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THE FORTNIGHT.
"The play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King."
To us it seems a mistake to howl this as Mr. Miln did. A little before Hamlet has flown into a passion, then reproaches himself that instead of acting he "falls a-cursing like a very drab." When he finally concludes, his tone should show more manly determination.
Another place was in the play scene. There was a little too much stress laid on his speeches to Horatio. In this scene Hamlet is quiet and watchful. Also the speech beginning; "He poisons him in the garden for his estate," should not be bellowed out as it was. Hamlet, seeing that the King is about to leave before the play is finished, tells the rest of the story to observe its effect upon him. The way in which it was spoken by Miln seems wholly unnatural.
As a whole, however, Miln's Hamlet is well worth seeing. The soliloquies were generally well given. The scene with his mother, at Ophelia's grave, and the final scene are excellent.
As to the minor parts, they were in about the usual proportion of mediocraties and sticks. The King was a wretched stick. The Queen did well in one scene, that in her chamber, when Hamlet kills Polonius by mistake. In this she seemed to draw inspiration from Hamlet, but in others she was naught. Miss Guernsey's Ophelia shows good training but not much talent. Polonius was too buffoonish; Laertes ranted. Horatio played modestly and sensibly; the part is rather a negative one and the gentleman who played it did not attempt to make it more.
Of course, now-days, Hamlet must be "cut." We think Mr. Miln has shown excellent judgment in preparing his version. We would think, however, the play would close better with Horatio's "Good-night sweet prince," than with Hamlet's, "The rest is silence."
In the series of American Statesmen its editor, Mr. John T. Morse, Jr., has once more appeared with a volume on *Thomas
Jefferson. To say the book is admirably and impartially written is but to proclaim anew Mr. Morse's excellent qualifications for the task he has undertaken. It is certainly the best and only fair biography of Jefferson that we have ever seen. Hitherto we have had to choose between the indiscriminate laudation of Parton and the unmeasured censure of writers of Federalist proclivities. Mr. Morse has shown forth the strength and weakness of this wonderful man. Jefferson strove greatly to better the mass of the people, he wished to abolish slavery, he thought that state best governed which is least governed. Yet his own common sense forced him often to reverse his political creed, when it was for the general good of the country, as for instance in the purchase of Louisiana. He regarded the wishes of the common people more than any leader of his time, and the people repaid him by a devotion greater than that to any other American politician. He was essentially a civilian. In times of peace he was a most excellent party leader, but his hatred of a military establishment made him leave the country almost defenseless. As a war governor of Virginia he was a failure, as President in troublous times he was worse than a failure. When American citizens were oppressed by France and England, both determined that the United States should not remain neutral in the mighty struggle then going on in Europe, he hoped by vain words to do the work of cannonballs. Then finally his Embargo, that crowning act of foolishness, gave the death-blow to American ship-building and made our country the laughing stock of Europe. Were the book itself not readily procurable we would say much more. Both Jefferson and Hamilton have been judged too much in a partisan spirit. Each did his work. Jefferson wrote the Declaration, but he opposed the Constitution and drew those "Kentucky resolutions" which have been the precedent and authority for nullification and almost for the rebellion of 1861. What we have seen elsewhere Mr. Morse's volume but confirms; Jefferson was essentially the destroyer of the old order, Hamilton the constructor of the new.
* Thomas Jefferson, by John T. Morse, Jr. American Statesmen Series, Boston; Houghton, Mifflin & Co,