The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12


and could hardly coincide with tribal divisions
thus a single tribe in this region might easil
find Itself divided between England and Gel
many. England and the Congo State, or posi-
bly, between all three. Hence would arise end
less disputes as to jurisdiction and claims 70
damage done by the other nations subjects
but the satisfaction to be got in these case
lie little. and the damage to be done to tn
costly plant of a railroad very great. A frontie
in Africa is always q troublesome thing. an,
this concession would give US a maximum o
frontier with a dead minimum OF territory. W,
should be liable to suffer by native ~insurrec
lions from the Nile to the Zambesi. and ",
should have no power to prevent them.
I the present moment the Congo rebel
appear to be masters OF the entire country from
the Upper Ubanghi to TanRRnyika. and. undel
these circumstances our whole line OF communi
cation would be threatened. We should not ever
be entitled to police Lake Tanganyika itself
an essential part Of the highway. since. though
its waters are free to navigation. its shores are
held by the Free State and Germany. Strato.
aichlly. in short, this long, narrow line. run.
ming through a country over which we should
have no practical control. is MS bad as can be
politically. our possession OF interest there
must lead to endless disputes between us and
the neighboring powers II the proposed rail.
way extension were made under these condi-
tons 1t would inevitably become an object oil
diplomacy with us to extend our borders either
into German East Africa or into the head
waters OF the Congo.
THAT, at all events. Is how Europe would
forecast the probabilities. Rightly or wrongly.
we have got the name OF grab-alls In Europe.
and It must be owned that this scheme OF
making ourselves masters Of all eastern Africa
from the north to the south gives some color
TO the accusation. 1t is our interest to sit quiet.
Colonial expansion is a bona fds need for us
with most other nations. certainly with France,
1t Is n form OF national jealousy. 1t In to the
interest OF Europe. and much moro TO the in
terest Of Africa. that the period OF restless ex-
Dansion should pass and the period OF develop
ment succeed"
Sudermann's new play. which, as
previously mentioned in The SUNS cable re-
ports. was produced ir. Berlin for the first time
Jan. q. is a fanciful fairy tale written in a
more or less irregular. rhymed measure.
Though it contains much that is tiresome.
there are lyric passages OF considerable beauty.
Sudermann. it is said. had become piqued
because his critics had insisted he was not n
poet. and to refute their assertions
by producing a play with overwhelming proofs
Of poetic fire. Hence THE Three Heron
Feathers" with its rambling plot unfolded in
metre and rhyme. Another motive attributed
to the author Is that he desired to make an
effective protest against the realistic drama,
The play is based on the idea that man al
ways ts striving to grasp a phantom happiness
and is unable to recognize real happiness when
1t comes. The author also Ind in mind a kin
dred philosophIc principle that a man who
fixes his gaze on vague. ideal beauty does not
possess the sense for genuine beauty or the
beauty near at hand.
Prince Wifte. instigated by a grave yard crone.
goes to obtain three heron feathers from a
heron dwelling In q crystal house situated on
an island In the northern sea. At the opening
OF the play. Hans Lorbdss. Witte's faithful ser
want. awaits In a graveyard the return OF his
master. TIL crone enters and finally Wife
himself comes announcing the success of his
quest for the talismans. and demands that the
crone shall tell him how to secure an ideal
woman. The crone explains to Hite that by
burning the first feather he shall see such n
woman. and that by burning the second feather
he shall meet her. The third feather he must
not burn.
Omitting the intricacies OF the plot. Uit,e
burns the first feather. and. spurred by the
neetins vision OF his ideal. goes in search OF
her. In the second act we have Mite and his
at the court OF the widow Queen Of
Samland. A tournament Is about TO be fought,
and the Queens hand is to reward tho victor.
Fid'oOlf. Wite's bastard brother. who has
usurped Wife's throne. comes on the field and
irightens away all contestants. Hinp, how
ever. fights him. The contest Is not seen by
the audience. but Lorbdss Is represented ms
the encounter from the stage and as
finally fastening TO his masters assistance.
In the third act Waite is tho adored King Of
Samland. He hates his wife. is very unhappy.
and at length burns the second feather. I'm
the Queen appears at the doorway.
Hihe reproaches her. supposinG that her pres
ence has broken the enchantment.
The fourth act contains one Of the finest
scenes Of the play. IPitte has become dissolute
and unfaithful to the Queen. Widrolf in the
midst OF IFite's revels. marches against the
city. HiHe. when implored 10 join the contest. !
refuses to fight because, he declares. the young
prince. his stepson. will reap all the fruits OF
LOrbass is tempted to kill the prince, |
and it is here really good dramatic work APP
A dialogue between Lorboss and the
prince follows. Little by little Lorbass is won
over by the youths artless affection, finally I
ibandons his purpose and. instead. shows the |
prince to his people. Uifte, at last aroused
rom his lethargy. takes n hand and wins tho
light. But the fruits of victory do not satisfy him.
deserts the Queen and becomes q wanderer
n search Of his ideal. He returns after fifteen
years and meets the Queen. who had remained
'aithfulto him. Wite confesses his life has been
/ failure. Declaring he has been the victim Of
IN enchnntment. he plucks the last feather
rom his breast and burns It. The Queen falls
lead. Then Wite recognizes that the Queen
vas the Ideal woman. Fl. R. C.