The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23

will every year report TO the sRnatory powers
upon the work Of the court and the functioning
OF the administrative service.
'29. The cost OF the bureau will be borne by
the sgnatory powers in the proportion estab-
lished for the International Bureau OF the
Postal Union"
Edward Stucken. the AssyrioloRist, has Just
published in Berlin the third volume OF his
Astral Myths OF the Hebrews. Babylonians
| and Egyptians" In this volume be asserts that
| the Biblical David and Jacob are identical and
| at the same time mythical characters Accord
ing to Stucken. the history Of both Jacob and
David originated in the mythology from which
sprung the folklore OF the Egyptians and Baby
lonians. the same mythology being also the
! source Of the Aryan legends. In support OF his
/ theory Stucken compares the biblical stories
| with the legends Of Perseus Peleus. Theseus.
the German brothers legends tGrimm) the
Egyptian brothers legends ld'Orbigny papy-
rusl and the legends Of the brothers OF
| Guatemala.
| Stucken traces some twenty characteristic
motifs common to these stories such. for in
| stance. as the refusal of the promised bride.
! Sauls daughter Merab. promised to the slayer
| OF Goliath. was given to Adriel; Rachel was
refused to Jacob after he had served the nee
| essary seven years. Similar refusals are found
| In the Wieland. Perseus and Peleus legends.
| though in the case OF Theseus the hero. after
! staying the Minotaur. actually became the hus-
| band OF Aradne. Another parallel Stucken
| lays stress upon is the motif OF "unfounded
| jealousy" As Joseph. the son OF Jacob. was
falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. so. too. was
| Theseuss son Hippolytus accused by Phndra.
| In the Nimrod epic Istar makes the declaration
| OF love. and there are similar parallels to be
| found In the legends Of the Egyptian brothers
| and Peleus.
Stucken also draws many other parallels
between the Biblical stories and the Greek
legends. For instance. the story Of Joshua
commanding the sun to stand still is compared
with the story Of Atreus. in whose favor Zeno
commanded the sun to return eastward. A
similar story from the Rig-Neda is referred to.
Mr.. ZanRwill. now busy upon his new play
for America. refuses to say anything about it.
save that II is not to be called THE jew"
But he has favored an interviewer with some
general remarks upon both his own play and
the plays OF others.
Il shall strive" he said. ito reproduce the
effect attained in the book, and the play will.
therefore adhere to the same lines. In a work
OF art characters. once created are sacred
they must not be tampered with as Hall Game
has mpered with JOhn Storm and GlOrV in
the play by providing a married and-lived-
nhpply tHIlIR W. II lSI I written
vet. My difficulty hitherto has been TO find a
manager with faith enough to give me carte
blanche in the matter Of production Now
that Is overcome. can attend to the easier
part OF the busness-the writing. I expect to
have the four acts completed in August, when
! return to America for rehearsals"
He expressed a hope that his play might be
the precursor Of others. and continues For
some years have been battling hard for
artistic freedom. and against the managerial
shibboleth that q man Of letters can't write
plays The point Of view is absurdly narrow
To the writer themes present themselves
through the medium Of essays OF little lyrics
or OF novels. while some characters and situa-
lions are revealed to the mind In action on the
boards Of q theatre. In France this fact is ac-
cepted without demur hut In England the
critics want author TO go on working
through one medium alone and resent as an
anomaly his appearance in another hold
that anything which is usually interesting is
food for the dramatist.
MY fight has been solely against the actor
managers conception OF the dramatist as a
tailor who will supply any customer to meas
ure. The effect Of this attitude is to drive the
dramatist to the stock pot; but. In reproduc-
ing situations which have been the bases OF
successes in the past. he fails to dstil the es-
sence. In the Musketeers.' Mlddi dashes on
in a coach and pair. Why? The effect is mo-
mentarily pleasing. but superfluous Now in
'Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand made it vital TO
the action. UArtn0ndns appearance upon
horseback only interrupts the play to show
the audience that Mr.. Tree can ride. Don't
imagine that people would stay away from the
'Musketeers' II it were well written. 1t is in
the same case with The Sign OF the Cross
The crowds were drawn by the picturesque
setting and beautiful dresses Had they been
| literary masterpieces into the bargain. the the
atres would still have been thronged. Who
| could have imagined that play Of such ex-
| quisite style as Cyrano would draw the pub
lie Yet in America it is another Trilby.'
| II maintain that the minority which cares
| for literary play. tinglIng with life and truth.
| is sufficiently large 10 recomponse any man
ager with enterprise. Not that object to the
majority being catered for My complaint is
| only that the minority is starved. The triumph
| of the Family Herald supplement leaves me
| unmoved. merely ask In return TO be allowed
| my occasional Spectator and ForinighNy Rerip,r
| When tackled the subject in a lecture in New
! York the newspapers invited opinions from
| actors and managers. who damned me without
| hesitation But. II say that the wines in
| American hotels are vile. who would he con-
WINGED to the contrary by interviewing the
proprietor and the walters? 1t is the views Of
| the customers which count"
| Something new In the way OF drama was
submitted to the Iondoner last Monday night
| when. for the first time. an Indian play was
produced on an English stage Both play and
stage were far removed from the ordinary
| For the play. called " Sakoontaa.' was written
| by certain KalidaSa in the sixth century Of
| the Christian ara: was translated into English
| by the great OrentaliSt. Sir William Jones ro-
| ceived the enthusiastic praises OF Goethe and
| was included in his list of tho best hundred
| books by Sir John Lubbock. The stage was
| put up in the midst OF the sub-tropical palms
in the conservatory Of the Royal Botanical
Gardens. which was lightedup by colored Chi
nese lanterns. Even the audience looked in
keeping with the picturesque scene. for tho
West End men and women in ordinary cvon-
ing dress only served 10 show m the numerous
swarthy Indians clad in brightly coorcd Fast
! crn vestmcnts and turhanS. their women wear
| ing rich gauZeS and silks Of bright hues.
Tho play old as II is has nc very new motif
T.. H.