, 1880-07-18
THE STAGE.
Tom Tayior-His Contributions to
the Theatre.
Something Useful in Connection
with the Coming Season.
Marie Williams and Her Rival Man.
ayers in a London Court.
Dramatic Affairs Locally and Otherwise
Attractions That Are Promised.

Dramatic Affairs Locally and Otherwise
Attractions That Are Promised.
TOM TAYLOR.
Tom Taylor, professor, barristcr, Crown scrv-
ant dramatist, critic, and editor of Punch, died
in London lust Monday He had been i'll for
some time, but the nature OF that Illness was
not stated In the cable dispatch which an-
nounccd his death. Mr. Taylor was 63 years Of
age. Since 1874, when he first began to contrib
ute to Punch, he has been closely associated with
tho stage. and his na1ne stands prominent among
those Of the brilliant men of his time engaged in
that department of literary work. Mi. Taylor was
one Of the most industrious and ono Of the most
versatile among thon. He wus Il slative Of Sum
derland, in the County Of Durham. There he
WAS educated. going afterwards first to Glasgow
University, and then tc Trinity College, Cum-
bridge. For two years lie was Professor OF Eu-
glsh Language and Literature In University
College, London, and II, 1916 he was called to the
Bar. For several years he practlccd upon the
Northern Circuit but rcllnqutshcl the Bur in
1850 for the position OF Secretary of the London
Hoard of Health. Altogether he was twenty
one years in public servica, when he WIS re-
tired on Il handsome pension from, the civil list
Of the Grown. Among his earliest dramatic
writings '' 4 Trip to kissengen" may be NUM-
bered and his contribution to Punch date al-
most from tho first number Of that comic paper
On the death of Mark Lemon. its editor, some
vacant cbair, but his fitness for that post has
never been made conspicuous He'was also art
critic Of the Lonuon Times for many years.
His contributions to tho stage OF one kind and
another can scarcely bo numbered. III the
London -AthcnTunl, SOME ten years ago, there
appeare 80 sesss Of articles m E;' upoa 1.-The nsa
rt1nEfInr,1flfo EfSflSSiON Tho writer Of
thai series, after considering Lord Lytton, John
Oxeuford, I. W: Robertson, Eoucicault, Bur
cious onslaught upon him, charging that
he was the fuster father of the
Gtflic drama, or, in other words that MIR: Tay-
Charles neade, his colahnra1cur in Mnsks and
Faces rushed to the defense of his friend in IL
ponderous and crushing reply; hut, malice
dthenrum writer said. Tom Taylor was an
plots and many Of his situations he relied upon
tiers were invariably his own. He generally
selected French mo.lels, and, like the French
drsna.is,s: be was always ready to collabcrate:
tales, and named it Love and Life; Charles
Reudo assisted him with Two Loves and y
Life" The KtnE's Riyq'.; ,.Nsw & Men and od
productions Of Tom Taylor and \. ". Dubourg,
and with Mr.. Josh slshee, Yankee" =" come
daq Of note in his se he dG the TIT
aatioa M 0'Ds Il Lori Pana,es,H su TS's I'll play
in Sas soa hSnd 16n eat S os ceo
ssSa T5 Tic Tic Rtstarcal inc neens 4Shch
served as the subject Of PILOT and Passion" WIS
construction and writing were al Tayior's.
Upon an incident in novel by Mr.. William Gil
bsfi bst bis dse ar ns5 nac itfos
t1ra1natization 1T Miss Brsldon's "IIenry Dun
har," tue play bearins that name. To Charles De
iernards Frenct tale lie Genare "still
in Edmund About's brilliant novel Of life in
modern Greece. ~ Lc Itoi lie In Montaene." lies
tho source Of The Drigand and His Banker
Lion M in the Path" 1y John Saunders s and
9s anfhteT ate1 haherne is saa to nrs
Called }oan Merrywsather a|so sugssste qses ea
From From % tie ..Lsonani % Of Nil Nns and nris-
barre Mr. Taylor found the plot Of his - Ticket
Leaye Man, H., OF, one & Of his mo most successful
" Z Aieule" of NM. D'Enncry and Edmond;
chcx Ma Mere =; ':To opllge henson was from from
Highs se@.ee e oi hesra anase ftsm cao :'S!Ss 4he
Foors Revenge" This piece was written for
the lare Sanlnel Phelps who was the original
Bt.fMccip. His success in Englund i'll the ctnr-
in this country Of Edwin [3ooth in tho saine role
Nine. Girs,rdi1,'s charming little onc-nct. "Ene
Femme uu, Dettste sun Mari furnished tho
idca ,.pon which Mr.. Taylor built his . 4 Sheep
in Wo!f's Clorhins": he used II. Octave reufi-
lets Peril ell ~ Dclneurc" for The House
and tho Home: some Of the situations in
'."rwixt Axe and Crown " were taken front thu
Prinxessin Elizabeth" Of Frau Won Birch Pfcif-
fer, and "Narcissc" was also borrowed from tho
German.
Some OF Mr.. Taylor's historical dramas entitle
him to tnke a prominent place among the En-
glish drnmatists OF his day. Some of them have
become stock dsr.rnus Of our time The Fools
Revenge, Lady Clancarty,' - Plot and Pas
s;on." and '''Twixt Ak aud Crown" In the
latter piece the beautiful and unfortunate Mrs.
Rousby first made her appearance in this conn
try.
For many years past it is said that Mr.. Taylor
had grown somewhat nrersc to society, owing
to his failing health. He WAS man
Of Strung convictions, not to say prejudices, aud
his political predilectlons during his career fre-
qucntly led him into good deal Of trouble Yet
among his intimates he was greatly esteemed,
and his loss will be keenly felt In English literary
circles.