New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
CURTAIN DOWN ON AFRICA
PRACTICAL EMBARGO ON ALL NEWS
FROM THE SCENE OF WAR.
MR.. EsMOND's PLAY. THE SENTIMENTAL
IsT''-DENsE FOG ENvELoPs
THE METROPOLIS.
Copyright; 1901 By The New-York Tribune.)
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIRUNE.I

Copyright; 1901: By The New-York Tribune)
IBY THE TRIRUNEI
London. Oct. 21. / a. m.-The curtain has
| fallen upon everything in South Africa except
/ official receptions like that at the capital of
Natal where Lord Miner has appeared upon
| the scene to counsel patience and faith IN
the creation of a peaceful and prosperous coun-
try under the British flag. The lack of news
can only be interpreted negatively The British
columns have been trekkng over the vedt an
other week without making a important capt
ure or hunting down the remnants of the COM
mandoes The Beers. for their part, have pro-
longed hostilities another stage. and succeeded
In eluding pursuit without striking decisive
blow in any quarter gaining any material
advantage. 1t is a long and terrible struggle
between British grit and tenacity and Boer
obstinacy and inflexble determination to wear
out the reserves of patience and endurance of
a superior foe The Duke of Devonshire has
been trying to make something out of the prob
lem in dull speech. but he has not succeeded
in offering hopeful forecast.
Mr.. Esmond's play The Sentimentalist." pro-
duced at the Duke of Yorks Theatre last night.
involved a study of an emotional man who
allowed his heart to away with his judg-
ment. This study began with youthful mex
perience at eighteen. and was a record OF
temptations degradation. downfall and final re-
demption through love of a good woman. 1t
was story of temperament carried from youth
to middle life, an interval of twenty-th three years
passing between the first and second acts 1t
was serious play with an atmosphere of gloom
illuminated by transient CLEANS OF brightness in
the earlier acts and with tragic situation at
the end of the third act. While close attention
was required for following it in detail through
nine scenes. IT proved to be thoughtful work
with a definite earnest purpose and not
without dramatic quality. Lewis Waller
acted the part of the hero Evan Griffen. with
great force and artistic skill. Miriam Clements.
as Mary Curgenven. in the prologue. and
Lady Venger's daughter in the remaining acts.
acted with brilliancy and charm and delighted
the audience with her freshness and grace. The
play we'll staged and admirably acted
throughout and was received with high de-
gree OF favor. especially the secrets OF the
plot were carefully concealed and the in
terest in the action increased with cumulative
force Mr.. Esmond has adopted the unusual
expedient of having his hero in middle life fall
in love with the daughter of woman who Tilted
him in youth. Miriam Clements was the woman
the hero loved in each case. but Frances Ivor
took the part of Lady Venger in middle life. be-
ing substituted after the prologue for the earlier
object of passion.
The streets OF London were rendered impassa-
bic during the evening by the densest and bIsck1
est fos known for many years All wheeled
traffic was virtually suspended except In few
main thoroughfares. and Trafalgar Square. the
Strand, Whitehall and Piceadiiy blocked
with omnibuses unable 10 make progress Cab
men were forced TO lead their horses. and there
was great excitement in the streets at mid
night. when the theatres were emptyins their
throngs The pleasure seekers found IL we'll
nigh impossible 10 make their way homeward.
There was loud uproar in the streets from
shouting mobs hour after hour / NF