Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-11

should feel differently, hut do believe
If ! did that ! would vote for having
civil men to meet all complaints. If
that man had been half way civil.
syinrathized with me, and had told me
OF his sorrow for my lost ducks
should, most probably have given up
duck hunting and taken TO the more
ordinary pursuit OF earning my daily
bread.
Bythe by. l should think that at some |
OF the coming c,stumsnalls there might |
be handsome men who would represent
George the Fourth when ne was young.
Last night, | was one of an audience
to listen to the play by Mrs. Bur-
nett, called sTha First Gentleman of
Eurone. Later, was one of duet
who discussed it, and I am going to
tell you What | said this:
. do believesin the value OF histori-
cal plays; people, do not know half as
much as they have the credit with
knowing. Consequently, when an his
torical play is put on it incites in the
average mind dasire to know moro of
the people who appeared ia that play
To-day, every library in New York
will have applicants for Thackeray's
Four Georges. for The, Life and
Times of George the Fourth, by George
Croly, and for all the other histories of
that time. Then, too, it'sSPood to see
play like this which shows in it's
setting and its costuming the habits of
the day. We may not approve of the
manners OF that time, but il our own
are better VIC realize it all the more by
lnoking in this fine mirror of TITO past.
The historical play is like tho good
historical novel, it sends the interested
reader, or looker.on TO the fountain
head for information. How mauy Of
us have ever thought of George the
Fourth as being young, handsome, and
| having one particle of honor? And
yet, | SO positively agree with Mrs.
| Burnett that | think there is no human
| being who hasn't had his minute or
hour of good--the interval whom the
best that was in him spoke-for il this
were not true, then men would be devils.
| 1t is told of George that as child
he was SO lovely people used to throng
around him to get peep at him, and
that the middle classes hoped SO much
| from him that the boy was their idol.
In any good edition of Thackerny there
is a lovely picture of him-a baby
| asleep il his mothers arm--she has
her finger raised as if she would warn
whoever was around to keep quiet and
not disturb her darling. 1t is said that
| dnriDg the GO years OF his life there
were more pictures taken of him than
of any other prince, or. indeed, of any
human being that ever lived. He was
shown with long, fair hair, with pow
dered hair, with wig having pig
tail and with one lacking this append
age; he was 10 Scotch kilt and tartans,
in dragon uniform, in a field mar
shal's clothes, though, of course, the
picture best known to the world at
large is that taken in his coronation
robes. OF this he was 80 vain that he
caused it to be circulated all over the
world of that time. ThacKeray remem-
bers seeing it in every q ming room. As
a boy he was SO clever that he could
completely floor his tutors. Bright and
wondrous good to look upon. Do you
wonder, then. that wherever he went
women adored him?
''True, he became worse than merely
reckless protiigate; he became
wicked. gross, abominable, but still he
could fascinate. The young men of to-
day who call themselves great drivers
might Try to emulate the Prince. He
once drove, in four hours and half,
from Brighton to Carlton House--5t
miles. He was bad husband, but
I have often wondered what this wife,
who was SO offensive to him. was like.
+ He certainly encouraged literature anG
, the arts, and how much did the
, vicious court around him, the fiat.
terers, the time-servers, always ready
! to admire " hateyer he did, have to dc
with making him what he was? hnC
, how much did heredity have to do with
| ity fnhi MI ,,f 10 futbaro and nd
! fathers When they wero not wicket
, thoy were stupid. The First Gentle
q man of Europe was not very COCO
man. His honor was on the surface
= His word was worth nothing. Hi
!, manners were too fine to have beer
good. But it's vol to see him pictured
:, nowadays. It's good for us TO rsali2
3 that the world is better. That Eocist,
would not accept even Prince VII,
(, had so little regard for virtue and hon
esty and truth; and it's good to know
. even If it's only in the play. that tn
4 man, once in while. rose superior I,
;. eyerything-educatio heredity ant
- his environments | like Historical
! pay---I like its etfect.'
i That's what l gaid. And tho othe
4 person in tho duet agreed with me
;. Somehow when there is duet and on
>. OF the two in it is a, man and the othe
~ is woman the man generally doc
+ agrees with the woman. But then i
"a such discussions a man ia not a corp1
n ration he has soul. No doubt ther
's have been soulless people, and b
,f soulless people l mean those who. pui
ting down in themselves that which
At good, bright, kind. honorable and syn
i. pathetic, kill the sensitive an
n heavenly part of them and bedome me
ii and women only in name. Let'a pra
is God, everyone of us. to keep us ava
10 from such people They arc the peop
a. who find nothing good in the earth {
in the heavens abovelit They are the rec
~ plo who refuse TO tuin over the page
20 4, OF history to find out how the world hi
M improved. They ara the peope who st
~ wicHedness in men aud women aud viz
ri governing all humanity norrtl psopl
nj People that suggest those awful ere
At tures--the bats. Those dreadful hirt
10 of tae night whose faces suggest muu
IL mics and whose wing seen 10 flu
IN death and annihilation. Play that t..
nj human hats may never disturb yoi
ar waking hours. and tho other hats new
in come near you in your slumbers.
m Bah.
= Edwin Hirst's Unique Distraction.
~ Edwin Hirst OF this city bus Il
vi unique distinction of having bee
~ longest in clerical service of any grar