New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
LONDON'S STAGE
II SatHicaI Comedy By Hubert
Henry DaJieS.

LONDON. October "a
Mr. Hubert Henry Davies. having satiri1sa
a common type OF ansemia and nerves in 9TH,
MolIusc" has chosen more unusual sub1.c,
for his new comedy OF manners. This Il IA.
titled lady OF fashion who writes plays ana
entertains literary lions. The heroine Of "Iad,l
Eppfng's Lawsuit has box ernbNazonsd v-f,,
a coronet in which fifteen rejected PLAYS A..
kept Possibly there are similar depositorfe. -
amateur dramatic lore in country houses. ~.
who ever hears Of plays By smart wor,s,,
The Duchess OF Sutherland, II Is true v-,..
a play. which Mr.. Forbes Robertson produce.
at the Scala Theatre; but the authorship ~ :,
was concealed even from the actor-rnanagsr ana
no attempt was made 70 traffic on her soci,I
prestige The play submitted and accspt.d
on its merits. and there were no drawing-roop,
cIaauers in the stalls to stimulate interest in th
author Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton has written A..
clothes play. which was kindly received BIZ an
| indulgent audience and speedily forgotten: and
| Lady Archibald Campbell has not only attempt-
| ed dramatic authorship. but has also enacted
before Scottish audiences the weird and fasci-
| mating part OF one OF her own herolnes. Thsss
exceptions are to be noted TO the rule tina.
women OF fashion do not aspire to dramatic au-
| thorship. There are good amateur actresses
| among the smart sets and they are seen a.
country houses during the winter holidays. and
sometimes give charity entertainments. Tbs
/ Lady Epping OF the Criterion play, who Il bent
upon winning fame successful dranatist
is virtually unknown IN society Mrs. Baxter
of THE MoIlusc." a familiar figure in svsrZ
playgoer'S circle OF acquaintancss
Lady EppIng also conducted a literary salon
where ceiebrities were more conspicuous than
nillionaires or heiresses or smart people oe
rank and distinction Lady st. Heller, whsn
| she was known as Lady Jeune, was a hostess
of this type, and judges. actresses. authors and
public men were IN constant attendance at her
receptions. She has not had SUCCESSOR sincs
the retirement caused by her husbands death
and may resume her social activities in her new
house, where Mr.. Winston Churchilps wedding
reception was held. cannot believe that Mr..
Davies had this gracious and sincere lady in
mind when he made Lady Epping tbs central
figure OF a satfricaI comedy directed againss
smart society; but Il Is possible that he IN
tended to hit of Mr.. Justice Darling in tbs
| toviaI Judge with literary tastes who presided
over the burIesqus trial The satire OF the play
is superficial because il is not grounded upon
fashionable foibles and affeotations Ike thoss
| portrayed IN Moliere's Les Femmes Savantes-
or Les Precieuses Ridicules." There are women
of fashion Ike Lady Randolph Churchill with,
a talent for making their "reminiscences fnter-
esting and scores OF amateur novelists IN high
life, who are willing to pay for the publication
of their own stories; but there IS no Lady
| Epping among them with literary ambitions az
freakish as a chfId's irresponsible caprices, ana
with an exasperating habit OF being unreason-t
able and impossible without sacrificing an1iahfls
| fly and charm
| Mr Da.fes was less interested in satiHzinH
society tnan he was in providing a perfect parS
| for Miss Mary Moore; and this hs has suo1
ceeded II doing, although the play f. sigh7
affair, With as little plot as an oldtine Moiera
| and few, OF her associates have anything vcrSny
| Of their abilities. Her Lady Epptns Is sTeus