The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27

Youthful adye nt ares and eseapades of TOyal
| personages lave furnished the basis for the plots
of many plays, but curiously enough the early
life of George w of England has been entirely
overlooked by the dramatists Until now.
The young. handsome. graceful, accomplished,
impressionable Prince George of Wales, who was
Always running after some new petticoat-whose
everyday life, in fact, was simply check full of
entertaining dramatic material-of him the play
wrights have all fought shy; all except Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett, who has made him
the Zero OF her latest play, THE First Gentleman
Of Europe" produced at the Lyceum, in New
York, Monday night.
For a long time even Mrs. Burnett thought she
would have TO give it up. George was the hero
of any number of adventures. but they weren't
just exactly the kind of adventures that she
cared TO make the basis of a dramatic plot. They
weren't very nice reading, even, and they GER
tainly wouldn't look nice on the stage. AT last
she found an account Of an adventure in which
the prince had really proved a true hero. had
withstood temptation and been a man. and it
was this adventure, or rather another.
of somewhat the same kind that she evolved out
of her own imagination, that she made the four
| dation of her play, 1.-THE First Gentleman Of
Europe"
The prince, it seems, was fond Of seeking ad-
ventures disguised as one Of his own soldiers.
He is on one of these little jaunts when he
makes his first appearance in the play. With
one of his friends, Lord Carrisbrook, he has
found a press gang trying to carry off an old
goldsmith and has rescued him at some slight
injury TO himself. The grateful goldsmith insists
upon taking his rescuer into his own home, and
il is there that we meet the whole party, while
Daphne, the goidsnith's pretty daughter. is tAn-
daging the wounded arm Of the gallant prince.
or rather colonel Qor SO he is supposed TO be.)
Needless to say. the susceptible prince is smit-
ten by Daphnes pretty face and at once engages
a lodging in the house. very much to the annoy
ance OF another lodger, a Young poet, George
Cartaret, who is sincerely - love with the girl.
are very wei matched. they are jus. the same
age, and tie physical resemblance between them
M NEITHER can beast beast 81 any s adraattege. The
poet, of course, is sincere and the prince isn't,
but how IS a Ioor goldsmith daughter 10 know
that? And so, when the curtain falls en- the
first act; il looks very much as if the poet was
The fortunes OF love tiuctuate very entertain
inely through, the rext three acts. but in the
end, after Lady sark, one of the princes favor
ties. who doesn't want to lose her position. has
done all she could TO spoil her royal lovers little
who ne supposes is only a colonel. to a duel.
and been magnanimously spared from the penalty
ally does have a rpasm of virtue and resigns
Daphne to the man who really loves her.
The period OF the play permits the use of hand
some and picturesque scenery and costumes. and.
as usual, the Lyceum management mas not failed
to As aV for the hsel eas st Sf I 9smes X. Hackett. who
made such a good IMPRESSION in the dual leading
role of THE Prisoner of Zenda." has another
and Colonel Ffolliott; Miss Mary Mannering is
Felix Morris PAYS the part OF the old goldsmith.
while Mr. Charles Walcot, who has not yet been
seen at the Lyceun this season, is Sir Chris
topher Cartaret. an irascible old baronet who
has turned his son cut OF doors because, forsooth.
the Young rascal declines 90 wed the lady chosen
for him b. his elders: Miss Marie d.. Shotwell is
the Lady sark Mrs Thongs Whitfen,, Mrs. Old
Lord CarTisbrook.