Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02

Mall, In which the great painter passed
away IN 1873. has received new lease OF
life and is now in the hands of the decora-
tors.
The building, which forms part Of tbs
old war Office. was known originally as
Schomberg House, and adjQtned that IN
which The notorious Nell Gwynne resided
at one part of her career. 1t was occu-
pied by Gainsborough during the last ten
years of his life, and it was in room on
the second floor-now marked by a COM
memorative plaque-that his reconciliation
with Sir Joshua Reynolds took place with
In few moments OF his death.
The premises are henceforth to be used
by the department Of barrack construction.
part Of London. Among the earlier ten
ants OF the mansion, which was erected at
the time Of the Commonwealth, We're the
Duke Of Schomberg. from whom 1t derived
its name; the Duke of Cumberland, the
hero of Culloden; John Ashley, the painter.
and Conway, the well-known portrait
painter; while in view OF the large num-
Der of exhibitions which were held within
money was taken at its doors than at any
other house during the reign Of the Third
George.
Americans After Gray's Inn.
Not content with capturing all the best
English music hall artists and a number Of
the poorer ones. too. Americans have again
invaded Britain's most sacred preserves
and have actually made an offer to buy the
old world surroundings Of Gray's Inn. It
Is reported that the amount offered was
S15.000.OO0. but 1t might as well have been
made for Windsor Castle or the Tower OF
London.
Gray's Inn has history dating back
nearly five hundred years. Its beautiful
garden Is the admiration and envy of Lon
don. Francis Bacon, the great chancellor,
spent most of his days here and planted a
q
old-fashioned Tudor Hall Is full of his
torical "reminiscences. the carved oaken
screen and Ministries gallery at the west
end being made out of the captured Ar
mada. On grand night Of every term the
benchers and students alike drink ito the
pious glorious and immortal memory OF
good Queen Bess. Gray's Inn shares with
the other inns Of court an honorable record
In the field Of law and many of its stu
dents have achieved great fame in the his
tory Of the past
The royal family has already done more
playgoing this year than In any previous
throne King Edward/went to the French
plays at New Royalty half dozen times,
and the Prince of Wales attended them
nearly every night. The king also visited
his recent stay in Paris. But 1t has re-
manned for Queen Alexandra to beat the
royal record. Last week. in company with
the Dowager Empress OF Russia, she went
four nights in succession to West End the.
aters, and between March 8 and April 4
she paid seven visits to the play. II royal
patronage has any effect on box-ofice re-,
ceipts the houses SO favored should be pros
porous indeed.
OF all the current plays selected for pa
tronage. 1.-THE Stronger Sex" at the Apollo.
has been the most fortunate. The queen
has been twice to see this piece. and the
king. the Prince and Princess OF Wales and
many other royalties have attended it on
hor fvsa q other
play Of recent times has received such
wealth Of royal approval. Queen Alexan-
dra has also seen since March 8 The Con
doliers." Miss Hook OF Holland: The
knights Were Bold and The Belle Of
Mayfair"
Kaiser's Theatrical Proclivities.
In Berlin there is good deal Of dissat-
isfaction regarding the theatrical proclivi-
ties of the kaiser and his eldest son, the
crown prince. There is theatrical manager
there called Ferdinand Bonn. the lessee of
the Berlinger Theater, who is addicted to
pieces Of a very amateurish description.
Among these are two well known to the
British public-Conan Doyle's sherlock
Holmes and 1.-THE Hound of the Basker-
villes." These plays are regarded by the
kaiser as great works OF art, and he and
them.
Another class of plays which the kaiser
has been lately patronizing Is connected
with the careers of long past Hohenzollerns.
There are several of these princes, OF whom
the man in the street knows little and cares
less and who are regarded by the kaiser
as heroic figures. A certain Major Laun, In
no way a. literary artist, has been intrusted
with writing dramas in which these ances-
tors OF the kaiser play the most prominent
roles. They are fatuous productions with
out merit of any kind, raw and crude, but
they please the great war lord, and Lauff,
decorated Autobiography to the disgust
of the nation which would like to see his
majesty enjoying something more elevating
and artistically superior.
AS for the crown prince, he Is incorrigible.
His delight is to visit the theater in which
a silly comic opera, "The Merry Widow,
is given. Night after night he is seen here
applauding the emptiest songs and the
- L.. H. MOORE.