New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
| l..
LAST FIRST NIGHT-SOME OF THE CE'
LEBRITIES PRESENT ON SATURDAY, MAY
4-THE PRINCESS LOUISE-THE OUCH
ESS OF SUTHERLAND-THE LORD
CHIEF JUSTICE-THE LAWSON FAM
ILY-LAWYERS, JOURNALISTS. Or
NAMENTS OF SOCIETY AND
OTHERS-MR. HENRY IRVING
AS MR.. HENRY IRVING.
London. May 8.

London. Mayo
One more "Lyceum ht."-perhaps the last
shall ever see. II began to recall the memories
Of the most memorable they would fill many
column; each with character OF It's own and with
some particular charm or interest which made
each differ from the other But upon histories OF
that sort cannot now enter. Time presses And
perhaps a daily paper. which is supposed to &C.
cupy itself more or less with news is not the place
for "reminiscences. / will only say that through
the stalls of the theatre and over the Lyceum
stage passes a procession Of interesting people,
grouping themselves and regrouping themselves
with the bewildering Inconsistency Of kaleido-
scope They include many OF the most delightful
Englshmen and Engllshwomen Of the last quar-
ter of a century; at the head Of them the pictur-
esque and sympathetic figure OF the Amphtryon
OF the 1yceum. Mr.. Henry Irving: perhaps never
more picturesque and certainly never more SYM
pathetic than last Saturday night
A first night at the Lyceum on the night OF the
annual Royal Academy banquet was thought by
the timid a mistake or. at best, dangerous ex-
pertinent. They forgot that the better half OF the
best people in London are never hidden TO that
solemn yet attractive festival In Burlington
House. 1t Is a company Of men, and only OF men,
which assemblies usually under the Presidency OF
Sir Frederic Leighton; this year. driven abroad by
sudden and severe Illness and replaced by Sir John
Millais Sir Frederic himself has often been
guest at the Lyceum. I don't know whether 1t &C.
CURED to Mr.. Irving that his invitations would
clash with the Academy celebration. nor whether
he would have stayed his hand II 1t had. How
ever that may be, the boxes and stalls OF the Ly-
ceum on Saturday were filed with women either
famous or beautiful or both;-famous socially.
and some OF them famous for their efforts to at
tap f,,1 md f,,l lett tinn
than that which comes from the drawing-room or
the hunting field. At the head Of them-for royal
ty has not yet lost its precedence in this rushing
tide Of democracy-in the stage box the left
was the Princess Louise. Her Royal Highness s
one Of those women to whom merely social exist
ence has seemed inadequate and thin. She Is
known an artist and known for her charita BILE
efforts and for other experiments which lie far
afield from the ordinary pursuits Of royalty
In the stalls sat the young Duchess Of Suher-
land. OF her still more than Of the Princess
Louise II might be said that every resource which
the world Of fashion offers and Is at her dis
posal Stafford House is the finest palace In
London. Trentham is an English country house
Of the first class. Dunrobn Castle Is the capital
Of the kingdom OF Sutherland. Strictly / be-
lieve II Is not correct to speak Of Sutherland as
you do correctly of Fife a kingdom. but II II
kingdom in extent and a principally In Its
revenues Whether In London or Staffordshire
or Sutherland the position OF the mistress OF any
Of these houses is commonly thought one Of the
most enviable in the world: enhanced In splendor
and influence wher she has youth and rare
beauty as well as her chatelaineship to attract
the homage Of her various worlds. To the Ouch
ess OF Sutherland. married to one OF the best
gentlemen Of his day. these opportunities have
not seemed sufficient. She improves all Of them.
discharges to the full all her varied duties as
hostess and as mistress OF these great estates.
with their innumerable duties and demands.
When all are done she plunges into charities and
into helpful organizations Of many kinds; forms