Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-09

TT is related that Sir Walter Scott
Mary Stuart because he feared that the
fascination of that wonderful woman
and his own Jacobite leanings might
result in Justification Of history. The
spell of the Scottish queen is abiding
and everlasting. recall being delayed
once at small inn in the upper Rhone
valley. on one of those days Of exhaust
ing heat and dust which visit that long
gully in the mountains. II was too
glaring to go out ut midday and there
was nothing to do but seek some en-
tcrtninment within. | found little
book on Mary Stuart, Queen and
Martyr by an excellent French abbe,
and obtained new angle on the sub
iect. "A queen, young. beautiful. un-
fortunate and of the true faith" Surely
| here is enough for the exercise of that
by no means the least creditable proc
ess of human activity, the weaving OF
myths. The good abbc had written
quite an eloquent book, however: the
evidence adverse to his thesis little
troubled him. There is. of course, his
tory. and there is fiction, and we must
confess that there nre times when the
insight of the poet surpRsses. in read
ing the truth, the more rational proc
esses Of the historian. Mary Stuart,
History" may well designate work.
Perhaps Mr.. Drinkwatcr is wise in
calling his Mary Stuart" "a play
But the poets insight is in it, and,
when all has been said the Queen OF
Scots remains one Of the enigmas of
history.
MIR. DRINKWATER'S drama opens
1'l with two men. an older and much
younger. conversing in an Edinburgh
room Of about 1900 or later The
younger has brought his trouble to his
wiser friend, not so much for advice ms
to talk about it. after the manner of
some natures. His adorable young
wifc. Margaret, has formed another
attachment and has told him frankly
and honestly. Neither has been untrue
nor unlovinG he has proved merely in
sufficient. But, of course, the young
husband cannot admit this, or even so
much as see il. IF she live finely"
says the elder man, "she will take her
love from no man unless he is un-
| worthy" The young husband declares
that he will share his love with no one.
and the answer comes BOY. will you
not share the sun of heaven. the beauty
of the world?" IL Margaret, the young
wife. "tO have no better luck than that
poor Qucen?" And he turns to a por-
trait of Mary Stuart which hangs over
the mantelpicce, reading some verses in :
scribcd beneath it, the last stanza OF
which runs:
Not Riccio nor Darnley knew
Nor Boutwell, how to find
This Mary's best magntiCenCe
OF the great lovers mind.
A Nd now there is the rustic of dress
~ on the terrace without. and there
stands the queen with these words or
| her mouth: "Boy. | can tell you every
| thing" And Immediately we are back
in March, 1866. in Mary Stuart's room
| in lIolyrood castle. that Ill lighted
! little stone. begirt closet. the actua
sight Of which is such shock TO sucl
as have accepted the canvases Of 'his
toriCnl" painters. Now the dramatis
unfolds to us simply, directly. withou
n e1IperfuOus word. his story of tn
matters preceding the murder of Ric
| clio. Fascinating. imperious, queer
and, therefore. accountable TO none II
her right TO be loved as in the preroga
tivcs Of her royalty, Mary recognizes
with the fatal certainty of secon'