New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14

novels were clouded with pessirais1n His last
DOOR, The Private Papers OF Henry Ryecroft"
mas heartbreaking significance for those who
AHe" Mn 1t is an autobiogra ply, with the
So'o' hard reflections OF author who had
written his way out OF extreme poverty and
u'ter opscurity 20 success, yet was conscious
mat he had made q melancholy failure of
ne, and that the curtain was about to be rung
down by Hawthornes 'unmaunerly scene
shifter.' grim and gaunt Death II is not q
trustworthy autobiography in all respects. There
We're terribly painful passages Of his early life
IN Manchester and his domestic experience
winch hare been kept out OF The Private Pa
pers possibly from q sense Of shame or more
PROBABLY from force OF deliberate habit
hunted man In life he contrived to eluee OBJ
serVation even when he was telling the story OF
ms own sorrows and struggles; and those who
know the truth respect his reticence and are
not tempted to reveal the innermost secrets of
an III directed and most unfortunate career.
Mr. Gissing was realist, like lola, and he
wrote about the only life with which he was
familiaT-the middle class, with it's sordid traits
and vulgar ambitions. and the under world OF
lodging houses where luckless toilers and schern-
Ing adventures are scrambling to make both
ends meet and 10 push their way upward by i'm
Fortunate snobbishness or shameless effrontery.
erary construction and style. and. depressing as
is is. 1t does not lack power. His novels were
hard, cynical and bitter, and his resources of
hnmor were not suspected until his Town TRAY
eler" was published. Even more unexpected
surprise was his admirable critical essay on
the writings OF Charles Dickens which opened
the way for his series of introductions to tha
f1ochestcr edition or the more famous novelist's
works. He not only knew the under world, where
the English Balzac had taken daily rambles
until he was familiar with every wynd of IL
but he also had the same observing eyes the
same instructive sense OF the Iudicrous and the
same unfailng sympathy for the pathos OF pow
erty. Coming at q time when 1t is an affecta-
ton among the smart sets and literary snobs to
say that they cannot read Dickens's books any
longer because the realism is 80 vulgar" and
the style 80 crude" his critical notes have been
supreme tribute TO OF genius whose re-
sources OF humor were inexhaustible and whose
skill as a draughtsman OF eccentric character
was incompatible. Mr.. Gissing had another sur
prise IN reserve for faithful readers in by the
ISnian Sea-" a series OF papers fairly pulsating
with sympathy for purely classic traditions He
was a many-si6ed man. with fine strain OF tall
ent. but with fatal perversity for marring his
own fortunes. for making himself an impossible
companion and for clouding what might have
beSl d DtlillduL career ana d lGppy Ere with
noisome nightshade.
zone fool makes more noise than a hundred
wise men," remarked Mr. Tree sententiously
when small and insignificant knot of nnalcon-
tents attempted to boo" THE Darling of the
Gods" the first night Of its presentation at
His Majesty's Theatre HIS irritabnity- was
pardonable. for the production of Mr.. Belasco's
and Mr. John Luther Longs play was triumph
n cf opa ANA 1oar74
OF srduous toll. professional training and palms.
taking care; and with the capital Invested in
the scenery. mounting and costumes and the
losses which unfortunate reception of the
work would involve his sensitiveness TO iyno-
rant and capricious criticism was natural The
few noisy fools finding enjoyment in blatant
"ooolng did not represent the playgoers for
the booking is already enormous and the sue
cess OF the play assured. 1t IS in every respect
most beautiful. artistic and satisfactory pro-
duction. Everything about II is Japanese-the
scenery, the costumes. the music the characters
the byplay, the dialogue, the poses. the man
her OF walking, the fireworks. the flowers the
peculiarittes OF expression. the feasts and the
religious ideas. Mr.. Tree who never spares him.
self IN working out general scheme In the
smallest details, has kept large company p
training week after week. and has insisted that
every member must learn to do everything IN q
japanese way. With his untlring stage man
agement, success has been achieved and IL is
now only short step from the Haymarket to
the heart OF Japan. where the wonderful little
people eat, walk. dress and live as IN Ho1usaf's
pictures In Mr.. Sladen's new book The scenery
is most beautiful. whether the external sets with
the luxurant foliage. the skies OF LIQUID blue
and the wealth Of flowers; the interior. with
their queer furniture and quaint effects; or the
spectacular tabeaus. representing the Brink OF
the River Of Souls" and the union OF the lovers
after thousand years in the First Celestial
Heaven" The acting Of Mr. Tree as the cruel
resourcefu ZaklSuri, was strong and intense in
the torture scene. with its "reminiscences of La
Tosca": Mr.. Basil Gill was earnest and impress
siye as Kara. and Miss Lena Ashwell with her
marked talent for emotional acting was alter
nately the embodiment of hope and despair as
poor Yo-San. Anything more vivid, interesting
impressive and novel than this rnagn!fcently
staged Japanese melodrama and spectacle Lon
don playgoers are not likely to witness for
long period. LNP
WON'T Paw FOR STTTT THAT ETTTFO