New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-06
VARIOUS LONDON TOPICS.

In Mr.. wILLs's UNDRAMATIc "IoLASTHE"-
DESCENT or THE CRITICS on GOODWIN SMITHS
STUDY OF cowPRR.
frRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, May GA pretty controversy has
sprung up respecting the report Of Lord Beacons-
fields speech al Bridgewater House on wednesday
Il had been intended originally, believe. to admit
reporters. At the last moment it was resolved to
exclude them report was nevertheless supplied
IN the papers by one of the news agencies, and was
dnlv mn ljshcd The Standard had better, though
briefer. account from some other source yesterday
morning. Sir William Hart Dyke, the Tory whip.
in circular note addressed to all the papers, de-
clares that the alleged report Of Lord Beaeons-
fields speech is purely imaginary" The manager
If the referred to reOrts that his report was
dictated by q Member of Parliament for an English
constituency who was present at the meeting ana
whose name, " could 1t be published" would be a
suficent guarantee for the substantial accuracy OF
his version. The Standard, equally undismayed by
Sir William Dykes letter, says Dlumply that, what
ever may be true of the press report theaccuracy OF
it's own report may be fully relied on. Is this
another case like the memorable contradiction by
Lord Salisbury when the secret Schouvaloff agree
ment was given to the world by Marvin where OFF,
ca denas have to be interpreted apart from the or
binary sense Of the words used " l suppose LORD
Beaconsfeld is vexed that, after lie had determined
the meeting should be secret, any report at all
should be published He might have known IL was
inevitable. have, for my part, no doubt whatever
that The Standards version is accurate 30 far as 1t
gOes though 1t doubtless emts some of the rheOrl-
cal ornaments IN which Lord Beaconsiieid TOOK
PRIDE Shoru of these his discourse probably seems
to him lees brilliant than it should be. But see no
reason to modify anything said'on Thursday about
the speech taking, as did, The Standard report as
Wa
TO have the speech complete, but The Standard YER
sion hovever incomplete was signed BeaconSheld
in every line.
Since the foregoing paragraph was written
fresb complication has arisen. LORD Beaconsheld
has interviewed in person. A dispute in which the
Tory Deus himself condescends to mlngte must De
allowed to be solemn. The Times is the occasion OF
his momentary appearance on the earth. mat Gu
riouslv-edited paper published Thursday the re-
mort of the press association, the other papers
did. 1t refused to publish Sir William Hart Dykes
contradiction on Friday. Lord BeacOnsheld. Indig-
nant and unhappy, himself addresses the ex-Ihun-
derer 10 complain that an elaborate declaration OF
policy is placed in his mouth, not one single word
of which was delivered by him, and which CONVEYS
In every sense the reverse of what he expressed.
think it. concludes his Lordship in his lofty way,
duty to request that you will make this disclaimer
ON nv part as public as the statement which you
have circulated" Seldom indeed has The Times put
itself in position to receive such rebuke as this
from such a source. Lord BeacOnsfeld does not
write to The Standard and his silence must be taken
as an admission that The Standard report was ac-
curate.
As the ouery how Lord Beaconsfeld's name should
be pronounced occurs from time to time in the
American press. the following anecdote may prove
useful: When Mr. Disrael chose his title, be chose
a name of which the local pronunciation is beyond
doubt Beekonsfeld." Nobody in Buckingham
shire where this quiet village is situate, ever thinks
of pronOuncing the word otherwise. Butsit hap
peued that when the new peer had his first audience
of the Queen her Majesty, in addressing him
by his title, pronounced it Beeconsheld. From
that moment local usage and immemorial
custom went for nothing. Lord Beaconsteid
gave it to be understood that her Majesty had set
tied the matter once for all. He was too good
courtier to dispute the royal orthoepY. Ii Louls'
XIV's blunder suficed to change the gender OF car
yosse the Queens ignorance of Buckingham
speech was an equally good reason for metamor-
phosing the sound Of syllable. And since Bea-
consield as sounded of old is associated with Burke
it is as well that new enuncation should be in
vented for the title of Mr.. Disrael Among his near
associates his will is always followed. In society
the pronunciation varies On the platform IN Mid
lOIDlau idSb NOFOuiDCA oAA' NSN"HN - '"AA'O'J
pronounced BeeconsfeId.
A benefit night at the Lyceum Theatre is always
an interesting occasion, and Miss Terry's Thurs
day was no exception to the rule. The Merchant
of Venice" was played for the one hundred and
niuety-frst time and Iolanthe for the first, with
Miss Terry and Mr. Henry Irving in both pieces.
As the public is permitted not to say expected, to
purchase tickets for benefit, the audience of
more miscellaneous kind than is to be on first
nohts when tickets are hardly to be had except BY
favor Yet there are always enough hcbitT<s pres
emit to give fapiiiar and distinguished air to the
house. Lady Burdett-COutts with her suite. ineud-
ing Mr.. Ashmead Bartlett, bearing bis new Parlia-
mentary honors with some modesty, Lady Gordon
Sir Frederick and Lady Pollock the Arthur Lewises
and the George Lewses art criticism in the persons
of Mr. Tom Taylor, Mr.. Comyns Carr, and many
Others, occupied their usual boxes and stalls Not
n seat In the theatre was untitled, but good many
were not filled till long after Miss Terry first
stepped on the stage, gorgeous in yellow brocade,
and as nervous as il this were her frat appearance.
Recovering her possession she went on with her
part In the style which has SO often eutranced her
admirers, with much breadth of effect, and all ex-
act knowledge Of what is required to ex-
cite the applause of sympathetic house.
Much of her Portia is exceedingly clever;
some of it strangely deficient in art III the
trial scene Miss Terry still hurries and slrrs both
text and points There is much that Is attractive
about this lady that one would like to find her rem
dering Of favorite part eommendable throughout;
but one cannot There is enough in it that Is good
TO Justify her popularity and enough that is imper-
feet 10 excuse certain degree of critical cOldness.
Mr.. Irvings Shylock has vastly improved since the
first night The extravaganza of one or two scenes
has been toned down. The power evident through
ont has In no respect been lost In details, it has
been carefully thought out. There is refinement
about IL. O restraint selfrepressiOn, dignity,
natbos. an intellectual brilliancy, which deserve
and receive the heartiest applause Here and there
II would be the better for little more shading.