New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-18
LONDON NOTES
Mrs, ASquith-PoIitiCaI Host
esseS-0verWorking Young
Actresses.
London. June l.

sition as the FlHlS A"iiio'oA WIZ Oil"
has vivacity, wit and energy. Whenever
,..,,oS makers suggest that Mr.. AS
9TH is bent upon retiring from public
10. with its exhausting burdens, the
-..u informed Radical instantly replies;
nTrs Asouith will not allow him to de-
cav. his post" Not only does she derive
n,sasure from the thought that she IS
"tbe leading lady" Of the Radical admin
,-.-,.,on but she also knows that II is
,..t for the Prime Minister to remain
under harness. She Is constantly enter
tanning his political followers in Down
,,g Street. attends the receptions Of the
poa,cal hostesses, discusses politics with
,rte,,isence and humor and Is a match
tor Mr.. Balfour in subtle sophistries and
sor She has individuality and indie
pendence and uses No 10 Downing street
N her own way with fearless disregard
r. conventions and traditions; but un-
manageable and reckless az she appears
70 fussy and censorious Tories. she Is Of
immense assistance TO the Prime Minis
Ter and the Coalition. Indeed, the Radi-
cal administration would hardly know
how 10 get on without her.
The London season, which begins
little later every year and is constantly
stopping for a few days and starting
sfresh. owes much Of its animation T.
,be Liberal hostesses. When the demo-
cratic Parliament Of 1908 was elected
Mrs. Grundy with snobbish cynicism de-
c,ared her contempt for an administra-
,,on that was out Of society and did not
have a single FIRST class house for enter
tanning. Political promotions. the re-
distribution Of Cabinet offices and peer
ages and knighthoods lavishly bestowed
have readtusted the social balance OF
mower. The Liberal hostesses now rally
the party followers with tireless energy
and compete vigorously with their Tory
rivals in the pleasurable excitement ot
keeping the social ball rolling Inter
walls Of court mourning cannot be avoid
cd. and the titled rich have rot so much
hard cash in sight az formerly; hut the
King and the Liberal hostesses do not
snare themselves. and London is a CAV
cspital in June. worthy Of the centre OF
an empire. Radicalism and trade union
ism have not dimmed its brilliancy as
the heart Of the worlds Vanity Fair.
In spite Of the activities OF political
hostesses the young women have had
their way and It has been dancing
season There were dances and balls
throughout Lent, and May did not wit
ness any cessation Of gayety. Cotiiions
with new figures. masquerades Win
beautiful costumes. dances at hotels Tor
which dinner parties have been given
outside. Nine. Palova in new measures
and costumes and sheaves OF Madonna
lilies from green and gold barrows have
offered fresh proof Of the elegance o.
West End entertaining and the joyous
ness of youth in dull times when MT
1Iovd George has squeezed the blood out
OF the rich and titled class. So he has
when the death duties are reckoned and
lesacies TO hospitals are found TO nave
been heavily reduced; but the helresses
and the smartest girls must have ther
fling. and entertaining for them Is cost
lier than ever before.
Youth has incompatible charm for
ssded audiences at the theatre put II
also has artistic limitations. Miss Fhgl-
lis Nelson Terry. at His Majesty's, has
rsssed rapidly from Trilby and BESIDE
mona 70 Portia, and there has been
rapturous applause after each scene
Handsome she was and exceedingly WIN
some in the earlier scenes, and she was
Toguish and eloquent at the trial, ana
from beginning 10 end she deserved the
sppreciation Of her ardent admirers.
Yet. Judged by the high standard set by
her aunt. Miss Ellen Terry, it was per-
Torrance lacking in variety, shading ana
vivacitv. Youth cannot master all the
fine points Of great part Ike Portla'
The young actress has been most sue
cessful in her stage work; there Is no
other figure on the English stage equally
promising in girlhood, but her advisers
are extremely rash in allowing her TO
enact parts which are clearly beyond
her abilities. Already she is falling into
mannerisms Of voice. gesture and car
rage Her Portia is distinctly ANA
flourish. and does not suggest the many
sided Venetian whom Shakespeare con-
jured into existence with such opulence
Of imagination
EoliNa pAnGe he NYnferfnd
IN a similar way against overwork. She
is Mr.. Hammerstein's best drawing card
at the London Opera House, and she is
received with ardent applause by her adj
mirers whenever she appears in new
part Her girlishness and unaffected
simplicity make direct appeal 10 an
audience whether character and music
are adapted 10 her powers or not. Con-
sequently, the management is easily
lured into engaging her for one opera
after another. Miss Lyme. since Lon
oons discovery Of her in "Rigoletto'
last winter. has been constantly rehears-
ing and trying new parts; and young,
petite and delicate as she is. 1t is re-
markable that She has been able to do so
much work. While the freshness of her
voice invariably delights an audience, it
would be futile TO assume that she is
equal to every part or has the resources
ior tragic acting. Friends Of this ac-
eoinphshed American singer are often
oppressed with the thought that the
management is getting too much work
OUT Of her and possibly impairirg a
Ieuft-