New-York tribune., 1907-06-09

Whitehall. As Mr.. 2. r. Benson Is the mastee
OF the pageant, and It has the patronage Of the
Princess Louise. the Archbishop Of Canterbury
the Bishop OF Winchester and many titled peo-
pie. the celebration OF the thousand years Of his
tory made around the beautiful Norman church
will be without doubt most interesting and
varied entertainment
If the pageants are continued year after year
there viii be no excuse if the English people dos
not know their local history. At Bury St. Ed
munds over thousand voluntary workers have
been employed for weeks in making costumes.
arInor. weapons jewels and stage properties for
the two thousand performers who are to enact
the history OF East Anglia from Boadicea's tims
TO Magma Charta and Mary Tudor's marriage
with Charles Brandon-the romance which Mr..
Sothern and Miss Marlowe have been presenting
at the Waldorf with a good many theatrical en-
beIlishments- The enthusiasm excited by the
pageant has passed from actors TO carpenters,
metal workers. needIewOmen and craftsmen.
until no sacrifice Of time and labor appears too
arduous- One Industrious woman has copied,
page by page. the text of the original manu-
script OF Lydgate's book on St. Edmund, and
reproduced the illuminations with which IL IS
Illustrated The processes have been as toll
some those originally employed by monks IN
copying ancient missals; and the stage property
a richly bound volume to be used IN a simple
episode. With enthusiasm like this over a
petty detail OF the scenic presentation, ii is
easy to understand how Mr.. Parker is enabled
to create historic pageants memorable for pict~
uresque quality and local colorins. His exan-
pie has revived interest IN town shows throNgh@
out the kingdom. Even Coventry, which has
abandoned the Lady Godiya procession during
recent years .reverts 20 the old custom this
summer on q scale OF unparalleled spIen1or and
realism.
The London theatre managers are ordinarily
impressed with the necessity Of employing high
ly trained and experienced artists for the
tertainment OF audiences. This season they
seem 20 be possessed with the idea that youth
is mere attractive than charm or power or
training. and that iaded theatregoers viii 30
drawn 10 the stalls by the glrlishness OF an IN
genue when they are indifferent 10 the most
elaborate and painstaLing art Miss Alexandra
Carlisle IN the course Of q few months has BE-
come a popular favorite, capable Of saving from
failure theatrical and artificial plays: and at
the Haymarkat there is rival IL the person
OF Miss Marie LUhr who after having a small
part in Colonel NewC0me' at His Najesty's q
year ago. now has as much work as she can DO
in My Wife Mr.. Morton's adaptation Of q
French comedy by Nessrs. GavauIt and Char
nay. It is a story similar 10 THE Marriage o&
Kitty" with a marriage for convenience be-
tween an ingenue and q man twice her age,
which ends in passionate attachment between
husband and wife. The theme is not novel and
the texture OF the English adaptation IS SO thin
in spots that the original French pattern is a2-
parent Miss LOhr plays however. with vivacl-
ty skill and girlish innocence, and the audieacs
IS delighted with the opportunity Of renewing
It's youth There is also 4 most intelligent dog
In the piece. who takes the place of q star per-
ment. : y I