The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-02

but would wager a good round sum
he has already deposited a considerable
amount to obtain first option on the
English rights.
Some time ago he declared he was done
with Vienna and all it's works and tha;
he had commissioned an English dra-
matist Rudolf Besier to write an origi-
nal book for him which was to be set
to music by an English composer. Well,
the first act of the piece has been duly
delivered and proved in Edwardes' judg-
ment, so greatly lacking that he has in
duced the wrftar to accept check for
s1250 and cry on his bargain. Hence,
perhaps, his reason for revisiting Vienna.
It seems as II centuries had passed
since we had a play from Madeleine 44u-
cette Ryley. Recalling her earlier sue
cesses with AN American Citizen
Mice and Men" and "Jedbury Junior
this is the more surprising However. she
has just completed a new piece of which
she has the highest hopes. 1t is a
mans play and the actor who sustains
the hero's part must have all the
qualities of charm, sincerity, humor.
youth and romance. This Is asking a
good deal and I'm afraid our stage does
not boast many who would answer on
all points to the description.
The list of the recreations OF Richard
Marsh, who wrote '"rhe Beetle" and
since then has given us a score or more
of mystery stories. is even longer than
that of r. J. Hardy. HE loves them
all says Marsh's confession, cricket
golf, football, cycling, billiards, chess,
bridge, motoring and dozen more"
And Marsh adds that he is "a clumsy
but enthusiastic student of whatever
makes for proficiency in the fine art
of doing nothing"
Regarding the favorite recreation of
King George Who's Who" is silent.
but that of most of his ministers is
golf. 1t is the only diversion confessed
to by the prime minister, Mr. Asquith,
whose great rival on the unionist side,
the Right Hon. Bonar Law. also owns
up to being a follower of the exasper-
ating little white ball. So does A.
j. Balfour, who names his other favorite
recreations as cycling and motoring"
Sir r. Ray Lancaster. the famous Eng
lish scientist, Is yet another golfer. as
are Lloyd-George and Winston Church.
i'll, though neither of these latter own
up, In the pages of who's Who" any
way, to ever going on the links.
Lord Roberts recreations are hunt
ing and motoring"
Lord Kitchener's were formerly
cricket and racquets." while Lord
Charles Beresford, it seems. enjoys
turning, carpentering, cycling, hunting
or any sport" John Burns, the famous
head Of the local government board, is
famous likewise for his skill with his
fists and besides boxing gives as his
recreations cricket skating and row.
ing" In his biography, by the bye,
this labor man tells us that he was edu-
"a Ia a ni0hf schools
and is still learning. And Honest John
adds: Game into the world with a
struggle, struggling now and prospects
of continuing It,"
A picturesque recreation is that of W.
Pett Ridge, the depicter lin print) of
the coster who gives, as his favorite
pastime, roaming east of Aldgate and
SOUTH" which means through the mean
streets of the metropolis. Leonard
Merrick, who wrote Conrad in Quest
of His Youth. defines his recreations
as music, reading other peoples novels
and seeing other peoples plays" John
N. Raphael. the newspaper man who
Englished Marie Claire, finds pleas
ure in 'other peoples automobiles and
a loafing life." while Sir Herbert Beer
bohm Tree gives riding as his only
recreation. Sir Thomas Liptons are
yachting and motoring"
IL tpdt 1dillOuS AIneTicdu painter Joiiit
S. Sargent has any recreations he does
not tell of them in who's Who"
Neither does Arnold Bennett nor Rider
Haggard. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
recreations are given as golf, cricket
and cycling" and those of Max Pember-
ton as motoring and golf" Sir Francis
Burnand, the ex-editor of PUNCH,
likes riding and sea boating while his
successor, Owen Seaman, is fond OF
Shooting, tennis, croquet and golf.
Neither Sir Arthur Pinero nor Henry
Arthur Jones will admit that they have
recreations, and neither will w. J.
Locke.
OF the feminine pastimes chronicled
in who's Who" the most interesting
are those of Katherine lyman. the nov
elist, which are listed as talking to a
good listener;; the companfonship OF
dogs, collecting china the society OF
her children" Mrs. Humphry Ward
does not bother with anything so trivial
as recreations. Miss Braddons are
gardening, music and literature, while
those of Violet Vanbrugh, the actress
are given as reading and sitting in the
open air. Curiously enough, Lady de
Bathe, who used to be Mrs. Langtry
and is now touring on your side OF the
water, isn't mentioned in who's Who
except in her husbands biography as
Emily Charlotte, widow OF Edward
Langtry," but then everybody knows
that Mrs. Langtry's favorite recreation
is the turf Ellen Terry's recreations
are reading, yachting and motoring,
and Mrs. Hodgson Burnetts Is '1mprov-
ing the lot of children"