New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-22
FOREIGN NEWS.
GOSSIP FROM LONDON.


LONDON Aug. 1.-Col. Forney seems to have
opened sort of international ONCE IN LONDON 1of
the promotion of the Philadelphia Exhibition The
Anolo- american Times has taken him up and he
con)d not be in better hands. Col. Muter has made
him an honorary member of the Junior United Ser
vice Club one of the great military clubs of Lon
don. Col. Forney comes, says this journal as the
accredited commissioner to Europe. with full pow
ers to act for the Centennial Exhibition in 1876.
From the same authority learn that Gen. Robert
c. Schenck the American Minister in London, late
Trustee and Director of the Emma Mine,l has just
addressed letter to Lord Derby inviting his atten-
ton to the act of Congress approved June T. 1874,
perfecting and repeating the invitation of the Amer
lean Government to other nations to participate In
the Exhibition He has, it appears, been
enlisted in it heartily from the first and
all the Americans in London and on the
Continent are looking forward to 1t with, we are
assured increasing interest think the observing
reader nav detect in the article from which quote
some marks of Col. Foneys fine Roman hand. In
his eagerness to arouse English sympathy he declares
that American laws, books, habits, schools, and In
large degree religion founded upon English ira
ditons and examples. 1t rather takes ones breath
away, but as Col. FOrney says So suppose IL must
be So But this statement about Christianity being
founded on English traditions is remarkable and
further historical particulars, when see him. Per-
haps ought to 60 at once before this post closes,
but the time is rather short, and do not think he
will have changed his mind before next week. Phil
adelphia may be congratulated on her envoy. If
energy and zeal and intelligent effort make her
Centennial success, Col. Forney will do it if not,
ehe NAV be sure that England is sluggish beyond
hope The daily press has not vet said anything on
the subject but there signs that it will not long
be allowed TO be silent.
The next best thing to aboishing stage censorship
has been done A capable man, Mr.. Edward f. S.
Picott has been made censor, or the phrase goes
Examiner of PLAYS. There was some competition
for the post but am not that Mr. Pigott is to
be congratulated on his success. Capable as he is,
the place is likely TO be bed of thorns for him. The
present Examiner Mr.. w. b. Donue (he retains his
office till the expiration of his quarter OF century
Of service entities him to pension, has been forced
into resignation by the inst complaints of his admin
istraion say just vet Mr.. Donnie ought not to be
held wholly responsible. He is only the adviser TO
che Lord Chamberlain in whom rests the legal au-
tholity 10 license theaters and plays, and 1t Is SAID
that the Lord Chamberlain sometimes has views of
his own, and that his deputy Mr.. Spencer Ponson-
bv has 1t is said also that mysterious influence
is at times exercised by Royalty itself. The solicit
tude Of the Queen for the good morals OF her sub
jects has re than once led her, if all reports be
true to forbid the production of certain plays
Public opinion and private interests have also to be
consulted more or less. Out of this confusion OF
jurisdictions aud influences how is any man to
evolve judclous line of conduct capable o. satisfy
ing everybody fear it is not TO be done, and that
Mr. Pigott's brilliant abilities and excellent good
sense will fail to carry him safely through the maze
of perplexities that lie before him. The principal
achievement of the censorship during the past year
has been TO extingnish the French drama in London
The directors of the French Company struggled
hard but they had to succumb finally TO the steady
opposition of the Lord Chamberlain and his various
subOrdinates and superiors. The ground or principle
Of this opposition no human being has yet OWNED
Probably there none. The worst plays ever
seen on any stage in Paris, those of the Palais
Royal Theater, Astounding IN coarseness and gross
ness and in pretty much everything else that is re-
prehensible on the stage, were passed without OBJ
lection TYioOche ct Cac0let and lie Rerellon became
the stock pieces Of the company which was sternly
forbidden to produce the masterpieces OF Angler,
Dumas. and Victor Hugo All the WHILE two opera
companies were singing Don Gioranni and La
7raridta to the unchecked delight OF all the
young girls of London, to whom the hcentious eX-
travagance of the plots of those two operas must he
supposed TO be unintelligible though an English
translation of the hbretto of each kindly supplied
by euterpTising managers. All the while. also,
variety of those dramatic spectacles which are
known in French as women pieces, and in English
by the still more expressive name of leg pieces;
some of them enlivened by dances compared with
which the cancan in its French form is modest and
unsuggestve. AL under the jurisdiction and there
fore with the not tacit but express approval and
license of the Lord Chamberlain. These latter are
still flourishng. The opera houses closed be-
cause the season is at an end and their singers and
managers are gone with full pockets. The
French managers are gone also, ruined, and
the French actors, by help of public appeals
and public charity, have found means TO pay their
passage across the channel and they too are gone.
MANY of the ornaments of the French stage who
were 10 have visited London, and would have made
the season profitable one, simply prohibited
from coming by the prohibition of the plays in
which they were to have appeared. Yet the Sphinr
passed muster and elderly Mile Favart was per-
mitted 10 enact the role which young Mile. Croizette
had created in Paris. The SPHINX had soandalized
the cIltics of the French capital, but seemed inno
cent enough to our austere examiner MI Plgott
however has some advantages He knows French
and the French people and literature Is man of
the world and will not be likely to lose his head. 1t
nav be SAID also that if Journalism pulled down Mr.
Dome il has also set up his successor, Mr.. Pgott
having been for years. though barrster by profess
sion a leader-writer on The Daily Netcs.
sensible and interesting letter from Mr.. Richard
A. Proctor appears in today's academy, on American
Professorships for European men OF science, called
ont, perhaps, by the current rumors about Prof
Huxley. Mr. Proctor is clearly not in favor of the
importation of such men into America. 1t arouses
what he calls natural may, commendabe) jeal-
ousy especially among those best able to weigh the
merits of American science, TO which he pays this
striking tribute: