New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10

Theatre, before an audience, including the Prin-
cess OF Wales and many distinguished persons.
1t proved to be essentially French. French In
the sl!ghtness yet sufnciency Of It's motive.
French in the point and sparkle OF Its dialogue,
French in incident also and French In the gen.
eral brilliancy Of the handling. Seldom is such
a piece seen on the English stage or SO much
dellcacy and tenderness shown in dramatic
experiment We have n right TO consider that
these qualities are in good part American. Mrs.
Craigie has shown that she possesses the more
difficult secret Of dramatic dialogue as well as or
the dialogue of fiction which can afford to be
more enigmatica The piece was delightfully."-
acted by Miss Terry and Mr.. Robertson. and
captivated the house. which called out both
actors and authors many times
Signora Duse has continued to charm her pub
lie three or four times weekly, but has appeared
In no new part. Her season Is said to be less
profitable financially than she deserves a fact
little credtabe TO the English public Few the
aires. however except the Lyceum. st. James's
and Haymarket, or except those which compete
successfully for the patronage of the music-hah
public are supposed to be doing good business
II is not a good season for theatres except for
the best and worst or for the most serious and
the least serious Those which steer middle
course are in shallow water. if not actually
ashore.
One OF the most honorable testimonies ever
offered to a publisher or to anybody else was
the dinner given this week by the contributors
TO THE National Dictionary of Biography to
the publisher Of that work, Mr. George Murray
Smith. 1t Is in effect a tribute from author to
publisher and a deserved tribute. The two ed
itors of the dictionary. Mr. Leslie Stephen and
Mr. Sidney Lee take part in it. So do Mr. JUS
tice Mathews. Lord Edmond Fltzmaurice. the
Dean OF Westminster University, and British
Museum authorities and many more eminent
contributors The Bishop of Peterborough. DIT
Creighton, wrote: Il think Mr.. Smith the great
est benefactor to English literature in our gen
Grafton" Others did not fail to remember that
Mr. Smith had been. not only the publisher put
the friend Of ThackeraY. Of Charlotte Bronte
and of Browning. Due honor was paid MIN IN
the speeches. and It was duly acknowledged ny
Mr. Smith who spoke with deep feeling ana
real eloquence we'll as good sense.
Some OF the facts most creditable to him were
brought out but not ALL 1t has indeed long
been known that he undertook this gigantic task
unaided. 1t is known that out Of the sixty vol
umes which will complete the Dictionary thirty
eight have already been published. four each
wear Probably I, is not known how deep Mr..
Smith has had 10 put MS manu- Ih'o hia P''N'''
and that he was well aware to what sacrifice
he was committing himself when he started. lie
resolved that the best for the purpose should
be his colleagues lie meant that this Dictionary
should be a monument Of English literature. and
II will be II has and can have no rival. Il is
in truth Mr. George Murray Smiths tribute to
literature and gift TO the English nation. gift
Of which the mere money cost to him is known
to reach very high figure. No such work Is
likely to pay In the commercial sense. Bu; he
is 50 far from being discouraged that he has ar
ranged that his execu;ors. in event OF his death
should continue and complete II. He Is sure at
least Of an mperishable renown for Intelligent
generosity and Of a brilliant place In the history
Of English literature when his own biography
comes 70 be written. c. W. 5.