The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-05
DRAMATIST CONSCIENCE STRICk.
EN- BECAUSE HE RAN DOWN
A CLERGYMAN
NON.MOTORISTS APPLAUD
A SUGGESTION HE MAKES
Torpedo Boat Destroyer Wolf to Be
Dssected in a Search for the Cause
of Numerous Disasters to Such Graft
the Past Year-London's Theatrical
Season on the Boom.

/ LONDON, Oct. 4.-William S. Gill
bert; the dranatiSt, appeared this week
in the light of a conscience stricken
motorist anxious to reform others. He
wrote to the London Times confessing
to having run down q clergyman and
urging more strict regulations for mo-
tors and drivers. Thereupon came a
shoal Of letters from prominent motor
lists, including Leopold de Rothschild
and Admiral Sir Richard Hamilton, de-
claring that Mr.. Gilbert's inexperience
in handling a car should not be made a
peg on which to hang further restric-
tions on this already ver-persecuted
form of amusement"
Mr.. Gilbert replied, sticking to his
guns, and elected much sympathy
from non motorists, among whom was
Lord Ribblesdale, who, with pathos
worthy of Mr.. Gilbert himself, describ-
ed the terror which, thanks to "the
noisy, reckless motors" now assails
him whenever he endeavors to pilot his
children, miss Diana and Master Au-
gustus," in trap through London
streets. The general gist Of the con-
troversy indicates a desire on the part
of the leading public men, whether mo-
torists or otherwise, to have special
legislation dealing with all phases Of
motoring.
In this connection 1t is announced
that Rudyard Kipling has joined the
volunteer automobile corps being got
up by the war office. The corps has
12O cars at its disposal.
Theatrical Business Booming.
The advent Of cold weather has been
a Godsend to the theatrical managers,
who are reaping packed houses. Quail
ity Street." at the Vaudeville theater, is
q very great attraction. The stalls are
filled every night with well known aris-
tocrats. eff 1 Were King" at st.
James theater; mice and Men," at
the Lyric, and George Edwards musi-
cal comedies are running strong.
Frank Curzon, Oct. 8, will present
Wisdom and Folly" at the Comedy.
theater.
The long promised dramatization of
Rudyard Kipling's "The Light That
Failed" will be produced by Forbes
Robertson at the Lyric theater.
Mrs. Humphrey Wards dramatiza-
ton of Eleanor" with Marion Terry
in the title role, will be produced Oct.
27.
Nance O'Neill and Mckee Rankin
sailed for America today.
Where Is the Weakness?
The admiralty has decided to break
up the torpedo boat destroyer Wolf at
Portsmouth with the object of discov-
ering wherein lies the weakness which
has led to SO many mishaps and disas-
ters in the case of these craft during
the present year. The Wolf, which was
launched in 1897 at cost of $1,25O,O0O,
has been placed in a specially fitted
drydock while awaiting the costly op-
Grafton.
The steel cradles will first be remov-
ed from amidships and the vessel will
be left hanging by her ends in order
to ascertain if the sagging strain thus
imposed is sufficient to break her back.
If she survives this ordeal the Wolf
will be hung see saw fashion across
cable. both ends being left unsupport-
ed, so as to show how she would fare II
lifted amidships on the crest of a wave.
Other tests will be applied. Great in
terest centers in the outcome of the eX-
pertinent from which naval architects
anticipate obtaining data for designing
future torpedo boat destroyers.