New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-27


overthrow from the outset and that he is In
spired with aristocratic dislike for a powerful
political leader Of middle class origin and bust
ness training This is one OF the strangest va
carries OF a period OF political topsyturveydom.
Mr. Balfour's sympathies unQuestionably are
with the titled and privileged classes. but he
must be a poor student Of English political his
tory and dull observer Of sources OF influence
in the House OF Commons If he has not learned
that middle class England has been in the sad
Ole since the days OF Chatham. Mr.. Chamber
lain's power lies IN his representative character
as a champion Of mercantile and industrial
England; and the Prime Minister is too true a
Conservative 10 antagonize the most influential
and powerful section OF English opinion by plot
ting the political ruin OF the Great Imperialist
with a constituency beyond the seas. Mr. Bal
four has sacrificed his reputation a. self-re-
specting Prime Minister TO what he considered
the exigencies OF party loyalty The chief OBJ
3ect which he has kept IN view during the last
twelve months has been the maintenance OF
the party organization. and he has been con-
hdent thai his judgment would ultimately be
indicated II he could hold the Conservatives
together until the country had been prepared
and educated for the fiscal question. To this
end he has been cautiously and perslstently
trimming his policy. and he has not changed his
methods even when he has lost the Duke OF
DevOnshire, recognized his Cabinet n third
time and repeatedly boxed the compass in Civ
ing sailing directions TO his political followers.
Temporarily his influence and prestige have
been seriously impaired; but the debate on the
address has shown that his lleutenants cannot
agree among themselves or defend the gov
ernnentspolicy with consistency and effective
ness Mr.. Balfour trimmer as he is. has sue
IL. Fa-
OF the Conservative party. and events favor
him. for here IS the japanese Russian War. with
a new subject Of public interest and newspaper
enterprise. and an urgent reason for the avoid
ance OF a change OF government and a general
election
one Of the most delightful curtain raisers pro-
duced for long period was seen last night at
wyndhams Theatre. This The Jailbird."
by the Dutch novelist Mr.. Maarten Martens.
who had reduced one Of his short and homely
stories Of life in iceland 10 dramatic form with
the skill Of a practised hand. His friend. Mr..
Barrie. had rehearsed II with painstaling care.
and the first performance was remarkably
smooth and effective. This Dutch piece. which
is TO be the curtain raiser for LITTLE Mary" is
styled a comedy OF crime. and. while It lends
itself 20 farcicaI treatment. has a clear consis-
tent plot and a strong sense OF character. The
jailbird is John Blufkin. blacksmith. who is
a sober. industrious and pious mechanic.
cept one day in the year. when there is a village
fair and he has been punished by a weeks i'm
prisonment for his indscretion one of these
festive occasions. when he knocked down Henk
Starting who had been kissing the daughter,
suzie Blufkin. The smith considers himself
cially disgraced and refuses to show signs Of
penitence when Elder Boil urges him TO go to
church. He IS angry and resentful iE his treat
rnent OF his wife and daughter and Suzie's rival
lovers. the bold Henk Startling and Peter Boil
the elders sanctimonious son, and vows by all
that is sacred that he viii never go 20 church
nor consent TO his daughters marriage until
somebody is convicted Of something unlawful
and the character of jailbird is rendered respect
able Vrouw Blufkn supplies the underplot by
inducing the solemn Peter TO climb by ladder
into suzie's room TO fetch a box containing her
marriage portion: and the curtain falls after
the miscellaneous Henk has gone upstairs to fight
with the intruder. and Peter has dropped out
OF the window into his fathers and the
deacon himself has been convicted OF shocking
language With these three promising candi-
dates for discipline jailbirds, the smith allows
his daughter TO choose Henk in preference to
Peter and prepares for return TO his pew In
church.
Mr.. Maartens's little comedy was quaint
and artistic as a bit Of old Delft porcelain II
was staged lOf a DldChHiAlNA outage III Nec-
land. and the Dutch costumes for the six figures
were picturesque and effective The iailbird him
self CNr Compton Coutts) took his part with
undue seriousness and failed 70 relieve IL with
ludicrous byplay. but the other actors entered at
once into the comic spirit Of the piece. Mr.. A
w Basconbe, a newcomer from the provinces.
won a reputation at a single stroke by most
rrotesoue makeup and realistic impersonation
~ peter Boil IL was one Of the best bits OF
t.-fr inc uvffn N ha
stage for a long time, and excited the enthusi-
ss7n OF a delighted audience The other parts
we're well played, and the success OF the comedy
Uas tnrnfsta kable. The story fresh and
r,frthful with a ludicrOus situation for the fall
OF the curtain and the dialogue was crisp and
bright and helped to bring out traits OF charac-
ter MI Martens has been so successful in this
brilliant little work that his friends will look
for a longer and more ambitious comedy from
him l. y. r.