New-York tribune., 1905-02-25
LONDON NOTES.
po7;t;cs and the Season. Bur-
1esgue Lady-The MiLk Fair.
London. February II.

the victoria Tower are in progress With
% ~.,,,s speech VIII begin q session which
ils - startling surprise in the overthrow
Government on a snap division over
o ,-,e or in a budget speech with fiscal
s- 7r a revolutionary nature, but proba-
zi1l drag along until August, since Min
by IN dghting form and have a majority
So eighty behind them. II they had gone to
O ,-,trv a year ago, they would have been
- - 7r5thout doubt; but the opposition would
leA'- - formed an alternative government
'o' tbe creation Of feuds and dissensions,
III, might not have been a majority large
~ =, %, get on without the help of the Ma
e7.+e and they have not abandoned the
To- rr1a cause The Liberal successor to Mr..
- has now been named and a Ministry can
E@[.-e5 by Lord Spencer which viii repre-
e -, 4ec-ions: and. unless all signs fail IT
s tsra a larger majority than could have
sssouably expected twelve months ago.
psA -,-s-oe Minister is now likely 10 hold his
- as long as he receives loyal support
.bs T-rionists. Spring elections are IN
- since the traditional London season is
Iof--- ,,n rv them. The court influence, which
-svsr stronger than it is to-day, is strong
80 AGAINST any interruption Of the usual
-svsl Of gayety-
,o-.-5rsl salons of which much was said
-, have been temporarily closed The
,s-7as who took an active interest IN
=. Trade coalition under the Duke of Dev-
tf-s have lost their ardor for politics Spen-
E7o-7ss is now the social centre Of the Liberal
The opposition peers viii dine there on
,f the session and Sir Henry Campbell
,,--a---s1 viii entertain the front opposition
,-.1 At me house in Belgrave Square which
> has taken for the season Lansdowne House
90 NJ Balfour's Official residence viii be
o,,s5 for the Ministerial banquets, and Lord
- vrfu entertain for Lord Londonderry
A. .-,ing-on-st. The speakers dinners and the
..eTfrp functions at Buckingham Palace and
l. rs-gs's VII follow the ceremonial Of the
kings sneech. and the season will come in due
Inc House agents are complaining already
that they have lost their occupation, and that
.far haze never received so few inquiries for
-ssf5srces Members Of Parliament leave their
<s-,ries At home and take rooms at the clubs.
what with The Kings Mediterranean cruise and
the Easter and Whitsuntide recesses, the season
VIII open late and be over before ii has fairly
tesun Weekend entertaining has become gen
c-oI from January until August, and motors pro-
vide rapid transit TO and from houses near Lon
Don The tradesmen's lament over the declining
7or-Iarltr # the season IS repeated from year
g. yzar, but what has really happened is a
change in the social order by which weekend
entertaining goes on eigat months in the year
and The gayety Of London is crowded into
:sa short weeks and conducted on more lux
llrls scale than ever before
captain A1arshalTs farcical romance. 1.-The
10y Of Leeds" az Wyndhan's Theatre, suf-
.a.e5 on The opening night from the superior
r-.-naIftv and whimsical charm Of The Duke
o- Etuicrankie" which enjoyed unrivalled popu-
.rity last year. Those who had never heard
al the rhetorical Lady OF Lyons and the ro-
.s.t-rie Pauline and the continental Claude Mel
.r-ta missed the cIeverness Of q drou burlesque,
fr7 those who were familiar with a romance
dear 10 the hearts of rlaygoers q generation
ne7 were nor quite satisfied with comic treat
sraur which recalled the original theme yet was
EHarpIv differentiated from IL Captain Mar
efa-Ts new method Of writing buTlesque is
:raukly fsrcical and viii appeal TO playgoers
mora fo~cihlv when they understand that the
Urinary theme Is not used as q basis for gro
tssque comparison, but as fantastic point OF
6arartrre A vulgar heiress, with cockney
accent. who has inherited fortune made IN
Ginger ale rejects the addresses Of titled sullor
a-d q military martinez and they nave thelr
revenge when they hire waiter 10 pass nm
self of as a grand duke and 10 WOO her Win
!nvincibIe energy The waiter con1esses the
trick on the way 10 the wedding, but the III
-,-7-7 Of the conspirators does not last, for the
,sfves decorations, and they are menaced by
The brides chapsron with exposure to all the
hest peopIe' Al home With bright scenic pict-
rres of venice and fascinating frocks for the
actresses and with abundance Of wit in the
text the play is amusing and entertaining, and
when the action is quickened it IS likely 10
prove popular. Mr.. Weldon Grossmith as the
amateur grand duke who feels remarkably
-rc-garatic after dinner and makes guy OF
himself ar bridge and in courtship, has a part
that lends itself naturally to his drolI method
and he VIII be funny enough when ne Works II
10 ard feels at ease IN t. Miss Nancy Price
who made her reputation by her coclzney drawl
IN .7 erie % win also be much funnier when she
ae-s with less delIberation and effort in what Is
,4-+~suv a reDlica Of Mr.. Pineros character
study q low life.
Cur-s:a -aisers are designed primarily for the
plt and galleries, where playgoers insist upon
having the fuu value OF their money in a long
evening" Ell rtertainrnent. Mr.. Alfred Sutro has
SCI a new stvIe Of single act drama, which Is
designed fer their benefit, since II is a study OF
Poverty and narrow life in suburban London;
yet so true IS # 10 human nature that it alls
the stalls Al the st. Jayness Theatre without
reference 70 the dinner hour. Il is frankly
dicacriye: II Is an object lesson or sernaoTetIe
o. c9-JeItIaent and domestic affection and there
Is no action il II except the entrance Of a ser
van with letter; yet those who witness it are
gUpl1g and choking before they know what is
hap2e-i1S. and when the curtain falls there are
tears IL hundreds Of eyes. It is a story as sim
pe and trtts as The Wife IN Washington IrV-
hg sketch Book" and when the plot Is told
oulsl6e the theatre there seems 10 be nothing
t1at Car 5e described as drama a hard work
1g bank clerk. who has been living with wife
sac children ia lodgings. is expecting letter