New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01
LONDON NOTES
.r.,. in ItaIan-cheap Sepdra-
tiOns-Dear DiOorce'
London July IL.

famous Of the WesseA '~
the mus The curtain rises on John dur
recoshi-@''. ....rs where Angel Clare ana Tess
Ssy1S cav friends. and where younger 0ro'nel
s's 90 80 cate Of the horse Prince and induces
re'i'ss : - +urn to her rich relations lot a.
bis Sis'' =. second act Tess is q maid OF
-,-roerviIles exciting the jealousy o. 'n ~
Alec lots and the uncontrolled passion -
othe9 =. and master. The scene Is siiii'ea -
her Gu Earn, at Talbothays, Where Allse'
ne ,gnorance of the Tragedy OF heI No
care - his love 20 her and her ia'Hei
has oo..s The tidings that Alec is bent upon
has hsr Tess accepts Angel care ai'e,
ria'fs.''s nss promised 10 tell him the s'oI! "a
her Ia, and in the hnal act she learns On
her 80, night that this has not been ooiie
her We, ,,ust reveal her own secret ms
tna ina - yhen repulsed and Illuminated py
she o CO. -,,shes out Of the house TO Grown
hs' -,ill pond. while her brother Is sing
hs3se-- =. serepade There is tableau OF
ms "a, with despairing cry from anger
ne cic,or ruigi nlicas libretto comPIeSses
Care. :, the story into a short period ana
ne ~ where the tragic pathos has beeolhe
"e1H. u,.r;ng. The scenery is most oeautiluiiy
4o- Thomas Hardy's WesseX' but the
t''1-s e. been strangely distorted ana partly
IslisnzeG ,.,-,.s;,,,s a;s-
- rttle dramatic feeling or atmospheric
rsch sct has q graceful prelude; there
a.. charms for mixers and cheese makers;
-. strongly contrasted duets between Tess
.o.b ~ her lovers. and there are enforced
A's ,,,ls,jye effects Of climax in the final
t'I ,..vreAn husband and wife. 1t is early
~, rnusic. agreeable IN form and orchestra
- sp6 with beautiful passages Of sensuous
...o5v but superficial and without those posi-
~. -scv qualities Of English soil and atmos-
,ssre which render the novel powerful in It's
sn,ssl 10 human interest The opera was enact
ID and sung with remarkable fervor and brill
,,,cv IN he opening night. Nile. Destinns tai
,D.s Is e resourceful artist were fully employer
= Tsss. sjgnor Zenatello and Signor Sammarco
-,s-t effective in voice and acting as the rival
i,vsrs. II. Gilbert was robust and vivacious as
tte irresponsible father, and Mile De Lys sang
5sjghtfully as the boy. With a performance OF
The finest quality from singers. actors and or
rsesrra. the audience was favorably impressed
with The work and did not conceal its enthu-
s,ssn Critics have expressed their judgment
with more self-restraint They have not found
evidence in this opera that the modern Italian
school is making progress on high plane.
Poor Tess in real life does not reach either
the mil pond or the gibbet. but q local court
where she can easily obtain a separation order
under The married Women's act Of 1885 This is
-he onlv method OF relief which IS open TO pow
s-ty stricken wives when they are weary OF be-
ing beaten by drunken husbands. and the num-
her Of English women who are taking advan-
tsge Of this easy process Of release is steadily
increasing year by year. While about six hun
cred DEGREES Of divorce are granted annually by
the High Court, nearly seven thousand separa-
ton orders are issued by the lower courts Of
summary Jurisdiction. The commonest cause for
SEPARATION is drink, with cruel conduct induced
BY inteHperat. habits; and wives, when their
Hrieace is exhausted, md protection in g law
nat was enacted for their benefit The pro-
esdure has become 50 common that expert jurists
consider u necessary 10 alter the law in the in
'ersst Of marriage and home influence They
assert paradoIcal,y that there would be fewer
SEPARATIONS if there were more divorces, the
orders Of magistrates being left tentative and
ooneiuona, and subject 70 revision after more
deliberate consideration. A system Of ,nregu-
sted separations without the privilege Of re-
marriage seems 10 promote immortality. II is not
50 fragrant as the custom OF unlicensed con-
elninage prevailing among negro women in the
British West Indies when Mr.. Froude visited
re ISLANDS. They lived with men without being
Married 10 them and considered themselves at
loerty 10 leave them whenever they were beaten
o o-ltsly treated. The unhappy wives Of Tess's
lass obtain their liberty by applying for an
Eusf Q! separation. and there is reason 10 fear
MAJ many OF them abuse II
-osa Gorel having been president Of the
divorce Court understands the subject Of mat
sDlon'sl lntelicta if anybody does in England.
-lO ne mas presented the case for reform with
t-''clly ana unanswerable cogencv. He has
~ advocated any changes in the marriage and
'oice laws OF the kingdom. but has proposed
'-I1les winch VIII remove existing discrina-
-'-OAs II favor Of the rich against the poor
= -as asserted that IL now costs between 5000
S-'' 10 nave divorce suit decided in Lon
- anu ulat poor people cannot afford TO have
eN01'se 70 the Law. They either obtain separa-
0'oeIs. al The cost q q dollar, or commit
Sony with The risk Of being found out and
-''9-'eu 70 criminal prosecution: and in con-
-'e o. the expensive processes the rich
= -@'oleo and immortality is promoted among
P'0i' DE las suggested that the county
~ sAaI be Empowered TO deal with cases
--S sort and has contended that It will be
.. S-'--c gain # there are more divorces and
-, -. SEPARATIONS. The Archbishop Of Canter-
=. o'o not agree with him in the course of
r.. osoa's IN the Lords. nor did that extreme
- ONoIcAinan, Lord Halifax, each of whom
- .-0@ 70 say about The deplorable laxity Of
o.p.- law IN America; but the Lord Chan
.v,...- CONSIDERED Il impracticable TO defend the
~ IS iHesultaole procedure on any principle
o.. pay and promised an inquiry into the
so. ,-9 o. the law and the expediencv Of re-
o-ss- i Magistrates now have authority To
,-.. permanent separation between man and
nh.'-- 'TlVlal cause, but they lack the power
t,s s's divorce within the reach Of the moor