New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-26

which he invests the part. Never before. II
these keen observers are to be trusted. has
Hamlet been made so clear and Ineligible in
motive and character. That is apparently the
secret OF the success Of the performance. II is
a Hamlet adapted TO the cynicism of the times
a dreamer without practical talent for carrying
out his ill-defined purposes; nature without
depth for inscrutabe mysteries Of life and des
tiny; a Hamlet without nobility of character
and sweetness of temperament, entirely sane
and only half in earnest. That conception Of the
play fits in with the temper Of the day. and the
most rabid Of the Ibsentes confess that for once
they were able to sit out performance of Ham
lei even to the last line. afraid that my
seat ought to have been among the gods Of the
gallery. whence proceeded a critical moments Of
the play that oppressive silence which Mr..
Forbes Robertson. in his speech after the fall
Of the curtain. pronounced beautiful and inspir-
ing, but which seemed to me to be ominous.
RICHARD HOLT HUTTON
brave voice. which has been raised for many
year against the prevailing cynicism and pes
simism Of the age, has been silenced this week
in the grave Mr.. Hutton. who has been for
thrty-six years the Editor Of THE Spectator"
has been Ironically described as the conscience
keeper for the British Empire. and the last Of
the theoloEans. With all the tolerance for the
opinions Of others which he caught from
Maurice and the leaders Of the Broad Church
School. he was a man OF impregnable conviction
in religion and Optimist who believed in
the moral government Of the universe and In
the sweetness and light OF advancing civilization.
man Of letters with a strong bent for the
ology he exercised commanding influence and
authority over English journalism and public
thought by virtue Of his sincerity. earnestness
and sobriety of judgment THE Spectator" for
a generation has reflected his oad-minded
culture. his enthusiasm for good causes. and his
serene faith in the moral enlightenment Of the
world
Mr. Hutton shy man. who never had
anything TO say about himself The sketches
of him which have appeared In the newspapers
have contained few bioFraph details. He
was born about seventy years ago Of Uni
tartan parentage. and after reading for a degree
at University College and writing for short
period for the daily press. he formed literary
partnership with Mr.. Townsend in THE Spec
tator," which has lasted for a generation and
been dissolved only by his death. The story Of
his life was the record of his weekly articles
and collected essays. and the evolution of his
religious belief He was a Radical Unitarian az
the outset became Hrst q STpdI HulcniHdH 81
the Maurice type and ultimately a champion %
the English Church. disclosed in his later years
a trend toward High Church, and suspected
Of having IN increasing sympathy for the prn-
ciple Of authority as embodied in the Roman
Catholic communion His admiration for Car
dinal Newman never carried him. however. out
side the English Church.
This great editor. who cared little FOR
ciety and Vanity Fair. and much for books
and for the moral influence Of the press. was
man Of many enthusiasms, and not ashamed
II them In a generation when earnestness had
come 10 be despsed Walter Bagehot and Mat
thew Arnold were among his earliest literary
idols and Mr. Gladstone his political hero
and guide until the Home Rule movement sep
arated master and pupil. Mr.. Balfour and Mr..
Chamberlain were his favorite leaders on the
Unlonist side. While he prepared to sacri-
fee enthusiasm. n need were. the altar Of
principle. he never became cynical or lost his
reverent regard for what noble in human
character or useful In literature and politics.
He gathered around him in The Spectator
corps OF contributors and essayists animated BY
his own spirit Of high-minded tolerance and
cheerful optimism. Every issue Of that journal
was a protest against dilettanteism in criticism
and cynicism in modern belief. The last and
mellowest Of the optimists has gone" remarks
a modern Diogenes with sheer. and where
will faith now be found?' l. y. T.