TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9120, 4 June 1890, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

London, April 11. THE BANK HOLIDAY. Easter Monday was cold and wet, with the result that the Crystal Palace and similar resorts reaped an unusually rich harvest, even for a Bank holiday. At Sydenham no fewer than 82,439 persons (or nearly twice the entire population of one of your principal cities) passed the turnstiles, tho Aquarium accounting for 30,000; whilst the Christy Minstrels entertained two audiences of over 5000 apiece, and all the theatre matinees were crammed. On the other hand, of course, Kempton Park, Epping Forest, and outdoor picnicking places generally showed attendances below the average. Tuesday was splendidly fine, and the majority' of working folk prolonged their holiday over it. ABOUT DUKES AND DUCHESSES, The late Duke of Manchester was scarcely cold before the London correspondents of certain provincial papers were gracefully speculating on the probability of Lord Hartingtou marrying the Dowager Duchess. Society very properly pooh-poohs the idea. Her Grace is sixty, and passeo to a degree. Lord Hartingtou, however, like many apparently phlegmatic, impassive men, has strong passions which have before now led him into what one can only stylo the rummiest scrapes. Thirty years ago, when a notorious divinity, rejoicing iu the name of “Skittles,” reigned Queen of the demi-monde, it was rumoured that no power on earth would prevent the heir of the Cavendish’s marrying her. Prayers and threats failed on dit equally to move him for a time, and, if “ Skittles” herself had not effected the dissillusioning process, a great career might have been fearfully marred. Very little has been heard cf the redoubtable “Kim” since he succeeded to ducal honours. One thing, however, scorns certain, viz., that when Viscount Mandeville’s creditors have (according to the arrangement effected a few months back) been paid the Duke of Manchester will not have much left.

The Duchess of Marlborough has gone to America for a prolonged visit without the Duke, who is said to be growing more eccentric daily. All the Churchills are blessed with a dyspeptic temperament, which makes them difficult to live with. Thera can be no doubt whatever that Lord Randolph Churchill would have prudently continued to control himself, and never delivered his famous Parnell Commission philippic but for an attack of dyspepsia, which rendered him temporarily irresponsible. emin’s ingratitude. Emin Pasha’s so-called “ base ingratitude” has caused little surprise in Egypt, where it was noticed from the moment of their arrival that all was not—well— serene between the “rescued and the rescuer,” That Stanley thoroughly dominated Emin anyone could see, and if the German didn’t both fear and hate his capturor—l beg pardon—hia preserver I am assured his features belied him. On one or two occasions the old fellow threw oft the mask altogether. For example when one of Stanley’s lieutenants was talking of their return to Europe, Emin gruffly observed that lie would be several times over before he’d go to either London or Brussels to play the part of rescued captive to Stanley’s gallant hero. This I heard from James Thomson, the explorer, who got it first hand from the said lieutenant. The truth, of course, is Emin was forcibly abducted and tied to Stanley’s chariot wheels in order that the expedition might not lose its raison d'etre. The one thing the American did not calculate on was his victim acting as he has. He tries, naturally, to make the beat of the contretemps, but that the beat is ridiculous unfortunately cannot be denied. TWO NEW PLAYS. Of the two new plays produced at the Shaftesbury and Haymarket Theatres this week, the most generally popular will in all probability be Dick Venables, originally known by the far apter title of Jackman the Panther. The heroine of this piece is Mrs Lisle, otherwise Venables, a young married woman whose husband baa mysteriously disappeared, and who lives alone in a charming cottage on Dartmoor. The play commences with a love scene between the deserted wife and her old and faithful lover. Captain Lankestor, Governor of the adjacent prison. The young man endeavours to prove to Mrs Venabhs that her husband, the rascally Dick, is certainly dead ; and has just succeeded in doing so, and induced her to promise to marry him, when a gun fired from the prison a mile away announces the escape of a convict. Lankester hurries off, and in a few minutes enters, on hands and knees, the fugitive. It is, of course, Dick Venables (or Jackman the Panther) whose terrified wife can for a few minutes scarcely believe her eyes. But time presses, the gaolers are already on the wretched man’s track, and will be at the cottage in a moment. Mrs Venables has an inspiration. Her brother. Captain Kirby, a naval officer unknown to the district, is expected at the cottage that day on a visit. His luggage ' has already arrived. Why shouldn't Venables personate him. In an instant Dick seizes the suggestion, and slips from the room. Three minutes later, when the excited gaolers come rushing into the cottage, vowing the prisoner must be thereabouts, they are confronted by a calm, smiling gentleman, who introduces himself as Captain Kirby, and civilly offers to assist them in hunting the escaped rascal down. Although the soi-disant captain’s hair is docked like a convict’s, and scoundrel is written on every lineament of his speaking countenance, the ingenuous Dartmoor folk promptly accept him for what he pretends to be. Even the Governor of the gaol believes in Mrs Lisle’s brother, and confides to the grinning Panther’s astonished ears bis love troubles. With all his cunning, however, it is evident that Venables cannot keep this game up for long, and it is surprising that such an uncommonly shrewd gentleman should have risked hia safety upon such shallow personation. The play would have gained in probability, though it must have lost in excitement, in making Dick, say, another brother. There would have been the came opportunity of confronting him with Charles Kirby, when that naval officer turns up to the surprise of everybody—on the stags—at the close of the fourth act. In the second act, however, Dick is already recognised by the trusted valet of a farcical old German gentleman who prides himself upon being a judge of character, and is, of course, mightily deceived, for the valet is no better than a common thief who has taken service with the object of robbing the old fool of hia valuable collection of precious stones. To accomplish this purpose the valet and his friend, Dick Venables, plot together, and Dick carries off what they would call the “swag.” When this is hidden, it _is found by a clergyman of the low comedy denomination, who has kleptomania very badly,_ and when the property is restored to its owner, Peters, the valet, thinking he has been over-reached, exposes his confederate. In a struggle with Peters the convict is mortally wounded with a dagger, and as the curtain falls Dick Venables dies in the arms of his wife. . Mr Willard’s acting as the dashing convict Venables is throughout admirable and would pull through a much worse play. The piece’s chief fault, indeed, is a slowness of movement, specially obvious towards the crises of the first and second acts. No doubt, however, this will be improved. The inoffensive old kleptomaniac, Archdeacon Jeilicoe, is a hard part to play, and in any but artistic hands it might easily have provoked the hostility of the pit. Mr Alfred Bishop, fortunately, has perfect taste. On. the whole, I think Dick Venables will draw, especially in your part of the world. “A VILLAGE PBIEBT.”

Sydney Grundy’s powerful play with the above title was successfully produced at the Hay market on Thursday last. It is a much rc-modellcd version °f il French melodrama called “Ji’jhe Secret of La Terreuse.” This told, the story of Jean-

for a murder he did not commit. "When Torquenie has served his time, his first thought is to establish his innocence. Armand D’Arcay, the lawyer to whom he applies, is the son of the J udge who sentenced him. Reverence for his dead father's virtuous memory is with this young man a passion. Scornfully indignant at first, Torqneuie’s earnestness conquers him. The alleged motive for the murder was jealousy. The murdered man was said to be the lover of Torqueaic’a wife. Bit by bit Armand unravels the mystery. It was the Comtesse Tremeillau who was the victim’s paramour, and, of course, tho Comte, her husband, must have hilled him. The Comtesse is dead, but the Comte still lives, and the awkward thing is that his daughter. Marguerite, is Armand's promised biide. As a matter of fact it was not the Comte who slow the seducer. The avenger was La Terreuse, an old mad woman, the Comte’s foster mother, who could not brook to see “ her boy” dishonoured. De Tzemeiilau confessed everything to the Judge. Torquenie was arrested the same day, and to oblige his iriend, the Judge made baste to condemn and sentence an muoeent man. Knowing all this, Armaud is on the horns of a dilemma. If justice is done he must lose bis bride and dishonour his father’s memory, which will probably kill his mother. Still he never falters. Happily this Spartan, heroism is not too highly tried. At tho last moment Torquenie himself, out of pure gratitude to Madame D’Arcay for her kiudness to his unprotected daughter, declares that he was really guilty—that his sentence was a just oiie. Touched by such eublimo generosity, the Combe has a great moment also, and takes ail the responsibility on himself. The Abbe Dubois, a genial Jesuit, who has pervaded the play declaring that he knows nothing, while his manner has convinced us that ho knows everything, says that a miracle has come to pass, and down.conies the curtain.

How groat a change G-rundy has worked in this’-.scheme will be seen when , I. say that he.has cut out La Terreuse and the Comte de Tremeillau bodily, while he has brought’the Comtesse to lifej and made the Judge—Armand’s father—her and the murderer of her husband. He Las seen fit also to afflict tho good Madame D’Arcay with blindness, and to import much pathetic interest into the character of the simple parish priest, the Abbe Dubois, •• This good man and Madame D’Arcay were boy and girl together, and he .loved her in secret always. It was when D’Arcay won her affection, that Dubois renounced the world and entered the church. The holy man’s pure affection and simple faith are beautifully expressed throughout. Ha knows the real murderer, of course, and the climax comes when, after terrible eeif-communings, the poor priest breaks the seal of confession and proclaims Torquenie’s innocence. Torqueuio himself has also been remodelled. Me is not liberated, but escapes from prison, prompted by an overwhelming desire to sea nis little Jeanne, who at first repulses him with horror. Self-sacrifice is still, however, his strong suit, for he cheerfully goes back to finish his sentence sooner than, inflict pain on the woman who was so good to his motherless child.