Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20

discussion.
Jokes on Mr.. Austin.
Not few amusing tales are told at the
expense OF Mr.. Austin. the production OF
whose new play. .'Flodden Field" by Mr.
Tree next week will be one of the events of
the season. Perhaps one OF the funniest
relates TO an incident which occurred re-
Gently when the poet was staying at the
country house of well known leader I'm
society, and the wife of a well known Judge
me story was thus narrated by one who
was present:
The hour approaches IL o'clock The
mouse party is gathered In cheerful talk
before parting for the night Before the
nre, with coat tails uplifted. stands a POM
pous little man. and into the conversation
breaks voice which says. Lady may the
poet laureate go to bed? There was gen.
erai acquiescence in the affirmative"
mar reminds me of provincial mayor
VINO, wearing his new honors somewhat un-
easily. called out to the waiter at the hotel
of the town:
viii you please bring his lordship a
couple or ham sandwiches?'
The Poets Criticisms.
1t may not be generally known that Mr.
Austin. who is understood to resent keenly
unfavorable criticisms of his own poetic ef-
forts. did not scruple In earlier days to
write in the most unrestrained terms of the
iiiustrious poet who preceded him In the
possession Of the official bays.
MY proposition is. he wrote in volume
entitled " The Poetry of the Period pub
iished In 1870, that Mr.. Tennyson is not a
great poet, unquestionably not a poet of the
front rank, all but Enthusiastically not n
poet OF the second rank, and probably not
even at the head of the poets of the third
rank. among whom he must inevitably take
nus place. The prevailing and universal
opa.,ion rs that he is great poet. a very
s sreat poet; perhaps as great poet ever
nved. This is the opinion challenge and
oenounce. the opinion that will make nos
terlty Shrek with laughter and fiout us TO
scorn; Let not the age make itself the
P pe,,s STOCK or an irreverent posterity."
BeIore which view the question arises:
w nat rank, III Tennyson be a third-rate
poet, must be assigned to Mr.. Alfred
AustlnE But Mr.. Austin has not to wait
lot the laughter of posterity.
New Invasion.
Inc American invasion which is IN
reared In this country exhibits ITSELF IN
other ways than I'm trade To the churches
Oh Manchester there will be shortly addaa
the First Church of christian Scientists 4.
Oh which the cornerstone was laid on Sat-
urday afternoon. The church will have n
seating capacity for about 400. and viii
cost about 5000. but for the present only
the nave is being erected
ne ceremony was performed by LADY
victoria Murray, and the stone bears the
inscription: I'm gratitude for the spirituaI
truth and physical healing found In
Christian science" There are also upon n
quotations: Heal the sick raise the dead.
cleanse e.e iepers. cast out demons" and
THESE signs shall follow them that be-
heve: The stone, which is OF granite was
specially brought from Concord n. H.
Inc company present included the Earl
OF Dunmore and the Hon. William c.
Ewing. ex-judge of the American supreme
court. The latter delivered an address I'm
which he mentioned that this was the first
Christian Science Church to be built I'm
Europe Lady Victoria Murray was pre-
scented with an inscribed silver trowel.
Dazzling Sensation.
London managers still keep piling sensa-
ton on sensation. In looping the loop''
on motor car Miss Nina Alix, a young
German lady, provides a thrill for two and
half seconds which is certain to meet the
appreciation of the patrons of the Hippo
drome. She starts her ride from a landing
thirty-seven feet high away at the back of
the arena, and descending a sloping track
at an estimated speed of 300 miles an hour,
turns complete circle inside the loop, and
dashes on into net. car and all. The
lady, 1t may be added. is not attached to
the car nor the car to the track The real
sensation, however, is the working of a
switch. which closes the track after the
car has passed into the loop, and before
This delicate and dangerous operation is
intrusted to Mr.. Fitzsimmons. her manager,
who is responsible for seizing the exact
fraction of a second I'm which to pull the
lever. Any delay or loss of nerve on the
part of this gentleman would certainly re-
suit in sensation would rather not
contemplate.
Great Actresses in "Sapho."
Playgoers who delight in comparing great
a. tiSfes m a we'll kpaun mart will he
forded exceptional opportunity during
the course of the next few weeks, for those
famous French actresses. Bernhardt. Re-
jane and Hading, will all be seen in London
in "Sapho." Mime. Granier will also appear
in the metropolis. and her season COM
mences at the Garrick next Monday night
about the same time as Nine Hading's sea-
son at the Coronet. The two most interest
ing performances will be Sarah Bernhardt's
assumption of the part of Iris" and Mme
Hadings impersonation of 1.-The Second
Mrs. Tanqueray." Mr.. Pinero will superin-
tend both these productions and Mr. Dion
Boucicault will play his original part of
Croker Harrington to Nine. Bernhard In
French. of course. Nine. Hadng has long
been anxious to produce 'Tanqueray" but
Mr.. Pinero insisted on translation as he
objected to the adaptation of this play
which had been concocted for French audi
ences.
Portrait of Napoleon.
most interesting miniature portrait of
Napoleon I. by Isabey, in gold and en-
ameled brooch mount. with eagle, laurel
wreath and pendant. brought ESQ at the
final of a three days sale in Wellington
street. The miniature was sent by Napo-
leon 1 to Lady Holland in return for the
present of an ice machine which however,
rever reached the st. Helena exile, mas
much it was retained by Sir Hudson
Lowe, the then governor. The portrait as
set in a snuff box, was sold with Lady
Hollands effects in the early thirtics, and
since then 1t has remained in the family
of the purchaser, Mr.. Samuel Sotheby. In
IA it was set in a brooch by Capolt of
Geneva, who for some time was in (apo-
Icons bodyguard.
The Curio Boom.
The curio boom" this year is unmis-
taxable Milionaires and multi-mllion-
aires who have developed the collecting
craze are being given plenty of opportunity
to indulge to the top of their bent. Not
the least interesting curio to come into the
market this year is the identical organ on
which Handel practiced THE Messiah" be-
fore its production more than a century
and half ago. This interesting instru-