New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25
having been about fourteen hours in doing a
Journey of less than three.

Mr.. Henry Jamcs's play, The American has
now been running month at the Opera Comiquo
with ever-increasing success The public, ms so
often happcrS, has preferred to be its own critic
! and finds so ~ ,ning in this work which appeals
to its susceptibilities TO it's dramatic sense, and
to its feeling for good literary work They say
ono factor in this success the Prince oil
Wales's visit SO loyal is the BritOn TO his future
sovereign that whenever he goes TO see play
many others at once become convinced that tnls
| play is the rlbht thing to see, and the sale OF
! tickets proceeds with Iapidlty That however
| is only an accident, and the influence OF IL 'em-
! porary.
The character of one woman is placed in style
to attract English audience. Were the rest
I Of the piece equally we'll cast throughout. some
of the early criticism would never have been hearo'
| Had Mr.. James's novel never existed, much more
might have been spared. To dramatize mover
is always an experiment. and Mr.. James's novels
are not those which would be thought most likely
to succeed on the stage. However. this is be-
| ginning and, under many disadvantages has done
| better than the most friendly critic predicted
The play do,s get hold of the audience The dialogue
sparklcs from beginning to end. There is lie, ana
movement. Something is done at each moment
| and the interest is maintained to the emu lhat
| is the beginning Of the dramatic career WHICH,
| imagine will proceed hcnceforward on IFS own mer-
ifs and not upon the merits Of novels in print. Mr..
James in other words is likely TO be heard oi ne
fore long as the author of play entirely original
"Pamela's Prodigy" by Mr.. Clyde Fitch. am
! bitiously described by the author as lively com
edy, was produced at the Court Theatre on Wcdncs-
! day lie might have called il deadly. Inc
piece is without plot, without probability or at
! tempt at any, without a good line OF dialogue,
| ., IF il rno
actors who were unluclly enough to have parts IN
| it, Mrs J. Wood, who played the heroine, is an
actress capable Of supporting much deadweight.
An artist admirable, indeed inimitable, in her own
| line she staggered under the burden Mr.. clyde
| Fitch laid on her back To carry such part
| or piece to a successful end proved beyond her
| powers Nor was Mr.. Giddcns more fortunate
| than she in attempting the Impossible. Inc
| curtain went down with general gloom, ana
| stupefacton prevailed throughout the evening.
Mr.. CLYDE Fitch is said to be an American, who
has written successful comedies for the American
stage. Does he keep his worst for expectation?
| The publication of Mr.. Ruskin's poems is one OF
those incidents in literature which can be noticed
! only TO be deplored piece of foolish hero wor-
| ship Mr. Rusl,in is a great. though overrated'
prose writer Poet he is not In these two Sumptu-
Gus volumes there is not a single line whlch
| iudicious critic would not willingly let die Inc
! sole justification for their appearance Is as a
contribution to the history of the growth OF the
writer's mind. Even from that point of view
their value is slight. They are for the idolater
and Of indiscriminating idoIaters of Mr.. Ruskin
there is no lack and especially women, to whom
every written or printed word of the Master is
precious. Mr. w. G. CollingwOod is the editor.
and if appears that the world has TO thank Amer-
| can pirates race now supposed to be extinct. or
at least moribund, for the appearance Of these
| volumps The American pirates had reprinted in
| America a scarce volume issued by Mr.. Rusltin
| in 1850 for private circulation The circulation
was not private enough TO escape the pirates
clutch It was because Of this reprint that NJ.
| Rusllin consented, are assured, to an Englsh
edition. Mr. Collingwood not Mr.. Rushin, is
responsible for the selection. arrangement, editing
and the rest.
Perhaps Mr. George Allen is responsible for
something. He has long been Mr. Ruskins
printer and publisher. 1t is with Mr.. George
| Aliens imprint that those reissues Of
Modern Painters and The Stones Of
Venice have appearcd. in violation Of one
| if not both Of Mr. Rlskin's express pledges to
buyers Of the previous editions. The business Of
publishing Mr. Ruskin's vcluminous and multi
farious works is lucrative both to publisher and
| ]
thing with his name to it. The poems are issued
| in a special edition and an ordinary edition. The
small edition OF tlr latter is not TO be ready for
fortnight, So that eager buyers may buy the
special issue at three guneas, 80 copies Of them.
the usual allurement practisod by the modern
| publisher on n credulous public special
edition of $50 copies TO he special ceases
J to have any photographed value while its com
mercal value depends mainly on that interesting
process known as rigging the markets.
Mr.. Froude's new volume. "The Divorce Of
| Catherine of Arragon, is almost remarkable for
its introduction as for ts fresh contributions to
| tie history of Henry the Eighth. For many years
| this admirable writer has been a target for all
kinds of shafts from the toO-wcll furnished armOy
Of critics, whom he gently refers TO as the ortho
dox historians lie has for the most part hither-
| TO left these attacks unanswered Now he answers
| in "a spirit honorable 70 him and to literature
Admitting that lie may have made mistakes who
docs not ?-hc fnds nothing in the essence OF sub
stance of his work to retTact He still holds t.
his general view Of that long period beginning with
the fall of Wolsey and ending with the defeat of
| the Spanish Armada lie adheres TO his concep-
| ton of IIcnry's character. lie argues that If
Henry is to be condemned in that wholesale fash
! ion common to earlier and some late historians
the country and the people over whom he
ruled must he condemned with him. He does not
and did present him perfect, or defend all
his acts but he was the author Of a great work,
he and Cranmer, Latimcr, Ridley, and the rest.
They must stand or fall together The Roman
Catholics of course. have never forgotten him or
them Their books are full of abuse for hundreds
of years For the rest says Mr.. Froudc in
fine passage, 81 do not pretend 10 impartiality.
believe the Reformation to have been the greatest
incident in English history. l am unwilling to
believe more evil than ! can help of my country
men who accomplished so magnificent a work
Is it for us Americans, the SONS of the Purtans
who carried on this great work, TO be less CRATE
c-l or IN do los Lnnnr o uenrNs memnrN .