , he would not believe it ; but Avhen the fact came out so strong as not to be discredited
, he comforted himself by saying , " It must be done for the purpose of exhibiting it at the booths of foreign fairs , for which it was well enough calculated . " Goldsmith , hoAvever , had a more scholar-like revenge a few years aftenvards as he himself , in a great degree , knocked down the whole of sentimental --writers , by his comedy of " She Stoops to Conquer ; " a comedy so distant , from the then mode of writingthat in
ma-, ny parts it leaned strongly to farce , but whicli catching the audience in . the natural state of their minds , reclaimed them to the surest method of being pleased , viz . by their feelings . ¦ In the year 17 6 9 Kelly , with a laudable vieAV to the security of some profession which might be a permanent support to his family , entered
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly.
To speak impartially of the merits of this comedy , we must allow it no inconsiderable share of praise ; for though it boasts no ori g inality of character , or no very refined turn of thinking , it exhibits just views of human-life , and shews the business of the drama with much pleasantry and effect . This praise we cannot deny to its intrinsic merit ; but AA'hen Ave consider it as the first efforts of an indigent manand
Avithyoung , out a regular education , unskilled in the range of" character , and destitute of the means of keeping good company , where the manners of the Stage are best studied , We must raise' the voice of eulogiuin , and pronounce it a very extraordinary performance . Kelly was lucky too in some adventitious circumstances . The state of the times ( for what reason we know notexcept that great practical
, vice requires a proportioned share of hypocrisy ) Avas A'erging fast , at that period , to Avhat is called sentimental comedy . The Belles and . Beaux in the boxes not only shrunk from the least equivoque , or strong expression , no matter how tinctured Avith Avit and character , but John Bull , the truant , affected to grOAV delicate at the same time : —hence all the broad discriminating traits of comic humour were in a great degree
neglected , and sentiment alone filled up the mighty A'oid . This was fiyourable to our Author ' s talents and opportunities . Little versed in the polite circles of life , and not much experienced in the knowledge of mankind , he drew for his balance principally on the circulating libraries , and by the assistance of his own genius , accommodating to the taste and temper of the times , he furnished a play which
then received unbounded applause , and Avhich Ave even noAv think deserves a place in the stock-list of any well-regulated Theatre . > The profits of this comedy brought the Author above seven hundred pounds , besides-a degree of feme that was A'ery creditable to his talents . In the Summer of the year it Avas brought out it Avas acted atmost of the . country towns in Great Britain and Ireland . Nor Avas its reputation confined to these dominions , it was translated into several of the modern
languages—into Portuguese at . Lisbon , by command of the Marquis of Pombal—and into French at Paris , by the celebrated Madame Riccobo-: ni—in both of which places it Avas received with uncommon success . Poor Goldsmith , who could so little endure the English reputation of " False Delicacy , " Avas ill prepared to enjoy its foreign honours . When he first heard of its being translated and . played abroad , he would not believe it ; but Avhen the fact came out so strong as not to be discredited
, he comforted himself by saying , " It must be done for the purpose of exhibiting it at the booths of foreign fairs , for which it was well enough calculated . " Goldsmith , hoAvever , had a more scholar-like revenge a few years aftenvards as he himself , in a great degree , knocked down the whole of sentimental --writers , by his comedy of " She Stoops to Conquer ; " a comedy so distant , from the then mode of writingthat in
ma-, ny parts it leaned strongly to farce , but whicli catching the audience in . the natural state of their minds , reclaimed them to the surest method of being pleased , viz . by their feelings . ¦ In the year 17 6 9 Kelly , with a laudable vieAV to the security of some profession which might be a permanent support to his family , entered