New-York tribune., 1909-06-27
LONDON NOTES
shackIeton, the Man of Action
Plags-Dr. Johnson.

s,nrs SIS the colonial journalists have done Of
.seir mission 70 induce outlying commemorative
20 help in paying for Dreadnoughts but he ap-
reals with more potency TO mems imagination.
lieutenant Shsckleton, who has been within
bundred miles Of the South Pole and is eager
- go out again with more ponies and the same
crew IN order to finish the Job. represents the
cl6tne maritime spirit which has created an
srnpire and explored the ends CT the earth. Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle has we'll said in proposing
his health We can pass the eight Dreadnoughts
wwe are sure Of eight SCOTS and eight Shackle-
tans Il takes only two years TO build Dread
rought: ii takes all time and all history to give
rs heroic seamen" To this hero Of the
Antarctic surrounded by his closest companions
&c 10 accept proof that the empire making spirit
~ Drake and the yirtuous corsairs OF the Eliz-
shethan period has not died out. That is an
srhilaratins experience in these days. when
there IS such loud din over fresh armaments
and the necessity for having two batteships
fer every German preadnought.
Lieutenant Shackleton is a dashing young
sailor with a genius for doing great things and
ssving little possible about them He has
: CHEEKY smile, a robust figure and a nelodious
voice His Irish blood is revealed by an un-
rnisraks be brogUe. q sense Of humor and a fluent
osIiverv At Mr.. Heinemann's dinner he told
seightfll story 10 illustrate how polite his
were when approaching the South Pole. Are
xsu busy Nawson?" I am very busy Well
u YOU are net too busy, Mawson I am down
c-syasse" The polite professor was found out
side the tent hanging by his fingers to the edge
of & C7evasse. The hearty laugh which accom-
psnied this story revealed Of the leaders
sources OF power over his followers He had
the sense Of humor requisite for enabling every
BODY 70 laugh in the most trying situations. He
hem all with courage. There is no affectation
q cant when the returning explorer meets his
audiences and coufesses that some Power higher
,har their own Wit and endurance directed their
progress and brought them back in safety to
ship snd home. Lieutenant Shackieton, who
raised the fiag over the Antarctic highlands and
+oas the long look ahead over the plateau of ice
where lay the South Pole. felt sense Of near
d,vneness in those awful solitudes; and he is
not ashamed 10 say when the glasses are
raised and the cheers are heard for the con-
Que-ing hero.
Thz modern morality play at the Lyric The
stre turns out to be Soudan Tnelodrama with
r,e5icsl catch Handsome Colonel Egerton, full
Il soy in life, learns in London surgeons con-
zulting room that he has diseased spinal cord
and cannot live longer than year. He is not
corsoled by the evidence from medical books
a
shock by a railway accident, but announces that
r. prefers TO xiii himself at once rather than
10 remain in suspense for twelve months The
doctor being a materialst, does not succeed IN
convincing him that It is his duty to live as
long as possible. but there is a NonconfoTmist
minister who suggests that assood deal can be
done in a year that VIII be wholesome and use
f-lI The pstieylt consents TO accompany surgeon
and minister on a journey up the Nile and Is
aapt1,red with then and a party OF tourists py
swarm Of bIoodthirsty dervishes- Incidentally
he has fallen in love with young American
ri but has not considered himself at liberty
-,-,arrv her while he is under sentence Of death.
The Egyptian camel corps surrounds the der
rfsres and rescues the prisoners, and the ro-
mantle colonel receives a blow on the head,
Which gives the requisite shock 20 the spinal
cord and miraculousiy, perhaps 1 ought TO say
scientifically. cures the malady- The love affalr
Is straightened cut and the audience retires In
= ra-r,lre Of delight after an afternoon Of many
thriils
This * THE Fires of Fate by Sir Arthur
Conan Doy-ie. with Mr.. Lewis Waller as the gal
lsrt hero. doomed TO death and locking the
secret in his heart" when fascinating Miss
Fvelvn D'Alroy expects him to make love TO
ber and with two capital actors Mr.. tlsher
Ea;-e and Mr.. A E. George, to support him as
sjh the tourists who are a mixed lot, with
accents. raannerisms and brogues, and also Win
laxative dragornan: and there is no lack OF
src,a-rey7t v-he- the deryishes swoop down upon
he ce-rr and are in turn routed by the cameI
eo-ns With the action passing in the LONDON
,onsrlrfrr room. a tourist steamer on the Me-
he A,.7,si~ rock and the oasis of AbOuteb, there
e fne y:3rietI and the dervish attack and the
tnal rescue are effectively stage managed IL
excellent rlelodrs ma, written IN the auIhor
nest plausible style. It was hardly heoesSNiE
% picue public curiosity by designating "
noralft. MAY The argument between ooc'ol
and minister respecting justification Tor sulcIne
foes not inapart ethical dignity 10 Il me
uFescrption Of courage. and endurance WIN
re ross5 5biIitv Of a supreme moment III liie' "
wholesome alternative for aconlte OF C9 9aiii
Z potassium but something more IS h7eueu -
c0,vert tha piece into morality play ahcIei' u
modern 59r,rf6cat5on Of character in the con-
suring flames Of fate is vaguely hihteo az Du'
lot clearly and definitely worked out II 'iie
aous minister had called upon the patient TO
pend the allotted year in disposing OF ms sur
ts wealth for the benefit Of poor relations anu
= Going as much good as possible, 1t might
have hear turned Into = modern norahty pay
TIE audience however had more entertainments
80 the Nfla tourney end had the comforl1pie
fsslng from the outset that shock NoOi" c''''''
some tine and be as effective as ii"'"s
sfake-up.
TIE mos. successful attempt TO ADAPT hcHe
Esrsz,s sranisl drama for the London stage Is
tie American version of ''I1l Gran GaIeoIo DE
NJ Nirdl.nger under the title "Ihe " oiiu ''-.
Els Wife" previous English tfaIsitlioi y
tas came work. with the action IL PARIS M,.S
hci successful Tor was Mrs. Patrick Cahl'Oe'