The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-19

ing It-At the Theatres--A Visit to the
Grave of George Eliot.
ESPECIAL CoRREsP oNDENCE OF THE PREss)
London, May "a, 1897.
The Market,
A Domestic Drama in Acts,
Dramatis Personae.
Guide and COUNSELLOR in buying,
Mrs. Landlady Davis
1st Basket bearer, Dot
End Basket bearer, E.
3nd Basket bearer, w.
Long suffering woman, Mrs. Tapley
Men, women and children of all ages and
sizes, including infants,
Native population
Time, Saturday night $50.
Places, Edgeware Road and St. AIMS
Terrace
ACT 1st.
Landlady and three dodgers disguised
in old clothes, each with huge net cage
hung on the arm, prepared to take the
underground to see the sights o. Sat
urday night and. incidentally to
secure Sunday supplies, for tho on
pleasure bent, they have frugal mind. "
Landlady speaks with rising infection of
voice, and wide amplitude of smile.
"You want to see the other side now
you've looked on the Queen, don't your"
Then anxiously, "You don't mind see
ing. the common people do you? you
will find them quite respectable, every
thing will be orderly, and the fruit and
buy lot can't you?' Each interroga-
| tive being answered in turn, affirmatively
negatively and again affirmatively. Cur.
tain falls, to rise half an hour later, on
ACT 2nd.
| Edgeware Road-The regular market
extends for mile and includes green
grocer's, meat and fish markets, inter
spersed with cheap jewelry shops, an oc-
casional draper S, and innumerable beer
saloons, from which issue sounds of the
gay accordion or enticing hand organ.
At the edge of the sidewalk are ranged
the costers' carts, lighted by flaming
torches. Here can be found every con-
ceivable thing; one cart is loaded with
immense punches of fragrant wall
flowers, from dusky red to pale yellow !;
on another, mussels looking like barna-
cles, all shelled and sold by the small
dish-full, or bushel. From the next cart
a woman cried, here lady is a fine para
sol only sixpence," and up shoots the
woman admiringly gazes The crowd is
so dense that many walk in the middle of
the street; men and women carrying
their babies as well as their bundles, and
| children, children everywhere. y The
| four heroines walk the entire length of
the market, and back again; they scan
every cart, not one escapes them. Each
place has been noted where can be bought
the longest cucumbers for 'tuppence.' the
freshest lettuce for penny; the fruit bag
! is filled with lemons at 'thrippence' a
dozen, and the most attractive plump
looking chicken (?) for two and sixpences
which is considered the "piece de resis-
1 L. 81
and at peace with the world the process
ion moves homeward. Eighteen hours
elapse between the second act and
ACT 3rd.
This represents the Sunday dinner. W.
endeavors to carve the chicken, the effort
to dislocate wing proves dismal fail
ure; deep gloom settles upon four faces
as the doubt concerning the chicken, be-
comes certainty as to the hen. The rad
ishes prove corky, the bananas tasteless.
The voices Of Dot and "we'' cry in plain
tive chorus; "There is no fault with the
oranges and lemons % "True'' answers
Mrs. Tapley gently and pensively "but
when we breakfasted at nine this morn
ing, and it is now four in the afternoon,
it is a question whether oranges and
lemons will furnish a satisfactory dim
lner."
| GRAND IABLEA u X.
Mrs. Tapley in a tragic attitude, in the
expression of her countenance hunger and
forbearance are beautifully blended; sur
rounding her are three PROSTATE female
figures with hands clasped and eyes up
lifted, denoting penitence. AS curtain
falls the orchestra plays, with truthful
expression, we'll known popular air.
One of the last books we read before leav-
ing home was "The Seats of the Mighty. +"
Soon after reaching London we saw the
announcement of the opening of ''Her
Majestys Theatre with dramatized
version of the novel, and we determined
to go. The play was disappointment.
The theatre itself, which has been thor.
loughly renovated, is gorgeous in white
and gold; the costumes were superb.
Mrs. Trees cloth of gold gown, in the
court scene, seemed as if woven of the
glittering metal, but when so much is
criticism, but the play like the story, to
us, lacks continuity, and is merely a sue
cession of detached pictures. Mrs. Tree,
as Madame Cournal, was stiff and STACEY.
Miss Rorke as Alike was too handicapped
by her captain-who was walking stick
Ito be fairly judged. The burden and
honors of the play fell to Beerbohn Tree,
who was an ideal Doltaire, handsome,
fascinating and such a regal lover. The
explosion was cleverly managed, but we
sighed as we did at the close of the book,
that SO enjoyable villain as Doltaire,
should die, and SO commonplace cap
tain, be triumphant. We are all more
enthusiastic over Wilson Barrett, than
any other actor we have yet seen. His
own version of "the Manxman" makes
too pathetic play to be called enjoyable,
but his characterization of Pete is a
noble manly one. The ending is changed
materially from that of the book. Phil S
confession is made only to Pete and Mr..
Cruegan, in Kate's presence. AS the
broken hearted husband starts on his
lonely way, Philip turns to begin his life
work of penitence and PREPARATION and the
wretched woman the cause of so much
misery enters their home with her father
On the deserted stage dove futters
down, and lights upon the cottage roof,
doubtless an omen that while happiness
is forever gone, repentance and confession
may in the end bring peace. Barrett S
revival of Virginius was especially en-
loved by W. as reminder of youthful
days. In that far off time when McKeen
Buchanan plunges the dagger into his
daughters heart she falls lifeless upon the
stage Mr.. Barrett's methods are differ
| emf. his arm is about Virginia and as he