New-York tribune., 1907-05-13
LONDON NOTES.
II Boston Tea Party Play-Dante
at Dorchester House.
London. April II.

/ Loyalty to the Crown Is also compromised In
Mr. George a play by Mr. Louis N Parker
! written around the Boston tea party Tbs
health of King George is drunk with facetious
smrks and asides. and the dialogue is tainted
| with reasonable utterances from FaneuiI Hail
/ At the Boston end of "Perceval and March
merchant adventurers,'' there is only one sound
| British Tory-the senior clerk The i,,rio-
| partner is in sympathy with the American rabels
and the junior clerks masqueradng as Mohavks
| i'm feathers and war paint assist in throwing
over the tea. and glory in their unpatriotic con-
| duct Colonials. Mr.. George. the senior part
! ner. arriving when the disturbance over taxa
| tion without representation is at its height ia
an English girl of twenty-five with a London
| swell at her heels: but even her loyalty to the
| throne is fragile and untrustworthy for she
turns her back upon her snobbsh admirer after
hearing the revolutionary harangues at FaneuiI
Hall, and after sudden raid by the Mohawk
tea spillers deserts to the enemy by agreeing
TO marry the jxnior partner and 10 establish
the business American basis The play
reproduces not only the Colonial costumes bur
also the independent spirit of the cradle OF
American liberty, and King George is treated
with little respect. Yet treason is condOned by
the audience. and the lack Of good. old fash
ioned loyalty excites less remark than the ab-
sence of Mr.. Hawtrey's mustache. which Is de-
scribed by one of his literary admirers "A
British institution"
The play is too delicate trif1e to be subjected
to serious criticism political grounds. The
sturdiest imperialist in the stalls is content
with prim and dainty entertainment like that
offered by Mr.. Barrie in Quality Street." and
applauds the bumper to fair GeOrgie rather
than to His Majesty King George with the
mental reservation that DR.. Johnson was right
when he brushed aside patriotism the last
resource Of the scoundTel. In existing conditions
of International good feeling the Boston tea
party is as safe a subject for dramatic treat
ment the Indian SIutiny and instead of hav-
ing keen noses for reasonable sentiment the
critics take note OF the fact that the only figure
the stage speaking with marked transat-
lantc accent is the handsome English girl, who
has barely landed in Boston. Why should any
body be critical when it is delightful little
comedy, as wholesome as IL is quaint and
human. and when the parts are enacted SYM
pathetically in Old World spirit? Certainly
it is a privilege To- go to a play which does
not contain equivOcal situation nor vulgar
phrase. and TO witness series of impersona-
tions delicate as Dresden china OF eighteenth
century miniatures. Mr.. Hawtrey's is the best.
smooth and winning in its persuasiveness and
quiet sincerity and Miss Billie Burke's demure
and ingenious Mr. George is a companion piece
beautifully framed IN becoming costume Tna
confidential clerk. the fussy old maids. the
lady killer from St. James's and the other minor
characters are firmly sketched by the play
wright and admirably presented on the stage
Professor Luigi Ricci is one of the literary
figures of London. yet he has been in his time
man of action inspired with noble idealism- An
Italian of high birth. he raised a troop at his
own cost and served under GaribaIdi; and he
rlaa ed
during the siege Of Paris. in 1870. For more
than thirty-five years ne has lived in London as
an educator and literary workman. and as the
founder of the Dante Society he has succeeded
in imparting his own enthusiasm for the study
Of classic works of Italian literature to large
and influential organization Under his direc-
tion that society has commanded the support
of diplomats and men of letters. and it's unceas-
ing activities have been shown in augmented
list OF publications. He deserved all the COM
pliments showered upon him at the brilliant
meeting this week IN Dorchester House. which
was graced by the presence of Prince and Prin-
cess Alexander of Tecx- The voice which re-
lated the history of Paolo and Francesca and
recited passages from Dante still had the mar
tial ring of a soldier leading storming party;
but his manner was that of scholar with
unclouded intellectual life and the serenity OF
mind that comes from close communion with
masters or literature II ne ala not throw 1reSl
light on the immortal love story OF Dante and
Boccaccio he supplied an interesting summary
Of the little that is known about it. and was
agreeably supported by the Earl Of Lytton who
read Byron's translation of the famous passage.
1t was reserved. however. for Sir Theodore
Martin 10 entertain the audience with a unique
display of physical vigor and controversial spirit
at ninety-one. With all the ardor OF youth he
contended that the lovers were without sin be-
yond their impulSive kiss. and that unless Dante
had believed himself in his heroine's innocence
he would not have allowed her to say that "ths
lowest depths of helT' awaited him who had
killed her and Paolo- As keen and resourcefm
as he was when political and literary critics in
Weighed against the diplomatic disclosures OF
his Life of the Prince ConsOrt" he gallantly
threw down his lance in defence of Francesca
and declared that Dante's enormous sympathy
with the lovers was inexpliCabIe if he had been
convinced of their guilt II exhilaratins
sight TO witness the earneStness and vivaCity OF
this veteran of law. parliamentary practice and
literature. who born year after Waterloo
and had himself translated the Vita Nuova
over sixty years ago. While he differed from
Professor Ricci single element of the story.
there was no lack of old school courtesy III
the expression OF his dissent and in follow
ing II with hearty appreciation OF the ser
vices of the founder of the Dante Society
Sir Theodore Martin has done work enough
in his time 10 Kill dozen men. Yet his eys
Is undimmed and his voice firm. and appar-
emily he has vitality in reserve for rounding ouI
his century. His passage with Professor fsCCi
was not the only interesting episode OF the aite,
noon. The Poet Laureate, whose humOr Is ser
dom felicttous. attempted to raise a laugh oVs.
the neglect of a populous and inventive county,
like America To produce great poetry Inc
laugh came at MIR. Alfred AuStinS expense Wheh