New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06

reopens tonight with the very popular and sue
cessful Basoche " Ivanhoe' disappears from the
bill. prices are reduced to the level Of other
theatres. and English opera in England is now
maintained by the performance of purely French
work. Mr.. Carte, however, defends his policy.
and promises new operas. of which both the music
and libretto are to be from English writers, and
presently another grand opera by Sir Arthur
Sullivan.
The purchase of Mr.. Whistlers portrait Of his
mother by the French Government for the Luxem-
bourg Gallery is a high compliment TO an Ameri-
can artist whom it has long been the fashion in
England to undervalue. The English public takes
most OF its opinions on art from Ruskin, and Mr..
Ruskin's animosity to Mr.. Whistler has long been
notorious The Royal Academy, which represents
too often the spirit of Philistinism in art, was
equally hostile. Seldom have either the Academy
or the British critics been more sstonished than
when at the last Paris Exhibition Mr.. Whistler
ana Sir Frederick Leighton were bracketed to-.
gother py the French jury, and gold medals of equal
Vaiue We're awarded to each. Now the astonishment
Is renewed Mr.. Whistler's picture is well known in
London, where it has been exhibited more than
once, but 1t is none too well understood either by
The critics or the public. The Luxembourg is, or
may he, preliminary step to the Louvre It
might be difficult to name any living English az
tlst whose chances of Immortality in that matchess
company OF great painters are equal to Mr..
Wnister's can think of none who have got so
far as the Luxembourg.
lt is curious coincidence that the very picture
abused by Mr.. Ruskin is now on sale In London
galery Nocturne of Cremorne. Mr. Ruskin said
ne never before heard Of artist finging pot of
paint in the face of the public and charging 200
f0rI vNha y,ria NJ. -
knows 40 well anybody that the standard of art
and the standard of art criticism-is far higher in
Paris than in London. 1t would be interesting to
hear what he now has to say of Mr.. Whistler as an
artist
III may be convenient for American doctors TO
know sthat In this free country an
American diploma Of medicine does not
entitle its possessor to call himself NJ ID.
Ii he does, he may be prosecuted doctor has
actually been prosecuted for this offence and con-
vlcted, and upon the application to quash the
conviction the Lord Chief Justice of England ex-
pressed the opinion that within the meaning Of
the law of England, our countryman had falsely
represented himself as an NJ d., had falsely prc.
tended to be Doctor of Medicine, having only
an American degree" said Lord Coerdge His
appeal was dismissed and he will now have the
pleasure of paying into the Treasury Of the Queen
the sum of 81 90 for using in England title to
which In America lie has legal right
The general interest in the Russell case is due
solely to the rank and social position of the parties
to it, and to the fact that the respondent is a
grandson of a considerable statesman. The result
proves that Lady Russells petition for judicial
separation ought never to have been fled or
never to have been allowed to come to public
hearing. This lady is not without faults of her
own, but the ndiscretion of her advisers is her
worst misfortune. What could her friends have
meant by allowing her to bring into court her
wretched story? She alleged cruelty by her hus.
band. 1t is tolerably plain that Lord Russell
Is not an easy person to get on with
There was harshness on his side, and im-
pauence on hers But her account was exag-
gerated Neither Judge nor jury believed that thingD
happened as she said they happened. The de-
tails are paltry, sordid, and often contemptible
Money was at the bottom of the squabble. said
Sir Charles Russell. who defended Lord Russell in
way which presently turned the prejudice
against him into something like sympathy with
him. The serious charge, which was rather suc-
gestes Than made, was abandoned in court by
Sir Edward Clarke. who once more figures as an
unsuccessful advocate in a trial only too con-
spicuous. Hardly anything of the petitioners
case was left after Lady Russell's cross-examina-
ton. and after Lord Russell had told his own
story on the stand He was clearly the witness
OF the truth, and faced damaging questions with
courage and composure, even when they compelled
more damaging confessions Public opinion is an
odd thing. Lord Russell was mobbed in the
streets after his wife's evidence had been given.
and cheered when the verdict in his favor was
known.
So ends one more scandal of the many which
of late years have brought, sometimes discredit,
sometimes disgrace, on the peerage and what is
called society. 1t is nobodys duty to prevent
them. The press report them more fully tlan
they report anything else, and moralize upon them
after the fashion of the Philistine They steadily
diminish the respect in which the classes are
held, or used to be held, in this country, by the
masses, and if the general overturn which CARLYLE
used to predict is to come, it may come little
sooner because of these disclosures in court 1t
is perceived that human nature with title is
much the same as human nature without and
that life in Beigravia may be as ignoblc as life
in Whitechapel. G. w. s.