New-York tribune., 1908-04-08

Friends,
1t is not poetry but it has at least more
nervous force than belongs to the greater part
OF this curious composition.
Another literary parsonage Mr. Henry James
has recently been interesting himself again in
the drama. In this case. London dispatches
have told, the play in question. The High
Bid has been put upon the stage. Mr. Forbes
Robertson. for whom il was written, recently
produced it at the Lyceum Theatre where it
was granted a more respectful hearing than
given to the same authors Guy Dom
vile" years ago. According to The
Scotsman the work has many good points
and was encouragiHgly received. There Is
displayed in it a gift of writing good dialogue.
and if it does not scintllate it is not devoid Of
either philosophy or humor to give it piquancy.'
The critic continues follows
The story too is quite up-to-date, It is that
OF rich American lady buying up an impecunlous
though the transaction in this case is approached
from the sentimental side; but the play a1teT an
suggests the short magazine story rather crudety
converted into drama 1t is lacking in vitality
and action there is far too much tag ana a 700
and while the characters are presented WIN In "a a
felt that the principal parsonage in the play the
lively American lady, Mrs. Gracedew, who made
the end been so over elaborated that she lost her
naturainess and became me5sy rharac4r that
kent his Strength throughout was Mr.. Prodmore,
a pleasing sketch Of an old butler. but the hero.
Captain Yule. seemed TO be rather heDuious
parsonage. about whom it was difficult to get up
The oomed{ % Is ss IN insr come into possession Of
the family estates He has forsa5en the faith of
politician in the East End of London. The estates
are moTtgaged hsaytIy the oon6s % anx
fous to get a footing in society. He proposes TO
PaP9Iea,s sPIeG 9is and maTrvng Kiss Prodmore he will
clear off the debt and present the freed estate to
him the dot Of his daughter This is the situa-
tion disclosed the opening of the play. Captain
increasingly difficult when ne sees the pTetty MRS
Gracedew, who subsequently turns out to be q
English mansions and their furniture, and old
English ways; she has read up Covering End be
fore she came to ii. and with characteristic
fuency discourses it's beauties with much
second act is mainly taken up with conversation
between Mrs. Graoedew and Captain Yule regard
his family 1t IS good but rather tedious. She
changes her tune: for she herself has fallen in
Prodrnore obligingIy rebels against her fathers
wish, and Mrs. Gracedew's way is thus cleared for
her to make her High Bid She purchases the
mortgages from Mr.. Prodmore. and practically
offers herself and the estate to the tmpecunious
sanctify the transaction After unusually
pretends not to her drift the curtain falls in
approved fashion.
In reviewing last Sunday the beautiful new
edition, published by the Scribners of Mr..
James,s novels and tales, alluded to the
changes ne had made in Henrietta Stackpoles
mode of conversation. The attitude Of some OF
his admirers toward this matter is we'll repre-
sented in these verses. sent to US by of
them:
HENRIETTA STACKPOLE.
lPortrait of Another Lady.l
All, Henrietta priced these many years
fears
Must behold thee now-by hand
In some stiff London pattern made to stand?
Nay Henrietta-let thy true, wise heart
Urge thine authors choice the kinder part:
Resist q modern outline:-Wield thy will
Emma Carleton.
Substantial changes have just been made in
the ownership OF The Atlantic Monthly" That
periodical. which has been published by Hough-
ton. AIfiin & Co. since 1873. Will hereafter be-
ginning with the August number. be published
by the Atlantic Monthly Company. of which Mr.
El-ry Edgwick Mr. Waldo E. Forbes Mr. Mac
Gregor Jenkins and Mr. Roger Pierce VIII be
members. the present publishers also retaining
important interest. No change in the char
acter or general conduct Of the magazine is
contemplated. Mr. Bliss Perry continues as
editor. and The Atlantic" viii still be printed
and issued from the offices with which its fort
unes have so long been identified Messrs. Hough-
ton. AIifiin & Co also announce their forth
coming Incorporation under the name of Hough-
ton-A1iffiin Company. The present partners
tain their full interest and active participation
in the business. which Will suffer change in
its management, but certain gentlemen who
have been actively associated with it for sew
eraI years will be members of the new corpora
ton. These are Mr.. James Duncan Phillips. Mr.
Stephen B. DavOI, Mr.. Roger l. Scaife Mr. Ed
ward r HoughtOn and Mr.. George Harrison
Miff7in, jr.
General Charles Kings West Point story,
''Cadt Days. a manly and vigorous piece Of
work has an excellent sequel in ITO the Front
Harper & Brothers.. What is the young West
Point graduate. flung suddenly into a situation
of danger and Of fateful responsibility. pre-
pared to do? The story answers that question
and answers it in a way which serves to en-
phasize the value of the severe training Of
the military academy. Perhaps, the reader
may say. George Graham is the kind Of cadet
only TO be found in a novel? Army records
show that there have been many like him.
Mrs de La Pastures book, THE Unucky
Family" CE- P Dutton & Coz is a do
mestic extravaganza which has moments Of
fun and some clever strokes Of character draw
ing There are not enough Of these, however,
TO carry the heavy and preposterous burIesque
into which the theme is quickly turned. Where
the volume is truly delightful is in its illustra-
ton. Mr.. E. T. Reeds sketches are full OF
fantastic hurnor. They almost as good as
are his Parliamentary sketches in Punch
and that is saying a good deal
SH4EESPEAR
Revoud our shores, past Alps and Apennines.
Shakespeare, from heaven came thy creative
breath