New-York tribune., 1909-02-21
LONDON NOTES
Liberal Hostesses- Good ActiRg-
Alert Portrait Painters.
London. February g.

London, February g.
The Liberal hostesses are against dissolution
That may not be decisive. but it helps 10 CON-
firm the general impression that there VIII not
be an appeal 10 the country this year and GER
tafuIv not until autumn when the season IS
over When the present government came INTO
power 1t was difficult TO arrange the Court ap-
pointments. and the smart sets were convinced
that society would be upset until the Tories
were restored to power. The Liberal hostesseS
have undertaken to prove that society does not
suffer when a Radical ministry is governing
the country, and they have succeeded ralrly
we'll There have been more political rec2ptlohs
and parties during the last three years than
there were under Conservative rule; and the
number of ambitious hostesses has steadily IN
creased with the marriages of ministers Mrs
Asquith has made the gloomy old house IN
Downing street a social centre. and even
brought the garden into use for lawn parties
She has been supported by Liberal peeresses
and ministers wives. and the overworked
Prime Minister is now expected to attend din
ners and evening parties when Parliament Is IN
session. Mrs McKenna leads off with a brill
liant reception on the eve OF the approaching
Parliament and Lady Crewe, Mrs Herbert
Gladstone Mrs Lewis Harcourt and many
others are TO follow her IN the social round
Mrs. Winston Churchill has already displayed
self-possession and vivacity in making public
speeches. and she IS expected to take Proni-
nent rank among the Liberal hostasses An
other hostess will be Lady Granard. whose first
appearance as a peere5s will be at the opening
OF Parliament and whose house In Charles
street is likely to be a social centre. The
hostesses are not in haste TO have the govern
ment go to the country. They may not have
& suspensive veto in politics, but they have
great influence over Cabinet ministers.
Mr Arthur Eou-chier's performance in the
Bernstein drama, Samson" at the Garrick. is
perhaps the best thing he has ever done. 1t Is
a vivid impersonation of the rough. brutal Mar
seilles porter. who by sheer force OF will had
become millionaire and a copper king. Physi-
calIy he Is big enough for the part. and plebeian
origin and low breeding are indicated by care
Iessness in dress. clumsiness OF demeanOr,
roughness OF speech and violence Of temper
some things in the psychology Of the part. such
as the miIionaire's pride in having a titled
wife his Sesthetlc taste and his passionate love
OF a woman Of high breeding, may not be sug-
gested with subtlety. but the savage force OF
the man OF action, who bullies friend and foe
and is capable OF bringing financial panic
and running himself in order 10 take vengeance
upon a treacherous despicable rival. is revealed
with mastery realism. Mr.. Bourchier may not
be GuItry who contrived to make the rough
hewn millionaire sentimental dreamer but he
is an elemental barbarian with an instructive
faith in the grip OF powerful muscles and the
weight OF millions Of money. and with
restrained delight in physical violence. He
makes Jacques Brachard a real character.
swayed by brute force and a passion for
venge 1t may ba an unpleasant revelation, as
when a candid biographer describes Richard
Jefferies as a ferocious country child robbing
birds nests, smashing toads and catapultng
everything; but 1t carries conviction with it
and IS powerful acting.
Mr.. Bourchisr. with his frenzied gesticulation
rugged strength. grim humor and swirIng
gusts of temper, can enact a French part with
superior intelligence. Only one of his associates
is equally successful in masquerading as a
Frenchman This is Mr.. Charles Bryant, who
takes the part OF the aristocratic rake lie
Govain and helps TO make the tremendous duel
Of the third act effective. The other actors do
their work well. but fail to suggest French
traits. Miss Violet Vanbrugh is a great lady
as Brachard's wife and a pathetic figure when
her husband Is bullying her. She is not a
guilty creature. as Nine Simone de Bargy rep
resented her and thereby helped TO make the
conflict of the third act reasonable; but the
adaptsr, Mr.. Gillette has considered 1t neces-
sary to disnfect the part. She wears handsome
gowns. has melodious voice and fills the stage
with her stately presence, but she is not French
for moment Neither is Miss Edyth Latimer
as Elise although she plays the part with vivid
pathos and force. Miss Marie IL
lington Mr.. Arthur Whitby and Mr. Kenneth
Douglas are most amusing as the Andelines,
mother father and son, out every point is made
in the English way and emphasized by manner
isms of their own. The playwright's object was
to contrast the self-made of millions with