New-York tribune., 1908-03-12
LONDON NOTES.
.shcn Giri and Great LadYLNere-
3ith ard Knorlcs.
London, February %.

London, February 20.
Will the r7iiiernir-- ever come for struggling
genius when the pictures can be sold as
81 painted. the plays accepted without ardu-
cpe period Of neglect and suspense. the books
,-intec as The manuscripts have been
neatly typewritten? There are no signs of the
xciden era either IL the studio quarter Of Chelsea
o. IN the London publishers district; but Miss
Lena Ashwell and MIR. Otho Stuart are enccurag-
ing new playwrights 10 believe that the good
time has already come Miss Ashweii accepted
Mt Anthony T. Wharton's Irene Wycherley'
when no other actor manager would trouble
himself with reading it. and il has made her
cun fortune We'll the unknown play
nright's. Having succeeded once in discover
ing real talent for stage writing, she has tried
find X again in the work of a provincial
actress. Miss Cicey Hamilton. who has not been
credited with having brilliant gifts for the dra-
matte profession, although she has obtained
notoriety an advocate Of woman's suffrage
and social reforms. Her play, produced at the
Kingsway Theatre with the attractive title.
Diana Of Dobsons." has a strong part for Miss
Ashwell. which helps to explain its acceptance.
il also contains a realistic study of q shop girl
life and reveals the spirit of freedom and indie
pendence that IS coursing through the veins of
ambitious women of the lower class: and there
is distinctly original treatment of a fresh sub
ject- and this is not marTed by artificial stage
made situations. These qualities secured for it
g highly favorable reception the opening
night
II is the story of the orphan daughter Of a.
country doctor forced by adversely to take a
situation shop assistant among girls dressing
well and having decent reputation on five
shiIIings week Revolving against the mean
OF her employers and the sordd economies
of trade, Diana has a passion for right and
justice: and when legacy of $500 suddenly
70 her she is seized with the idea of
having little fling real lady among fash
ionable idiers. Without a chapernn. but with
aTray Of fine frocks. she appears at Of the
English hotels as rich widow, and as smart
anybody while the money lasts Come what
may, she viii be idle and luxurious for a month,
Two admirers are the victims of her fascina-
t1ons- one is rich baronet, who started
e-rand boy with two shiIlings d week and has
become the manager of great shopping
roTiunl- where competitors UnderSold and
shop girls Tive in" and underpaid. The
other is a young EuaTdsTnan who wastes good
income and sponges on his relations. She will
not accept the baronet's offer, even when her
legacy has been spent and she Is forced 10
-urn to England in search Of work She tells
he guards1nan the truth about her little
quera6e in the Engadine. and is promptly con-
accusing him Of hunting for wife who will
ray his debts and support him in luxury, when
ae cannot honest living himself. The
angry lovers part, 70 meet again twelve weeks
sfterward the Thames Embankment, when
each is homeless. wcrkess and starving and
-eady TO help the other II take up the remnant
of = spoiled and wasted life, and to make some
thing Of it Human nature pusates in this
realistic play. and there is something TO think
over when the curtain falls. It is hard kind
# realism of the under world that makes
deep impression upon sensitive audience; and
this Is the era Of social reform.
The suffragettes are displaying much
Eanizing power and inventiveness in making a
public nuisance Of their cause that politicians
are beginning be afraid Of them Ardent
temperance advocates have made a strong point
of expelling barTnaids from public houses, but
political managers are aghasr over the prospect
u turning horde OF good-looking. ~elI-dressed
Young women into the streets to reinforce the
mob n suffraeettes- They consider il = wiser
policy 70 open new fields Of activity fer fas-
rfnating women rather than deprive thousands
II them Of an established means Of earning A
livelihood. They have welcomed the idea OF en-
ploying women as recruiting sergeants for en-
listing men for military service Colonel Walsh,
IS the s.. Georges Barracks is credited with
the courage required for this daring innovation.
and logically there is answer 10 the argument
tle1 the Establishments of the will be put 70
better in drawing men into the army
fight their ccuntry's battles than in Turing them
into saloons fuddle their brains with drink
and waste their energies in street bravIs.
Various details will have 70 he settled respect
ing the military status of the lady recruiting
Sergeants.~ such as . service uniform. the right
- wear . cockade and equality of pay with men:
hut these viii be trivial matters for the Carnot
Who Is reorEa anizng the territorial and defensive
forces cf The kingdom Indeed II seems almost
necessary - provide outlet for the martial
5rdQr Of the sex when swarms Of women are
occupied daily with aggressive operations for
frHlr enfrancFsement laying siege TO
Cabinet ministers In their offices marching de
fanrly - the police courts and attempting to
carry the houses of Parliament by frontal attack.
NJ SH-1burne had his seventeen birthday
-ct long 70. and Mr.. George Meredith has
celebrated his eightieth. and each event has
heer cor7rneraorated by addresses from men of