MASTERLINCK, THE WIZARD

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 22 April 1912, Page 9

MASTERLINCK, THE WIZARD

THE QUEST OF ALL. One of the most conspicuous traits of Maeterlinck's genius is his knack of Gliding somo old idea (hat the diidainltit world lias left lying out in tho backyard ior α-nlurics, and then bringing it into the house, going over it wilji his jackknife, and limiting out of it iiimetliing with which he can stir the uttermost depths of tho heart. I'or instance, there is the Land of .Memory that those two astonishingly childlike children of the woodcutter explore, in the hope of finding tho blue bird of their heart's desire. At first sight, the gazer who watches their arrival and their meeting with the; old grandfather and grandmother, wlio died long ago, is apt to imagine that the silui'.ion is an entirely new one—and so it is as far ai the exquisite blend of poignant pathos and happy natural childish gaiety is concerned. But essentially it is the same old idea that the great poets put into form many ceuiures ago, impelled thereto by the inextinsuHiable yearning of humanity to revisit its dead in Shadowland. Homer, Virgil, and Dante have all anticipated Maeterlinck. Tytyl and Mylyl have hiul many poetic predecessors in their meeting wiUi tli'elr dead. But how different the old situation becomes when the Belgian poet-dramatist has dono with it. Tho figures designed by the old poets are so "stiff with classic gold" that they cannot move. They resemble effigies embroidered on some ancient tapestry in comparison with Maeterlinck's character*!, who are so astonishingly alive —even the dead ones. And therein lies the wizardly of the man. He makes the unreal "palpitate with actuality" as the phrase is by sheer force of imagination working in the materia! derived from its powers of observation.

It is hqrne in upon the spectator, moreover, while watching the chase for the blue bird, that children in essentials are tho same in every country. Their exuberance, their directness, their instant acceptance of the most improbable facts, their very turns of expression, lire apparently identical all the world over. 'i'ho Belgian children whom Maeterlinck must have studied so profoundly in order to make them so cnnvincinjly life like, resemble the children whose every lit'le mannerism is known by heart to people thousands of miles away from Belgium. When Tytyl and Mytyl meet their dead grandparents it is pathetic! but the pathos is only lironght out in its overpowering fulness when they meet their little dead brothers and sisters—and meet them .with the mad frqlicsoineness of childhood, which is happily capable of realising the joy of the moment—no matter how transitory. Maeterlinck's vivid presentation of the fact (hat qhildren are essentially the same under nil skies encourages a vague hope that the time may yet come when even adults of different nationalities will recognise that in nature they aro identical, however widely they may have been sundered by racial and nation.il prejudice. This indeed seems to be one of the most vivid of all the vivid impressions tliat the playgoer carries away when the blue bird has finally escaped, outwitting its pursuers even in the Kingdom of tho Future and in the Halls of Niiht-lhe impression that racial, national, and ecographical barriers must be more or less temporary and evanescent, seeing that the human heart responds infallibly to the same suggestions all the world over, and that all mankind aliko the surest way to miss happiness is (o pursuo it. SPECIALITIES IN HUMAN HAIR GOODS. When abroad, Mrs. RoHeston made arrangements with the loading and most conservative firms of Hair Merchants to supply her with onjy the best and special quality human hair, and is in a position to guarantee that hair imported by her contains no mixture of Chinese or Asiatic. Mrs. Rolleston. makes a speciality of Hair Work, including Transformations from Ai 'Is.; Semi-Transforma-tioiiE, £2 25.; Fringes of Natural Wavy Hair, XI Is. A large variety of Switches, all shades and lengths, from 15s. Natural Wnshablo Hair Pads, 55.; Temple Curls from 2s. 6d. Lessons in Hairdrcssing given gratis to all purchasers of Human Hair. 25G iLainbton Quay, opp. Economic.'

A portrait of your sweetheart on the point of your slipper is fashion's latest suggestion" to the. smart young American woman. The picture should be fixed to' the slipper below the buckle. Tho 6tyle comes from Boston. .Shipping casualties of nil nationalities Inst year totalled 10S vessels, with a tonnnsc'of 11-1,231. SUPERFLUOUS HAIR. Superfluous hair destroyed hy "Kusina" (ii'!t.). A Riiiii'iinlei! ifivi'ii Willi each case undertaken, *n> testimonials ami letters. Mr-, llullfii luvcr Economic), Ijaiubt'oii Quay. 'J'huiie 1017. (Testimonial.) Vousonby. Auckland. May iilli, lilll. D.-ar Mrs. ■Hu!l™.-Uwi»K to siekmss 1 have u-A Iwi-n ;,ble tr> write sooner lo tell you ol' Hie wonder-. "KiiMiiii" lias done for mo. 'I'o say it dues all that is claimed for it would bo lon mild a term, as in any cii-u it removed an unsightly growth on tin , fac-K in one application. Enclosecl ploase find cliP(|iic fur three buses for sonic friends who need it badly. (irißiual copy of above v can be se«n at my address.. C FACIAL MASSAGE. Vibro Facial Massnce, Scalp Treatinent, Slmnipooinn, Manicuriii(t, Petlicyrinff, Hair« - ork, Jvlpctrolyqis, Mrs, UsybittU, 238 Larabton Qun.v (oT«r Qti,