The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-09
WHAT. NEXT. In EGYPT |
The Personal Characteristics Of th'
Late Khedive.
THE IRvINGS WELL ADVERTISED,
Henry XIII" Was N Great Success and
Cost an Immense Amount or Money
The Condition of Guy de Msupassant-
Jerome X. Jerome as an Editor.
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS.


LONDON, Jan. 9.-Politically, the death
of the Khedive has been the chief topic of
discussion during the latter part of the
week and naturally, it has overshadowed
everything else in the newspapers. for il is
fraught with serious conditions and, in
the opinion of many competent judges,
perhaps even the peace of Europeis is threat
ened. AS you are aware from the de-
spatches which were sent from here on
Thursday night, many of the papers think
II Will raise the question that France may
now demand hand in the forming and
maintaining of the regency, but, on the
other hand, the majority of the French pa
pers agree that the death of the ruler OF
Egypt is rather favorable than otherwise
to England who will take advantage of
the fact, in order 10 prolong her occupa
ton there while the new Khedive will be-
come mere puppet in the hands of the
English, and this will be OF especial ad-
vantage in another way as it will give her
a chance of winning the Sultan over.
The German press is inclined TO believe
that England viii now have TO face seri-
Gus question and give direct answer as
To what she intends TO do, and II has no
doubt as TO what that answer IS likely TO
be, for il is rot probable that she will
leave Egypt.
The personality of Tewfk Pacha was
interesting in many ways. His bearing
was always dignified, although he was
very shy, especially TO strangers, by whom
his timidity was frequently taken for or
ascribed TO a lack Of intelligence, than
which nothing could be more erroneous.
When with his friends all this feeling of
reserve completely vanished and his ma
tural ability found free scope, Tor he was "A
good talker and spoke English, French
and German with great fluency. He was
very simple in his taste, and not only
hated parade, which was remarkable
enough fact, but he loved his home and
was an excellent husband and father.
That he was anxious to ameliorate the
condition of his people is seen in the fact
that he founded several schools and had
very distinct ideas on the value OF educa-
tion as we'll as methods for cultivating the
mind. In this connection, and as giving
an insight into his character, the follow
ing remarks To a visitor short time ago
will be interesting
THE great thingn he said sis TO educate
our women. Family life is the greatest
blessing on earth, and il is impossible
unless both men and women are educated.
II has been and is the aim of my life to
achieve that. In time, / trust to he able To
abolish the harem. / know the wretched
consequences of polygamy and of life in
the harem, have only one wife, and con-
slider | have done well in that, for | am
happy"
A characteristic of the Khedive was his
remarkable firmness of mind which was
eXemplifed when Mons. De Lesseps tried
TO hurry him at Alexandria into signing
away certain fresh water concessions with
out the knowledge of his ministers. The
khedive refused point blank, and then
when the great engineer threatened to
remain in Alexandria until the khedive
should sign His Higness, replied laugh
ingly: I'm that case, Egypt will have the
pleasure of possessing you always"
In the general world il may be said that
the name of Irving has been the most ad-
vertised during the week, for there was
first the mastery production of Henry
VIII, by Henry Irving, Sr., and following
close on its heels was the accident TO his
second son, Lawrence, in Belfast. If
Henry Irving had ever been in any doubt
as to the position and regard in
which he is held by the community
at large such doubt would have been dissi-
pated by the unbounded sympathy which
has welled out towards him in this
trouble. There was good cause for anxiety
on the part of the foremost actor in Eng
land as TO the reception of his latest pro-
duction by the public, for much depended
on il, as many people believed Mr. Irving
was stalking everything on it and it was u
case of make or break. The verdict, you
know, has been in his favor, but the
warmth with which he was received the
night after the accident was more clearly
"a tribute TO the man than 10 the artist.
Had the consequences of the shooting
been so disastrous as 20 necessitate his
presence in Belfast, the interruption OF
the season would have been perhaps ire
mediable, but, luckily, the doctors were
aule TO telegraph to him that there was
not the slightest nece ity foi him TO leave
London.
The estimates which have been pub
li~'led as TO the cost of the production
have been good deal under the mark. for
as a matte. of fact Mr.. Irving spent on
the scenery and costumes and for the
necessary accessories as well rs the de-
ig..s for al thsse Things, no less q sum
than f15,000. The proper appreciation of
these figures eau only be obtained by look
ing at the rela i've conditions. such rs the
size of the house, its holding capacity
and the running expenses. When full
the Lyceum will hold about 800 peo-
pie. and mt the present prices the re-
ceipts would he about G400, while the run
ming expenses of the theatre exceed fS0J
week. 1t may safely be said that in
very few, if any, OF the theatres of the
world, excluding those devoted To opera
of course, the manager would feel
himself justified in spending such "A for
tune on a single piece and engaging such
company
These figures, il must be remembered.
take no account of the value Of Mr.. 1rv-
ing's own time, or of the actors who have
had to give several weeks TO rehearsais,
for il is one Of the anomalies OF the dra-
matte profession here that actors are
never paid for rehearsal, even though they
be engaged simply for the run Of the piece,
and II may happen, as IL has, that man
may give six or seven weeks time to this
preparatory work and receive perhaps only
salary for two or three weeks.
An American lady, "A Californian artist,
had the distinction of being the first to en-
ter the pit for the first performance Of
Henry VIII" and no one who has never
been through that ordeal can form any
conception of the endurance and strain
necessary i'm order 10 achieve that honor,
for honor it is undoubtedly regarded by.
all the regular frequenters Of the premiers
at that house Your correspondent asked
her how she managed TO accomplish this
feat. and she replied: "Ny friend and ]
went To the theatre with campstools, and
took our places next the door at 10 o'clock
in the morning. We had provided our
selves with volume of H0rpcT'S Mdgd-
zinc, a sketch book and newspaper,
which last. when we had finished reading
we put under our feet TO act as a sort Of
Garnet and very efficient one it was, for