New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-26
LONDON NOTES.
st. 4lbans Pageant-The Struggled
Extraordinarily Shrines.


brilliant pictures with classic framing. In the
background were the ruins Of the finest Roman
wall with fosse to be found in England: through |
the sylvan glade could be seen the Abbey com |
memorative of the martyrdom of st. A!ban, Il
soldier of the conquering lesions; and the grand
stand itself marked the size Of an aIuphitheatre
of the ancient city. The Romans themselves
seemed TO have returned to Verulamium with
helmet and spear to beat back Boadcea and her
barbarous horde; and project and warrior saint
We're alike impressive figures typical OF imperial
greatness. After the Roman scenes came a pct-
uIeSque array OF Saxon costumes, and subse
quently there a splendid tableau OF medi-
seVal knights and mobiles monks and princes in
queen Eleanor's funeral procession. Wat TyIers
rebellion brought into view a mob of oldtime
socialists, with orator as fcrvent as any
t2ues unionist leader In the Commons:
there was a spirited battle scene between York
ana Lancaster, with horsemen in hot pursuit Of
ielieatilS foemen over meadow and stream; and
queen Elizabeth. whose triumphal progresses are
90 useful IN pageant makers schemes, entered
win brilliant retinue OF courtiers to witness a
SIdlely court pavane and merry morris dance
with Robin Hood. Friar Tuck and Maid Marian
among the jewellers. AS Shakespeare had his
Gay at Warwick year ago, when the glories of
.le golden era of English history were cele-
DRAFTED. so Francis Bacon was introduced as n
page at 81 Adams. No controversial issue of
dramatic authorship was raised He was merely
the intellectual genius Of the old town as ouaint
LSu8ate writer and missal painter was at
bury ~. Edmunds; and beyond the Courtlv
S'u'h as ne made his bow the Queen could
ne traced across the fosse the path leading to
Sne ancient church where he to be buried
win his titles in solemn state
There were three thousand nerforroors u, tbis
pageant, so that there was bri11iar, snectocIo
al pie close, when Britons. Romans Saxons and
Normans We're massed in the broad an1phfthea-
ms Is the eliminating scene IN every
he Il, do.
gether by metrical passages from the chorus
me pageants follow those devised by Mr. Parker
curing the last three years, and have the com
mon OBJECT OF illustrating the prominent events
or local history. They take the place Of Ben
Johsons Mosques. which produced as
court entertainments scale Of nagnifcence
NhlSh the theatre Of that time could not rival
Processes and Courtlers then the perform
ers and architects and painters were the stage
managers The modern pageant has been con-
verified into a democratic entertainment. There
was a short transition stage, when the parts of
sovereigns and Processes were enacted by tho
titled people of the halls but provincial
actors pressed into service with the result
that the defamation has improved and most OF
the lines audible even from the highest tiers
OF seats The town barber becomes prince,
the tailOrs apprentice IS transformed into a
monk; the stable boy masquerades an ancient
Briton; the handsomest barmaid finds herself
stately lady for a week. securing and ironing her
fnery overnight If the weather be shOWery, aud
some OF the best voices OF the Abbey choir are
chanting the lyrical passages. II is a democratic
fate with the humblest figures in the town
trcked out with lace and golden sheen and rev
cling in the pomp and glory Of splendid state
When the performance is over the players
ears abbots and princesses-staDd about the
sylvan wings. reluctant 10 put aside their hand
some clothes and eager 70 command admHIhs
gances The pageauts fire the tmagInatons Of
the local tradesTnen and may revive passion
for the stage. Provincial audiences are likely 10
become more critical when the stock coInpanes
make their circuits. for many In the ea''e''eS
wifi have played their parts on broader stage
and have learned how 10 pose ana TO c"'''''''
little rnannerisus OF their own.
Sir Charles Holroyd does not shirk the reSPon-
sibity for the purchase OF the Genoese y" an
/ Dvck for the National Gallery. lie admits tA1l
as soon as he saw the portrait at tho ColnaShi
rooms he coveted Il and was only 100 anxious
10 carry It into Trafalgar Square lie o'N ''t
wait TO make extensive inquiries but consulted
the trustees and purchased It as speedily as pos
sible for the National Gallery. He has not pro-
fessed ignorance of the Italian laws. when re-
ouire a written permit from the ministry 'elo'
any work by an old master may be exported
| The sale OF the Cataneo portraits 10 an ltaIIa"
rniddlelnan was well known, and consequently
| the trustees OF the gallery, among them IoId
Iansdowne must have been aware that th'to
were irregularities at some point IN the circuit
OF purchase before the seven pictures were
sToIpcIed across the frontier. Mr.. Perpont
Morgan was the first foreigner suspected OF d
piratlcal raid into italy, but he promptly delIen
completely in the affair. The National "al'eiy
trustees will now be forced TO face the music II
tba S,alian Ministry protests against the spolia-
zion of art treasures which by law are reserved
for purchase by the government al the export
/ nric& Auparently the seven Van Dycks were
not officially catalogued as Works OF greatest
valIfg and the option for their purchase was NOT
| reta4Sed Works which are not In the othclal
catassele cannot be legally exported without Il
| ner1Cft and consequently the acquisition OF one
| 81 ia, best portraits Is irregular and may lead
10 70 frespondence relating TO its surrender or d
! bill n damages
obviously It was clever stroke Tor the SYN
dica5A which has come into possession of this
cot - Van Dvcks to induce the trustees of the
Na+Esnal Gallery TO purchase one OF them. II IL
a fra advertisement OF the remaining pictures
and will inpart additional value TO theln' II
also leaves a national institution under obhga-
| ton 10 Justify the acquisition OF n WORK Whlch
| Is dshcribed as struggled out Of Italy In viola
| ton of law. and when apologies are made and
| repa9ation is arranged, II necessary, by pay
| rnen2 Of q nominal fine there Will be basis Tor
SENTIMENT when the other portraits are disposed
~ 9 high prices. The trustees, with LORD
I,anFaowne at their head, can make better terms
/ than art speculators who have been dealing
! viii, roiddlemen The effect of this transaction
will probably be q stringent amendment OF the
| ItaIp,n law so as 10 enlarge the list OF CatG-
Ioq,tfs5 old masters on which option Of purchase
! "a attained Owners of valuable works VINO
canrqht afford 70 keep them in private collections
canrybt complain If the italian government stands
raadR ~ purchase them for what they are worth
| In tee foreign market. They have, however. a
! ustgrievance II permits for export are refused
! without the alternative of government purchase
1,l4t rival American universities rather
unealally represented in the American pilgrims
| proseess in the mother land. Tho Harvard
| chanel with La Farges window the gift OF Mr..
| Choate has been dedicated to-day by the Bishop
cft ArnH n