Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON, October s, 1892
MISS FRANCES Z. WILLARD, PRESI-
-'A dent Of tho Worlds Womans Christian
Temperance Union, sails today for the United
States In the Cunard steamer Etruria, accom-
panied by Lady Henry Somerset, whose guest
che has been for some weeks at Esstnor Castle,
Ledbury. ] am requested by Lady Somerset to
send to TIE STAE a copy of very beautiful
and artisricaiiy emblazoned birthday testi-
monial presented fsw days ago by the Worlds
W. c. t. U. OF the British empire TO Miss
Willard, who also received many kilograms.
letters and birthday gifts expressing the love,
loyalty and sympathy of her friends on both
sides Of the Atlantic.
Beloved president" says the testimonial. 1.-THE
sadness that enshr ouds your coming 10 our coun-
try forbids any demonstration Of national well
come. Yours is loss in which each Of us have
a share. With you we mourn a mother who, by
a long life Of courage and triumphant entry
into eternity, has taught Us il is always better
farther on We cannot. however, refrain on
this the anniversary of your birth tenderly to
wish YOU many years rich and full OF useful
labor. In approaching you with our copgratu-
lations il is on no commonplace erIand of
spring solely from our love and gratitude. We
lay this tribute in your hands because from
you we have resolved the message of
womans greatness; because, looking back
on the story Of the past. none
other to whom her fellow-couutry women
should confess SO largo a debt; because We
know that life and strength 10 you will ever
mean priceless and un1mching toll in the cause
which seeks to bring humanity nearer its di-
vine ideal. Your great heart, which knows no
ltss,ssa Of l,...l
only with the pul.ations of humanity. has
thrown out the life line of tho white ribbon.
and today it girGles the world, fit emblem of
the white light OF truth that called il into
radiant existence. You have stood for the
forces which level up and not down: your life
shall chant itself in Its own beatitudes after
your own LIES service. for you have under
stood the divine motherhood that has made the
world your family"
The testimonial is signed by the following la
Morgan, secretary; Mrs. J. III. Raper, treasurer;
Helen L. Hood. recording secretary: II. Whit
all Smith, L. 0rmiston Chant, b. Hugh Price
Hughes. NJ. Ward Poole c. Shaen. II. II. s.
Percy Bunting, I. Auckland G. Bailhache. L.
Hooper, H. l. Osborn, A. Hicks. A. NJ. Rich
ardson, A. E. Ridley, F. Balgarnie, E. Pearse
and Z. Stewart, committee.
Is THE CRITICS POWER WANING?
believe the great musical and dramatic
CrltiCs vi l@OuuDu tOsN no very Deep
rooted respect for their brethren on our side of
the water. The American. of course, lacks the
culture Of the gentleman who writes within the
sound Of Bow Bells. But am afraid the latter
fortunate animal is OVERRIDING the culture bust
ness, or at least the British tlieater goer seems
to think SO. Anyhow the adverse opinions of
the critics since the present season opened and
they have been many and strong. have not been
able to diminish the box Office receipts and
managers are laughing in their gold-lined
sleeves. The audiences too have had a COM
plete representation OF the smart set and the
enthusiasm Of the stalls has been as genuine as
that which rolls over the gallery ratings. Take
the new light opera Of Cigarette" for instance.
1t was produced Mt the Lyric as a sort Of off,
season effort while Mr.. Horace Sedger was re-
hearsing ''Incognita," and the critics either
damned it with faint praise or pointed out its
weak spots with remorseless severity. So great
has been its success, however. that the Shaftes-
bury Theater has now been taken for it, and il is
billed for an indefinite run. 1.-The Wedding Eve"
at the new Trafalgar was lucky enough 10 be no.
ticed, for the most part, by the dramatic critics
instead Of the musical critics, and a general
tone of appreciation, with rencence to de-
tails, pervaded two out Of every three Of the
newspaper notices, but the few scientific
critics Of music who attended tore il up dread
fully and no one had much to say in favor of
the plot or the comic dialogue. But it is n
phenomenal success and the advance booking is
among the best ON record. Again, when Mrs.
Langtry and the Queen Of Manoa' made their
bow at the Haymarket the critical knives were
replaced for the occasion by hatchets and the
unlucky play was hacked into small bits How
two men who have known success" SAID one
leading critic, could, either sngly or Jointly,
have composed such piece: how, having done
II, they could possibly think that il WIS
either dramatic or interesting; how, II
they did think 90, they could succeed
in persnading any manager Of any theater to
most psrplsxing nature" But the placid
public turned up snd packed the house on the
following night and have been doing the same
every night since. Many other instances might |
be mentioned to show that the English critics |
arr getting out Of touch with the public, or
that the Engiish thsater goer 10 beginning 10 |
think, - the American has for long time
thought, that be Il s'cultursd" enough 10 have