New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-09

W 5; Gilberl with new introduction i2m6
PIP VII ~ Doubleday, Page q Co.
In his authors note" Mr. Gilbert assigns the
SATIRE Of the aesthetic craze which makes the
g'si and quality a.. this opera. to an accidental
solution Of a difficulty Of authorship The idea
q the plot was la from his Bah Ballad"
called The Rival Carates." Reginald Bun
thorne and Archibal Grosyenor were clergy
men IN adjoining parishes. 4 group Of the lady
pensioners Of the Re-. Mr. Bunthorne who
had given themselves uI, to the fascination OF
his meek and lamblike a. meanor, discovered
that the Rev. Mr.. Grosye. r seemed still more
likely 10 inherit the earth aid transferred their
allegiance forthwith Conscious Of the danger
OF satiriZing any feature OF clerical life which
for some reason is always tran lated in popu-
lar thought into criticism Of The church as a
whole, the author was in a quandary, and cast
about for some other framework.
He became adventurous enough. seven years
later. in THE Yeomen OF the Guard" to treat
lightly things associated with the gloomy his
tory OF the Tower Of London. But in the case
Of Patience" he tells Us. he lay awake nights
devising some escape from the risk OF public
oistaste. On one such occasion the aesthetic
craze. which Mr.. Du Maurier was satirizing at
the time in Punch" finally came to his res
cue. He got out OF bed, down TO his Il
brary, and in hour or so entirely rear
ranged the piece upon a secure and satisfactory
basis The frank refusal of this predatory
PLANTATION TO take the genesis Of the delightful
satire seriously, as anything more than a COM
position for the purposes OF the Savoy The
atre, makes il almost as welcome as the text
that follows and adds a reason, if any were
lacking, for this pleasantly fashioned separate
edition
To call the aesthetic craze d craze. and 10
member that Patience" was produced in 1851,
* .7r1efr nas h. IA oh at
which the satire was directed has been super
se3eG 10y long list Of other faGs But the alb
eurdIJies Of such a cult are not usually original
with its votaries. Nonsense. YES, perhaps
says Saphr. Of Bunthorne's poem called oh,
Hollow, Hollow. HoioW,"-'but, oh, what
precious nonsense" The L.-,ow-hollow- hollow
so [ OF writing is perennial, and never fails the
appreciation Of the brotherhood that is proud
20 be 'percepubly intense and consummately
utter Patience" has been given from time
TO time in the provinces and in stock repertories
in This country. but il was not revived al the
savoy Theatre for nineteen years, and then with
considerable nisg!ying. Its successful run then,
of oo less than eght months, showed that its
Fun mad q more universal foundation than the
calicature OF passing fad. The exalted ad-
mira,ion that to-day. for instance. 10y
PLAYS which need be little more than logical in
Development suggests an echo OF the reception
accorded one OF Gros, enor's poems about Teas
ing Tom" Grosyenor Was the rival s=stAete,
the apostle Of simplicity, and
Teasing Tom was very bad boy.
A great big squirt his ia Or-te toy.
His youthful pranks bring him in the space
Of ten lines to an uutimely end uy marrying a
gin in the corps de ballet. Marked you how
grandly"-says a listener. how misunderstanding
dananing catalogue Of crime STROBE on, till Retri-
button, like a poised hawk, came swooping
down upon the Wrong Door? Oh! il Y as terri
bier There are several Of those songs in Pa
thence" which make The name Gilbert almost
technical term; such the recipe for making
q Heavy Dragon, the fable Of the Silver Churn,
and Bunthorue's directions for the PA ctice OF
s-StEelicism:
Then d sentimental passion q NeG.ta ble fash
ion must excite your lanSUIG spleen
= % attachment 4 Ia Plato fUr bashful y"Nne
potato, or d u0t-toO- French French bean.
Though the Philistiues may Josie you VIII rank
as an apostle in the high aesthetic band,
J. yuL walk down Piccadilly with Z POPPY 90 q