New-York tribune., 1916-02-29

which was produced by Mr.. Alexander
at the St. James, Theatre in London
on January 3, 1926 The cable reported
a stormy first night, with Kissing and
hooting, directed against both Mr.
James and Mr.. Alexander when they
appeared before the curtain. The fact
was that a small organized gang OF
we'll dressed ruffians did create such
disturbance, which took the audience
so by surprise that the great majority,
which appreciated and admired the
play. could not rally in its defence IN
time 10 avert painful scene. But OF the
merits and success OF the piece there
was no question, and on the succeeding
nights il was received with great favor.
The rare beauty of the first act was
not. II is true, sustained through tne
last; yet there was no ruinous waning
of interest. Said Clement Scott, one
OF the foremost dramatic critics OF the
time: "The man who can write that
first act will write a play that VIII
live"
James Shocked by War.
The year 1914 was epochal for Mr.:
James, as well AS for large part OF
the world. Cosmopolitan as he was,
the War of the Nations affected him
most poignsntly in many respects:
Apart from the monstrous tragedy OF
the whole thing, he was shocked oy
the devastation of the scenes and OBJ
jects in Northern France which had
long been dear to him; and his soul
revolted at what he regarded as the
unspeakable crime Of the rape OF Bel.
gum. But above all, he was panied
at the apparent indifference OF his own
country. The American government
was Indifferent The intense feeling OF
the American people was not so readily
manifest to the lifelong exile. He felt
it incumbent upon him, therefore. TO
withdraw his allegiance from the land
with which, in that transcendent issue,
he was no longer in sympathy. and TO
give il TO the land which. at fearful
cost, had instantly taken up the cause
which in his eyes was supreme. he
renounced his American citizenship,
and on July 26, 1915. took the oath OF
allegiance as q British Subject" and
received papers of naturalization. his
sponsors in that act were Mr.. Asqu tn
the Prime Minister. and Mr.. Edmund
Gosse. Their identity is sufficient
indication of the esteem in which Mr.
James was held in England. A few
months later. at New Years. he was
invested by the King with the dignity
of the Order of Merit. OF this dis
tinguished order he was the eleventh
civilian member. among his colleagues
being Sir George Trevelyan. Mr.. Thorn
az Hardy. Lord fIaldane. Lord Morley
and Lord Bryce; a brilliant company
of which he was not the least brilliant
member.
His interest in the war went FAR be
yond the provocation 10 eXpatriation
He was. before that act, the chairman
Of the American Volunteer Motor Am
bulance Corps, operating in Northern
France; and 70 the noble work Of that
organization ne gave freely of his time,
his strength and his means. Indeed
his labors in that cause so sapped his
physical strength as to leave him an
easier victim Of the ailments which
finally conquered him. His home for
more than forty-five years had been IN
Rye. in Sussex. England. His chlefest
interest through all his life was cen
tired in the land OF his birth and in his
fellow countrymen there. His intel
lectual and spiritual sympathies 70 an
exceptional degree embraced all the
world.