New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-18
DR4h4T.zNG PILGRIWs PROGRESS

ALETrER FROM EDWARD EcGlrsroS-N1s GEORGE
MACDONALD WRITES TIE PLAY AND IHE FAMILY
TAKE ALL IuE PARTS.
70 the EdttOr Of Ibe IrtbUHe.
SIR: I see that THE TRIBUNE OF this morning
mentions in an editorial note the rumor that am
about To dramatic " Pilgrims Progress THIS re-
port, which first started with a correct statement
in your columns about a month ago or more, has
travelled all over America. has brought me no end
OF applications for permission 10 use Che drama, and
now turns up in your co.umus again, still IN the
future tense. text for an item which says truly
shat d Graml-II the ordinary sense of the word,
supDose-caunot De made out of the story. tTuS,
I have had too much experience in the trade oi a
IFsrqtep TO undertake that. Bat as the report is
a marter OF annoyance to me, VIII YOU let me lay it
1T once In giving some incidents ha may be OF IN
te1,st 10 your readers
When / was iu London in the summer of ISL
received an invitation 20 witness the performance
of "a little drama founded oH the second part OF
"PI.Iim's FrO-re--.' Tins iI,,ie play was written
bv 3lrs. G. gorge Macdonald, the admirable wife oi
tbe eminent novelist. The Macdonald family,
which consists of fourteen dleen persons, take
an the narta and rs they all seem % have rare
dramatic gifts united with the sweetest religious
spilit. tha little "mvst.rg' was eEqIistely beau
tful. as ! Witnessed its performance IN the dining
room of Lord Duce. i'm Por,nlu square. There
was nothing stacy about il; the interest could
hardly be called dramatic, a. was unworldly. Tho
part of Cbf.Hluq was taken by one Of Nh Mao
douad's daughters and rendered with
great force. Tho part Of HgcL as gwen
uv Another of the Misses Macdonald, was full
Of q wonderful sweetness and drlcacy. GTeT-
hart was % -umej on this occasion by dear
G,gr.e Macdonald himself whom Gl' bad c2e. Tor
. that same part from flt beginning ne auiirn.'
consisted or about 40 Urupte. aud completely
OF eel tle room. Iu" ict'. ot taL -''I VI" 'I.'. .t'
the autocratIr price of hall guinea. A'rf ,hr
piece wac over, each guest was invited iH passing
Out 20 enter Gn adjoining nom ana lihr CONGO
mention fins a. trail. OF English ucsp-
tlIifv The Lord Chamberlain bad refused
10 license the public performance "i lhe
piece on account Of AN OLD and ioi-Ot.eu
statute against religious PLAYS But DE was piese.i
ou the occasion Oi which speak. and sat near me-
and If am nor mistaken. shrd 'raIs VII. .H' resi-
Of us. | overheard lady remark TO I' L"il
Chamberlain that the play reminded her more al
the Ooer-Ammergau passion play Inah aus '-Ins
Tbi. Winter. when some Of orr ladies in ;he
F Church Of Christian EudtayDr wished CD get snMt-
thing novel for % church emit artWnmcni, Icousnu td
to make lltte drama ont OF tins same second parf
/ OF " Pilgrim. Progress ! arranged the dialogue
/ very differently from Mrs. Macdonald - az dlhl'
/ rendered DC. Our circumstance, and orr actors
different so that our piece had 70 ne dlIeIeni.
The ladies gave beautiful setting on tueii tap-
I lagu stage Iu the ~UUdIV-,Chuul naI, ana 1T was
nerforrued with excel lent success on fwo evenings
making rather strong poetic and religious, thau
! y.I.f cogId DO propcrIv called a dramatic impress
SION. All would have gone well II IHE lEiB-
/ UVE had not published 1t, and 50 brought
/ down upon the delUge, ID the shape oI
/ applications from travelling companies ana others
/ for the use of the play. Different INV arrange
ment is from Mrs. Macdonaid's, do not feel M lib
erty 20 publish 10, or 10 use % in other imam ih5
| seui-prlyate way IN my own church, without Mrs.
/ Macdonaid's permission. The idea s that lady >
! own and must not poach. lOurcrrlc. having The
first edition Of the II grim, had only the first part
be fore HIM. Ii he viii examine the second part, he
/ will see that 10 Is quite dramatic III iofm-hoL
play, but almost a dramatic aIIrgpry. 10 Mt.
Macdonald belongs the credit of seeing this and OF
ayailng herself If It. ElWAED LGGLLsfoN.
Br9gkiya, L. D., April 1G. 1879.