New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-24

stand, Mr. Chamberlain, it must be said radical
as he is has the reputation Of being a very stiff,
not to say despotic, administrator. Perhaps MI.
Farrer Secretary to the Board, is entitled TO some
part of such credit may be due to the Department
for deprivng the country of DR.. TyndalPs services.
The latter has felt bound TO resign rather than ac-
quiesce in what he believes to be great injustice
to another man and an indignity to himself.
The French plays have opened at the Gaiety Thea
tire under the management, as usual, Of MIR. Mayer
and Mr. John Holliugshead. Madame Judic and
NJ Dupuis from the Varieties Theatre in Paris
are the first stars and their repertoire opens
with "Lli" and ''Niniche"-plays which it may be
presumed every American who has been in Paris
during the last four or five wears has made point
of seeing and, perhaps, of disappearing. NIniche"
has long obtained the distinction of being, in
the opinion of Partisan cntics, the most improper
piece on the contemporary stage. 1t does not ap-
pear that the English censor of plays has offered
any opposition TO its prodution here. Produced it
is, at any rate. Lii" which came first, was re-
ceived by the press with equanimlty. Enough of
the plot is disclosed in the papers to the un-
wary public. if such public there be; and after
that people who 90 must he supposed to at their
own risk, peril. and responsibility. So would they
in any case. The only argument l ever heard Of
for the stringent censorship long persisted in with
reference to French plays in London was this: that
the theatTe-gol customs of London and Paris are
different. In Paris no unmarried grl is ever taken
to such theatres the Varieties or Palais Royal.
In London, the girls 60 everywhere with their
mammas-mammas. papas, and children being, II
would seem, equally unsuspicous of evil What
ever this argument may have been worth, it seems
now 10 have been given up once for all. 1t was in
fact, an argument for exercising censorship over
the audience. rather than over the play. The ten
dency of the age is, in some directions, markedly in
favor of what Sir William Harcou1t once called
grandmotherly government. But here is case
where common sense has GOT the better of grand
motherly tendencies. Ii is absurd to say that par
ents do not know what French play is Eke,-par-
ents of the class who 90, allow their daughters to
90. to such performances. Something might he said
from the Puritan point of view against excluding
French actors and pieces from the English stage
But 1t is agr eed all hands that il is too late for
that. Year by year they have gained stronger
foothold and now it is difficult TO say what control
if any, is preserved to the Lord Chamberlain or to
his subordinate officers. "NlnIche." like Lii"
crowded the theatre. There lie an undercurrent of
dsmav. perhaps IN the notices devoted this morn
ing TO the performance; Madam Judics ap 9eaTaDce
in bathing costume discOncertlng more than one
writer. But they all see that her rendering Of a
very risky part is triumph from the purely art
point of view The in the second Ict IN par
ticular. are handled by this accomplished and very
daring actress with delicacy not less remarkable
than the indecacy of the actual situations Every
thing is suggested; very htle of realistic represen
tation is TO be seen. Whether an English audience
unite understands the full meaning of all that passes
before its eyes Is another question. G. W. 6.