New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS
NPLING IN COMIC OPERA-A BLIND
PLAYWRIGHT AND HIS PLAY
TRACTARIANS BUSY.

When "A Country Girl" presented at
Days last Monday there were several songs
cut out of the original version given in Eng
land and the topical song. Peace in the valley
Of Bong" sung by the ajah Of that delectaole
land had different verses to suit, or intended 10
suit, an American audience In at least one re-
spect this was unfortunate. for the audience
missed hearing some good advice TO Mr.. hlplhs'
and they also missed seeing the author OF the
lyrics fall into the very pit he advised MI Kip
ling to Chamber from.
This was one of the stanzas cut out of the
topical song:
There's a writer Of rhymes that appear in The
Who is down upon football and cricket,
And he 9gf ms fo s2u at on the e wce s
There was violence feared when his poem appeared
When the OATS in the mud came to look for his blood
He eff to the Cape on a steamer!
Peace. peace. leave him in peace,
Ven forget how he rails If hen tell US tales
OF the beautiful valley OF Bong
Good advice surely. that Mr.. kipling should
return to his story telling leaving the manufact-
ure Of jingles to the poet laureate and the
writer's Of poetry with a free field. But sud
denly in the English version Of the opera, up
hobs another lyric. song to the King, con-
tanning this stanZa:
Then If battle thunders break.
And fortunes waver,
We will stand for Britain's sake.
Round the King we gave her!
Brothers born beyond the sea
We may fall. # heaven please.
But wei fall unbroken,
Even Alfred Austin could have written the
last two lines of that but no one save Kipling
a who. had read to learn almost by
heart Kipling's Imperial" poetry could have
written the first six. After Mr. Kipling's verse
has served both as butt and model for the
lyrics Of a Country Girl" it is little UNI
grateful Of their author TO send him back to
Bong and prose.
Another lyric retained IN the opera &c ea,d IN
nave caused some pain to the polite young wom-
an who sings ii, because it starts off thus:
G Hark to - that hat sound on Of coo-oo-oo,
However, as no remedial version could be
thought Of but
Hark to that sound of chick-a-dee.
calling to you and me-ee-ee,
it stil stands written.
They came from over the big bridge and
boarded a Broadway car. one of his nockets
buged with opera glasses and he talked con-
stantly of the drama If she didn't believe that
he knew all there is to know on the subject she
didn't disclose the fact She even listened with
seeming awe to his quotations (yvithout Quota
''oI iIdIhS) from thpS" reviews of current PLAYS
which are signed at the top Of the column and
1oT which he papers in which they appear dis
claim any responsibility. After we've seen
Inc Mummy and the Humming Bird We must
see Iris, he finally remarked for Miss Vir
gnia Harmed, you know, is a daughter Of Iohn
Drew" " ~
rs she?" cried the girl. oh. I should love
to see her them
Some one who heard this conversation re-
peated it 10 Welles Hawkes., the manager OF the
criterion and he repeated it to Miss Harmed
Nhat MISS Harmed said we don't propose to
print. Mr. Drew is still to be heard from
a nervous little woman in black called on
Mrs. Sara Knowles president of the Professional
Womans League, the other day and laid on
the desk small box. Il have just seen vour
advertisement for inventions to display AT the
Woman's Exhibition" she said. and want to
offer this
The article on the desk looked most like an