New-York tribune., 1899-11-24
LONDON NOTES.
VANITY FAIR UNDER A CLoUD-rHE.
AIRES IN WARTIME-THE ELIZA
BETHANs IN FULL PARADE.

London society Is un0er u clOu0 OF gloom and
depression in wartime. All the great houses
and fashionable sets are represented at Lady
smith. or on the western frontier Of the Dutch
republics or in the army corps: and the off,
GERS are shining marks for the enemy's skilled
sharpshooters The lists Of casualties in the
opening engagements OF the war have impaired
a tragic pathos to the leavetakings and family
parties which have been going for weeks in
the West End and are not yet ended. for the
composite regiment of Household Cavalry and
division OF ten thousand troops are still TO 10.
Many of the smartest people in London are al
ready in mourning for husbands, sons and
brothers The Duke Of Devonshire has lost a
nephew; Lady Romney, who is friend Of the
Princess OF Wales is in mourning for favor
tie son: Mrs. Pechell had three sons fighting IN
South Africa, and two Of them are In soldiers'
graves: the Duke OF Abercorn has eleven
nephews under and Lord Dufferin three
sons; Lady Dudley has two sons and a brother
under fire. and Lady Gerard husband and
brother, and the list may be extended Indefinite
ly. Vanity Fair is overshadowed by the anx-
ieties and sorrows OF campaign in Darkest
Africa and is in no mood for its ordinary recre-
ations and gayeties.
"AIr Chamberlain and old KrUger have ruined
the hunting season and emptied The country
houses" Is n clubman's exclamation that eX-
plains the social vicisstudes Of the winter. The
Prince of Wales is accepting few invitations
and devoting himself to military engagements
and war charities and the usual round Of
gayeties in the country houses has been sus-
pended by common consent.
Shooting birds and stalking wild deer are poor
sport in Scotland and England when an army
OF eighty thousand soldiers, Differed by the
L. 49, Lao
to Africa to be exposed to shrapnel fire, maga-'
zine volleys and the murderous sweep OF the
machine gun. Gamekeepers and underlings will
have most Of the winter shooting in the north
for there will be little entertaining in country
houses except during the Christmas holidays
London will be unusually full during the winter
and there will be fewer excursions 10 the Riviera
from the West End. The world OF wealth and
fashion is too deeply interested in the fate OF the
officers under fire in South Africa TO find recrea-
ton in social gayety at home or abroad. 1t win
be long, dull season Of war charities and letter
writing.
THE MoRALIsTs HAVE THEIR DAY
The moralists who have been warning Vanity
Fair for years with fine irony and cynical
frankness that It needed nothing much q
thorough shaking up now have their way. The
carpet knights OF smart society have gone TO
the front like brave Englshmen, and are
showing the old time traits Of heroic endur-
ance, devotion to country and manly valor. II
their lives have seemed aimless and vapid
in West End clubs and smoking lounges, they
are now thoroughly in earnest. and are set
ting down to rough and dangerous work
with the fortitude and invncible spirit
by which empire has been created and
maintained. There ought to be large compen-
sations for the evils Of terrible, relentless
war between white races in the presence OF
millions Of blacks who ready to revert to
savage instincts and passions; and II Is not the
least among them that pleasure loving Vanity
Fair reacts against the shallowness and nsin-
cerity OF its ordinary occupations and amuse-
ments, and is sobered and ennobled by the
thought that life is real and earnest.
The war charities, which have been organized
on a scale of remarkable magnitude, will offer
some relief from a sombre and anxious winter.
Already there is long vista or bazaars, con-
certs. amateur theatricals and shows OF sll
kinds for the benefit of the families OF soldiers
and the unfortunate refugees Of the TransvaaL
Apart from these entertainments 1t will be
winter of theatregoIng for a large public
! which is deprived of it's ordinary sources OF
| recreation will turn to the stage and expect to
be diverted by plays neither too serious nor too
frivolous The autumn programmes for the
theatres were made up long before the outbreak
| of war, but managers are we'll aware that the
requirements of public taste have been changed
by the imperial crisis. which has drawn oO'Voo
British soldiers nearly seven thousand miles
from England to fight. not with Afrids' Der
| wishes or savages. but with white men or spien-
did courage. remarkable craft and subtlety. and
armed with scientific weapons Great interest
is shown by the theatrical profession in dlscoV-
| ering what the theatregoing public wants In
! wartime.
! RELIEF DEMANDED AT THE THEATRES
| This problem has not been solved TO the saus-
faction OF experienced managers, but some prac'
! tlcal inferences can be drawn from the at'eho'
| ance at the principal theatres and the increas'
ing popularity OF certain dramas. Melodrama" :"
not the best drawing card In wartime nor a'e
! theatrical pieces with intense situations sul'eu
10 the temper OF the times The public SEEKS
reliar from the great drama enacted in South
/ Africa with its underplot OF ceaseless ahAie'y
/ and its tragic possibilities OF bereavement anu
sorrow and 1t does not find relaxation IN stories
of human passion and situations OF thr"'1Hs
| excitement. II Graves amusement, out 10 wv
serious to disport itself in burlesque or iafee'
The best plays for wartime are sweet and whole
some pleces like The Black Tulip al the
Haymarket or David Garrck," at Wyndha'h'
Theatre Comedy tinged with pathos, romahu'
drama illumined with flashes OF mirthfuhess'
character studies with quaint costumes anu
restful dramas. which are clearly written anu
not theatrical in motive or situation, are pe
culiarly suited to the present requirement u
public taste This is the Judgment OF eNpe'r
enced managers, and the receipts OF the OoA
/ offices bear out their differences.
The Elizabethan Stage Society has opehea
its season OF quaint performances at the lec'-
ure room of the University of London wheis
the ROYAL Geographical Society ordinarily nous