New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10

word in any leading paper. II he had been the
King of Sweden he would have bcen honored by
paragraphs everywhere. Being merely the fore
most Of living American statesmen, his arrival
and departure are matters of no interest to the
average British reader. When Mr.. Blaine was
here last summer he was, as you know much
lionized in English society. lie made many
friends who looked forward to seeing him again,
and he would hsvc been received with cordiality
not less than that Of last year. But his present
stay in London was less than week, and he chose
to avoid parties and dinners and called at but two
or three houses, whose owners had particularly
interested him. The two persons whose ac-
quaintance he now has first made are Sir George
Trevclyan, whom he met at lunch, and his country
woman Madame Waddington, wife OF the French
Ambassador, with whom he took tea the afternoon
before he left.
Mr. Whistler rctires from the Presidency Of the
Royal Society Of British Artists with something
more than the honors of war. Defeated by the
Philsstine majority, he takes out with him
nearly every man whose work gave distinction
to the Society. Mr.. Alfred Stevens, of Paris Mr..
Waldo Story. Mr. Roussel Mr.. Jacemb, Mr. Hood
and many other artists shake of the dust Of
Suffolk Street once for oil. There remain
company of painters who have sgnally failed to
interest the public or to give any promise Of good
work. Mr.. Wyke Bayliss is the new president,
a most respectable person.
The Mikado' was revived on Thursday even
ing Mt the Savoy Theatre with all the circum-
stances Of ceremony usually attending first night
The Princess Of Wales and her daughters and
Princess Louise were present, and many other per-
sons Of varied distinction. Sir Arthur Sullivan
conducted The cast remains the same as before,
II T1lxv
and Miss Geraldine Ulmar is now the Yum-Yum."
The Standard whose critic is porson Of aus
terty speaks Of her as specially graceful in move
ments and attitudes and singing and acting with
charm. Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan's opera went,
in fact, as we'll as ever from beginning to end,
neither Mr.. Gilbert's humor nor Sir Arthur Sulli-
vans music seeming to have lost any part Of Its
hold on London audience. DOyley Carte
has mounted the opera with his usual taste and
splendor.
The more deliberate criticism Of the weeklies
on Miss Calhouns Hester Prynne in The Scarlet
Letter. is even more favorable than the next
mornings impressions of the first night in the
daily papers. I quote Mr.. Wedmore in " The
Academy: Miss Calhoun has grasped the true
character of Hester; proud and embittered when
the town revilcs her, penitcnt when alone, full
Of tenderness and full of womanliness. The per-
formance is consistent and harmonious. 1t has
real beauty" From this and other notices, as
well as from the interest shown by society and
the general public, it is clear that this young
American actress has made no slight impression
on the play going world of London.
am desired by the Honorable Stephen Cole
ridge, who thinks that l made an invidous dis
tinction between the authors of The Scarlet
Letter. to say that none such should in his
opinion, nor in the opinion Of Mr.. Norman Forbes,
be drawn. 1--WE give ourselves to the world,' he
writes, as Joint authors. As such, we wish to
be accepted for better for worse ain sorry
if my distinction was invidious, the more so as l
stated the facts correctly. But everything shall
give way to the joint wish of the joint authors.
G. w. s.