New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
law. or would. II sympAthles were 10 b allowed
to alter the Interpretation Of the Constitution.

law, or would. II sympAthles were 10 b allowed
to alter the Interpretation Of the Constitution
The most important event Of the week in Eng
land appears to be DR.. Grace's exploit In the
cricket field This gentleman. now forty-seven
years old. yesterday made score OF 2SS against
GOOD bowling IN a frst-cass match ut Bristol
Moreover this Is now the hundredth time IN
which he has. in cricket slang. exceeded the
century" II you doubt the momcntous CHAR
acter of these achievements. you have only to
consult the leading London journals OF this morn
ing. All Of them devote editorials to DR.. Grace
and his career and record; all Of them hymn his
deeds in language Of lyrical exaltaticn. and once
more explain to an admiring world that cricket
il a game for the gods. There remains nothing
but to make Dr. Grace Prime Minister.
The Barras memoirs, edited by M. Georges
Duruy were published in an English version in
London early this week and only to-day make
their appearance In Paris. So numerous have
been the memoirs, especially French memoirs. OF
doubtful genuneness or of slight interest. or
watered down like, for example. the memoirs OF
Talleyrand. that before these by Barras saw the
light there some natural skepticism as 10
their value. There Is none now. The book Is
beyond question genuine, though a little
'bowderzed" and Its interest Is none the less
for the fact that Barras was pre-eminenty
scoundrel in period rich In scoundrels OF many
different kinds That he was VIGOROUSLY a liar
may seem to detract from the value Of his
memoirs but the value Of them does not consist
in their contributions to the existing stock OF
strictly historical knowledge. OF such con-
tributions there are few, and none Of great
Importance What makes these memoirs inter-
esting is their picturesqucness. The rascal
Ho itcs he
could describe; he could reproduce paper
scene which had passed before his eyes.
He is vivid. fresh. effective He had a genius
for lying and for hating. He hated Napoleon;
he hated Talleyrand; he hated Josephine. No
body would accept a statement about either or,
indeed about anybody else, on the testimony Of
Barras. He has not even the art Of hypocrisy.
He cannot dssmulate his hatred. He often in
vents. He can be dull when he Is not personal.
but as the business OF memoirs Is to be per-
sonal, and Barras Is at his best as writer
when he Is personal. these two volumes are as
whole, extremely readable In French and read
able even in the rather bald translation which
the English publisher has thought good enough
for his English readers.
His treatment Of his mistress, Nine. Taen. is.
On the whole. made more discreditable to him
than his libels on Josephine. The relations be-
tween Barras and Nine. Talen were uncon-
ceaed. but that does not excuse the brutality OF
her paramour when he becomes her biographer.
Barras. however, had no reputation to lose. and
no panegyric special pleading could make him
respectable. The reader rises from these memoirs
with more loathing for the man than when he
sat down. He has. nevertheless to admit that
he has been entertained. II 1t Is possible to be
entertained in the company Of consummate
backguard.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell has given place to Miss
Olga Nethersole as Mrs. Ebbsmith' at the Gar
rick Theatre. and Mrs. Campbell Is hard at work
rehearsing Fedora for the Haymarket next
week. Miss Nethersole came back from America
with an enhanced reputation due partly per-
haps, to the fact that she is now in the hands of
Mr.. Frohman, who may be trusted to enlighten
the public fully as to the dramatic merit Of his
new star. 1t Is doubtful whether Mrs. Ebb-
smith" will add much to Miss Nethersoles fame.
She plays 1t too anxiousy. with an effort which
is always obvious. and with total lack Of re-
pose Her intensity Of manner is almost morbid.
and the brevity Of her rehearsas detracts from
| the finish Of the performance 1t would be quite
| idle to enter upon a comparison between Miss
| Nethersoe and Mrs. Campbell. =
| The new play entitled THE Triumph Of the
Philisthcs' is a sufficient proof that Mr.. Henry
Arthur Jones IS not Phstine Whether the
| Philistines triumph or not. there Is no doubt
\ about Mr.. Jones's defeat. He has strven to put
| upon the stage Of the st. James Theatre a satire
| upon Puritan narrowness and hypocrisy In this.
| as In former plays. he assumes the character of
| a social censor sort Of missionary sent into the
| world to reform things not pleasing to the eye
| or mind Of Mr.. Henry Arthur Jones. For such
a role as this power OF observation is needed
and a power Of literary expressions; sincerity
Also and the capacity for taking serious views OF
| other things or persons than himself. In all
| these qualities Mr.. Jones is deficient. The re-
| suit Of his adventure in the present case is
play devoid Of plausbility and reeking with
| vulgarity. The pit and gallery cried out against
It, They perceived dimly that Mr.. Jones was
trying to hold up to ridicule the very people and
characteristics they had been brought up TO re-
| spect; and this they resented. The play held Its
course to the end, oddly enough chiefly through
| the very piquant and not very scrupuous acting
OF Miss Juliette Nesville as Mr.. Jones's heroine.
| His pursuit Of virtue has led him to choose
French cocotte as his heroine: and this very
dubious part Miss Nesyille plays with frank
impertinence which the British public found to
its taste. Mr. Alexander himself is the in
vertebrate hero, whom he makes attractive. and
| Mr. War!ng the Puritan dictator Of Market New
| bury, who is repulsive CROUCH without his help
II Mr. Jones had humor or w.t. ne might handle
such themes as these to some purpose. They are
motives for laughter: but when turned into pom
derous sermons, they cease to be suited for the
stage. w. W. 80
| THE DESTRUCTION AT BREST-LITOVSK
| Warsaw May 1s-Later reports OF the conhagra-
| ton at Brest-Litovsk Russian Poland, show that
| 700 houses seven churches synagogue and two
| railway stations were burned. Thirty persons were