New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-20
QUEEN AND PRINCE.
TIE JOURNEY TO MENTONE-TfIE PRINCES
THEATRICAL DlNNEB-MR. IRVING.

Loyal BlitOrs have not been over-pieascd to near
that their Qucen was going abroad for month.
The political BriCn Of the more advanced kind asks
himself how the Queen can be spared from her
realm at a moment when Affairs are in such an in
volved. not to say critical. condition. Extreme
Radicals have been heard to mutter that If the king
dom in its present perplcxty can get on for month
without sovereign it might possibly get on for
longer period. Remarks of that sort have even
been heard In good society. where the Queens
expedition is equally dsliled, though for differ
ent reasons. 1t is dslIkcd naturally enough,
by the Wcst-End tradesmen whose complaints
of decaying custom grow yearly more bitter. Brgh-
ton and BounemOuth st. Leonard's-ou-Se and st.
Lawrence-On-Sea, TOrquay and Hastings, and Peg
well Bay itself. sinking for once their jealouses
unite in chorus of angry remonstrance against the
Queens preference of foreign watering-place over
any English seaside resort, Perhaps that matters
less for they would all have grumbled just loudly
had an English town been chosen-all but the one
that was chosen. The Irish of course wish to know
why the Queen never comes to Ireland. where the
amenities of life are so assduousy practised.
Whether or not it be possible to soothe these sus
capabilities the date of the Queens departure is
none the less fixed for March 10. The political,
social, commercial Brton may read in his society
journal of to-day that her Majesty is to nhabit at
Mcntone villa described as modern structure
sumptucusly furnished and filled with all the most
modern appliances for health and comfort. The
owner of this sumptousy furnished modern struc-
ure Is Mr.. Henfrey, in whose house at Bayeno the
Queen lodged, and society journalism is of opinion
that Mr. Henfrcy is to be congratulated. 1t If not
often that an English subject, however wealthy,
has the chance Of twice being honored by his sover
eign as his guest"
So far good. Bat if the happy Mr.. Henfrey, not
| think, otherwise known to fame, has filled his
modern villa with all the modern appli-
ances for health and comfort. Mentone
Itself, externally to Mr. Henfrey's villa, has still
something to desire in the matter of health and COM
fort.
AS for Mentone." writes friend only two days
ago well | do not mind its dulness, but object
to It's dirt and its open drains deling the Mediter-
ranean beach, and its one promenade along the
shore, dusty glazing and odorous."
This description is the more startling when you
consider that the Queen had originally meant to 20
to Cannes. About the time when this was resolved
on there appeared in Of the papers very strong
letters on the unsantary condition of Cannes.
Drains that did not drain, typhoid as the
result of Them horrors Of all kinds,
were unreentngly revealed. The Queens
medical advisers took alarm. The Cannes decision,
not yet made public. happily, was rccOnsidered,
reversed, and Mentone pitched upon instead. Not,
apparently, because much was known about Men
tone but because too much was known about
Cannes The truth presently came to BE whispered
in Cannes, and the fury which had been quite
sufficiently reused by the indscretion of the press
respecting drains rose to heights. Counter
stories were set afost in other papers but it was
too late to undo the mischief-mischef from the
local Cannes point of view
From every other point of view, il Is time and
more than time that the truth should be told about
the condition Of European hotels and socalled health
resorts For the most part they open sewers and
nowhere is the state of things worse than in the
South of France and in Italy. DR.. Burney Yeo, in
his article in The FortHiGhHy Rerac for this month,
on The Health Resorts OF the Western Riviera
describes frankly enough tho defective sanitation
of Cannes An emphatic note TO this paper declares
that English physicians Will certainly not allow
their patients to run the serious risk which resi-
dence in its hotels villas seems now to involve.
The serious outbreak of fever prevailing at Can
nes at the present time - is mentioned and so are
the open drains which are presumably one cause Of
it, But Mentone which, from the account above
Uuotcd seems in much the same state with regard
TO drains is Jet of without ccnSurc are other
places in the vicinity. Ny Mentone friend adds,
nevertheless that there are charming spots In the
the weather is superb. and an get
ting the stout health came for"
The Queru's journey abroad should not be dis
ME. ed without word on the political uses made of
it.. Tory journalists Of high character were not
ashamed to intimate that the Queens health had
been impaired by political anxiety, and that her
anxiety was caused by MT Gladstone! The specific
source of it, the particular iniquities Of the Prime
Minister which gave rise to It, they careful not to
state. Thci readers intended 10 understand that
her Maicsty's want of general confidence IL Mr.
Giadstonc's capabilities FOR government had
reduced her f. a state for which nothing
but month of foreign air could promise relief!
The dinner given by the Prince of Wales last Sun
lav has fattcred the theatrical world, and sundry
worlds which are not theatrical. II meant said
thc inspired a mark Of honor to the theatrical pro
fsssion Tirty-eight invitations were issued ven
teen Of them 10 actors mo actresses II Is thought
worth noting that the dinner was given not al the
Marlborough Glib, where the Prince at times enter |
aims bachelor parties. but NJ Marlborough HoGsc |
which is his private residence The list of theatrical
guests is headed by Mr. Irving, and includes actors
md managers attached TO thirteen different theatres
in London. Mr. Irving, Mr. Toolc, Mr. Hare, Mr. |
Kendall Mr.. Bruce. Mr.. Bancroft, Mr Wyndham, |
nd Mr. ]. Clayton are both actors and managers
esscps also most Of them of their theatres. The |
Iyceum. the lIaylnlrkct the Prince of Wales the |
st. .!a1ness had each two representatives present
The non managing actors were Mr.. David James, |
Mr. CoghlalI Mr.. Vein, Sr Neville, Mr.. Grossmith,
Mr. Arthur Cecil Mr.. Lionel Brough The non-act- |
ny manager was Mr. j, Holngshead. No distno- |
ion. you perceive, between different departments Of
he drama. Tragedy, comedy, melodrama, opera, |
arce. and the kind of entertainment known vul- |
,arly as leg-pieces, all were recognized.
The Prince, as everybody knows, is n great play |
yoar If he has dramatic preference. 1t is under
TODD 10 bc for the lighter forms OF theatrical amusc
nent He has been known to be present at a per- |
Torrance Of tragedy, just he has been known to |
preside over benevolent fund dinners and lay the |