New-York tribune., 1902-10-19
GAME TO HIS CRITICS.
ENGLISH AUTHOR on ARRIVAL HERE
DEFENDS THE ETERNAL CITY"


Hall Caine. the author and dramatist, arrived
here yesterday on the steamer Lucania with his
wife and his son, Gordon Ralph Hall Caine. 10
superintend the production Of his much criti-
oised play. The Eternal city" Mr.. Caine at
tracted considerable attention on the pier. He
wore long overcoat Of dark blue material and
broad brimmed light felt hat. HIS son IS
rather tall lad Of eighteen years. boylsh OF face
and with STOPPING shoulders.
Mr.. Caine replied some length 20 the Crlti-
cisms OF the play in talking 10 the newspaper
men. Regarding the introduction of 4 represen-
tatOn Of Pope. which has been much criti-
cised as irreverent and improper. because ii at
tempted 10 portray a character of sacred or
senI-sacred nature. he said that his view OF this
question was. OF course. implied IN hts use OF
such character. The question. he declared.
a debatable one. He referred 10 the Pas
sion Play at Oberammergau in support of his
view. and said that he had with his own eyes
seen in Rome. under the walls Of the Vatican
itself, the Pope portrayed on the stage
Whether this representation permitted be-
cause the civil government was antagonistic 70
the Holy See not he said he did not know. In
his play the present Pope was not portrayed. he
said.
He answered the criticism Of the English
Catholics Of the introduction Of OF the
Pope as one Of the characters. which they
sumed was intended TO represent a son OF the
present Pope by saying: The Pope Of the play
is noble character. He can very easily be de-
scribed. His family name was Leone. He be-
gan life as Noble Guard. During his career as
soldier he married a Roman girl Leonore
Rossi. The marriage was dstasteful 10 the
family. They caused him 10 bee sent abroad on
diplomatic mission. While he away they
pursued his wife with pleas and WenaCes. in the
hope Of separating her from her husband.
Driven TO desperation. and ia order 10 remove
herself from her husbands path, the wife
drowned herself in the TibeT. leaving the child
Of the marriage in the founding hospital The
young soldier. returning to Rome SO
crushed by the fate that had brfallen him that
ne turned for comfort 20 religion. lie gave up
his military career and aIter receiving the
necessary dispensatons was admitted 10 holy
orders a friar first and afterward as a secu-
lar priest. His life was distinguished by deep
piety and devotion His great abilities finally
raised MIN TO the highest Office in the Church,
and the time Of the return to Rome OF his
son, who was known David Ross David
Leone. the former Noble Guard was revered
and beloved sovereign pontln. No incident in
the life OF the Pope ] have portrayed is without
a precedent There is no question Of the legti-
macy Of the son In the play as has been alleged
by the critics. / have the greatest reverence a :
| men Of all faiths should have for the head OF
| the great Catholic Church. and l would not do
| anything to offend the religious susceptlbilities
| OF my many Catholic friends"
The Eternal City is 10 open at the Victoria
Theatre on November Il. Mr. Caine went TO the
| Hotel Marlborough.