Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1914-01-09

theater In London companion
remarked to the writer: This
makes me glad to be a provin-
cial. It's lost on Londoners."
i knew his meaning. The Londoner
may be proud of London in his negli-
gent, unenthusiastic way; he may love
London, perhaps be sentimental about
London, and (not inconceivably) exag-
gerate London's cosmic importance.
But he seldom Is thrilled by London.
That sensation is reserved for the
provincial. Whether it is a sensation
to boast of depends on ones point of
view. Those who count romance as
a poisoner of clear judgment might
perhaps regard the provincial's thrill
with scorn, for the thrill is the tribute
of an incorrigible romantic. In the
north especially, even In the huge
towns, London is name which calls
forth the liveliest anticipations of adj
venture There is something ingen-
uous in the awe with which the young
northerner will speak Of the goal of
London. But, as compensation for his
extravagant notion of the wonders of
the metropolis, he extracts more joy
from 1t, when he does visit 1t for
week. than the cockney can feel IN a
lifetime.
Emotion Romantic.
This emotion is, as has been said,
largely romantic 1t is also, however,
RppreciatiHe in the artistic sense. The
provincial sees London as a series of
pictures. Doubtless the intelligent
Londoner sees them too, but he is
usually far less conscious of them
than is the provincial, even the pro-
yincial who has lived in London for
years. My companion at that theater,
standing on the curb and watching
the packed traffic slide past in the
sheen of the electrics, was acutely
aware of his own delight in the spec
tacle. Having myself had the good
fortune Ct may as well diyulge it, to
be born a provincial, l could gauge
both his awareness and his delight,
and had often marveled at the manner
in which Londoners seemed to miss
them.
The provinces, as far as l know, do
not impress the Londoner. as London
impresses the provincial; and though
this naive reflection may arouse an
ironical smile, it is less trite than 1t
sounds Our enthusiasm for the CLAM
or of London reaches It's height after
dark, when the lamps are lit Some
Of London's most famous thorough
fares are shade disappointing to us
by daylight The Strand-that Mecca
of the Bohemianism celebrated in
music-hall ditties-has commonplace
architecture, an unremarkable vista,
and is narrowish as important streets
go. Regent street, during the day, is
only really fine in sunshine Leices-
ter square is ugly. But at dusk the
behind the glitter of dazzling jew
ellery of lights. A dim cobalt skyline
is still visible, but the crudeness of
the roofs and chimney-pots has gone
Down below, each shop window is a
sparkling cave of multicolored treas
ures; and the pavements, thronged
with promenaders, furnish forth a
spectacle of animation on a scale
which only great capitals Berlin,
Paris, New York-can match When
tie plays are due to begin we have
another entertainment: the rush of
vehicles to the theater porticos.
Wealth suddenly floods out from it's
homes and from the restaurants. Ev-
cry automobile. as it moves noiseless-
ly past on bullying tires. gives us 4
dainty peep-show glimpse of its lit in
terror Exquisite toilettes Toll against
the rich upholstery. The corner OF
Long Acre and Bow street, on an
opera night almost suffices to per
suade us that the worlds money is
concentrated in London. Car after
car. in a slowly advancing line. mar
shaded by police, creeps round the
curve and down to Covent Gardens
blazing entrance-do0rs. Each car con-
tains its intimate group. exquisitely
dressed, and Ito that gaping provin-
ciaI of ours) sublimely unperceptfve
of the moments true splendor. With
in the opera house the pageant Of
luxury is even more amazing. And
the same gorgeous advertisement on
a smaller scale, is seen simultaneous
". every night. in 30 or 40 west end
theaters; can be seen. night after
night. without repetition! While OUT
side In the street there is a carnival.
impromptu and undiyerted by its own
antics. scarcely less enthralling, gem