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The power of female fascinations in subduing the most stubborn mas- culine natures has been recorded, snag, or acted from the earliest ages. The ancient Hebrew pointed to the example of Dalila and Samson, while the ancient Greek could make parallel use of Omphale and Her- cules. The Turk, especially if he is familiar with Marmontel, may re- flect on the victory of Rosalana over the institutions of the Ottoman empire, and the inhabitants of Marseilles, schooled by Friedrich Halm, may learn how Ingomar, a savage chieftain, was civilized by one of the Greek maidens, to whom they trace their origin.
In his new piece, entitled Nine Points of the Law, Mr. Tom Taylor therefore reads us an old moral when he tells us how an iron-hearted elderly gentleman, who is legally entitled to eject a fair widow from a very desirable country residence, is obliged to relinquish the harsh exer- cise of his right, and ultimately marries the lady in possession ; but he reads it in most pleasant fashion. If the victorious party, who can be meek or resolute as occasion requires, and has a pert weapon for every adversary, is a personage of long-established popularity, the vanquished male creature, who is a North-country manufacturer, is not of a com- mon species, and his retreat from bluntness to courtesy,—thence to inde- cision, thence to generosity,—till he finally tumbles into the abyss of matrimony, is conducted with good dramatic generalship. The managers of the Olympic Theatre may be congratulated on the acquisition of a very good piece, exactly suited to their audience, and equally may the author be congratulated that he has found two such able interpreters as Mrs. Stirling and Mr. Addison. The former is too well known to need special comment; of the latter we may say that, although he has been many years on the stage, he is a novice in the development of his own capabilities, but, nevertheless, he exhibits such a keen perception of na- tural peculiarity, and is so finished in his execution, that he promises to take a position as one of the first artists of the day. We recommend every one to see his Mr. Lronsides in the new piece, as a work of his- trionic creation perfect in its kind. One looks to the Lyceum Theatre, as one looks to Central America, deeming it the site of revolutions important to none but the parties im- mediately concerned. The very limited monarchy of Mr. Falconer has come to a close, and for the last week, we believe, the constitution has been republican, under the presidency of Mr. Emery. A piece by Mr. Blanchard Jerrold, called Beau Brummell, has been produced with suc- cess, bat we need not expatiate on the subject, as the season closes to- night, and the house is advertised "to let" fromEaster Monday. Surely some one might be found to turn so handsome and well-situated a theatre into a regular establishment
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