New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
LONDON TOPICS.
THE DRAMA AND NEW BOOKS

sTONE-MORE LIGHT Of CYPRUS.
FnoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON March 1.-Some light IL thrown on inc
state of the English drama by an acton 1or hoe'
which was concluded recently IN the common
Pleas. Mr.. Rcece. who proclaims himself IRA.
matte author but is mainly known as writer Oh
burlesoues sued periodical called The Theatre for
a criticism on piece entitled Hester Gray" Inc
libel complained of consisted in the charge that
Hester Gray described in the bill as a new piece
was in fact an old piece This raised the question
What is new piecei Mr. Serjeant Parry, in open
ing for the plaintiff said il was the usual course IN
an English theatre TO announce an adaptation as a
new play He did not deny that this play was an
adaptaton from the French As an old play-goer, SAID
Mr. Serieant Parry, he should have understood AT
once when he saw play announced as new that IL
was in fact an adaptation If it was really new he
should expect il to he announced as new ana orig
inal. When Mr. Reece came to testify, he sWoro
that lie had nothing to do with the bill but that
the description of the play-which he admitted 10
be an adaptation-as new was nevertheless correct.
Mr.. Palgrave Simpson, a dramatic author lso lie
STYLED HIMSELF for twenty-eight years, and secre-
tary to the Dramatic Authors Society, was put on
the stand and declared that il had always been the
custom to call piece like " Hester Gray" new
piece There many such PLAYS now on inc
stage; adaptations in fact, but described to the pup
lie as new-the public, on the faith of the
description, paying its money. Then came slr'
Tom Taylor dramatic author for more than thirty
years, writer of 40 plays who swore that there
was nothing wrong in calling an adaptation new.
He had for a time called his own adaptations new (;
later he changed this practice. Though he did not
consider himself bound in honor to do So" Upon
which Mr. Edward Clarke. defendants counsel
dryly remarked that leach person, of course, must
be tho Judge of his own hOnor.0 In Mr.. Tom Iay-
lor's opinion, "Hester Gray was a new play be-
cause it had never before been presented TO the pub
lie in Mr.. ReeCes version. l do not SEQ why, on a
similar principle, Mr. Tom Taylor may not
put an English version of Molere5 lar
tufe " on the stage next week, and rghteousy
announce 1t as new play, because 1t had never
before been presented TO the public In Mr. Tom
Taylor's version. However, Mr.. Tom Taylor
ceased to call his adaptations Of old pieces new, he
tells us. when the critics drew attention TO the
practice, and denounced 1t as dishonorable. This
they did, he said, when they began to read French
plays--n other words, when they discovered the
deceit. Mr.. John Hohngshead, manager OF the
Gaiety Theatre testified that the announcement OF
Hester Gray u as a new piece was IN accordance
with the usual practice though this had been some
what modified within the last two or three years.
1t appears that within this time not only the critics.
but the public, had begun to read French plays. or
at least had become of the existence of French
authors. "It was felt" says Mr.. Holngshead,
who has reputation Of taking purely COM
mercial view of dramatic art, that some
names, like that of NJ. Sardou, were Of
advantage to publish IN London In some
cases the French authors stipulated ut is like
their impudence) that their names should not
be excluded from their own plays. But Mr.. Do-
lingshead adds, with admirable candor, that. " in
his opinion. the publication of these names was not
so much matter of honesty as of trade policy"
The cynical eirOntery of all this may seem
shocking TO people who have still old fashioned
notions Of honesty. But these witnesses are all
respectable-nay, honorable men, as times go.
There has lately been some discussion abont the
decadence OF the English drama Mr.. w. S. Gilbert
was Of opinion that it sprung from tho dull OBJ
stinacy Of the English manager. who actually
declines TO buy Mr. w. s. Glbert's plays before he
has seen them, before they are written, indeed.
Depravty of that sort is Inexcusable, certainly !;
still such views Of dramatic art and dramatic
morals as are set forth may help to explain the mat
ter. One would like to applaud the periodical which
seemed TO attack this disngenuous system, but its
virtue did not hOldout to the end compromise was
agreed on The defendants, after hearing Mr..
meaning of the word new, fell INTO state of dis
tress at having caused pain to Mr.. Reece. They
thought their criticisms were justified, but re-
gretted the manner of their publication, and apollo
eized for it. They Withdrew all imputatIons upon
the plaintiffs character and continued to regard
him, as they had always hitherto DONE with the
utmost respect" Mr.. Reeces counsel accepted the
apology as well they might aud the suit collapsed
Tue Judge expressed himself satisfied with this re-
suit saving that he presumed Mr.. Reece's object IN
bringing the action had been completely served by
the public vindicatOn of his character INDICATED
il certainly is, since nobody can be found to con-
denim the system which Slr Reece follows In COM
mon with all, or nearly all, modern English play
wrights. | suppose it must be taken settled for
the future that English adaptations of French plays
are new pieces, and that we are to regard the
adapter as worthy of rather more respec than the
author The man who concOcts the playbills must be
the most respectable OF all.
There are TO be four additional volumes of Glad
stones "Gleanlngs of Past Years.; the two already
published have sold rapidly. Constantly as Mr..
Gladstone is before the public, II seems impossible
for him to tire out the interest and enthusiasm Of
his admirers and political supporters. Among those
who not included III tins category is the present
Prime Minister, of whose opinion respecting Mr..
Gladstone as an author the following story is told
Lord Beaconsield once took up freshly issued
volume by Mr.. Gladstone. turned it over, laid 1t
down carefully, and remarked: Il can listen to
Mr. Gladstone as long as he chooses TO speak, but
| cannot read what he writes" Something was then
said by another person of Mr. GladstOnc's habits of
composition, and il was suggested that he perhaps
sometimes dictated his matter. To which Lord
Beaconsfeld rejoncd: "Whatcyer his method be.
The result is not literature" Having launched these
two shafts at his great opponent the author of
Lothair" went his way contentcdly. The anec-
dote has been repeated in various FORMS though
never believe In print. As given above, it is yer
batim from the lips Of the person to whom Lord
Beaccnsfeld addressed the observations.