[TITANIC]: STEAD WILLIAM T. (1849-1912) British newspaper editor who, as a pioneer of investigative journalism ...

[TITANIC]: STEAD WILLIAM T. (1849-1912) British newspaper editor who, as a pioneer of investigative journalism, became a controversial figure of the Victorian era. Stead died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. An extraordinary A.L.S., W T Stead, two pages, 4to, Kingsway, London, 2nd January 1912, to Mr. Cochrane (sic; Charles B. Cochran), on the attractive printed stationery of The Review of Reviews. Stead announces 'I have just witnessed ''The Miracle''' and continues, in part, 'But the miracle that impressed me most was the fact that in this Protestant land you are not mobbed by zealous Orangemen. Just think of what you are doing twice a day this blessed Christmas tide! Remember the threatened riot which alarmed the Cabinet when it was proposed to take a solemn procession through the streets on the consecration of the new Catholic Cathedral. The protestant drum was beaten & the police were seriously asking whether the Guards would have to be called out to prevent a dangerous & possibly a bloody affray. Yet that was only one short procession whereas you….are exhibiting twice everyday in the week a gorgeous spectacle with every adventitious aid of music & costume to make the Roman rite attractive to the multitude. The other day I secured a bulky pamphlet labelled ''Rome & Germany'' by ''Watchman'' who proclaimed about the existence of an informal conspiracy got up by Rome & Germany for the destruction of the British Empire. ''Watchman's'' evidence was of the slightest. But if he were to bring out a new edition of his pamphlet he would find in ''The Miracle'' a startling confirmation of his worst surmises. ''The Miracle'' was ''made in Germany'' and it is a…..powerful presentation of the most anti-Protestant doctrines. Think Sir of the effect of this twice a day representation of Catholic ritual to eight thousand subjects of our Protestant King…..Has the great Protestant heart that throbs responsive to the Orange drum ceased to beat? Have you had no protests…(against)….this daring challenge thrown down to Protestant prejudice? I fear that if you presented ''The Miracle'' at Belfast few of your performers would escape with broken heads. How much Sir do you secure from the secret service money of the Vatican or from the coffers of the Jesuits for this imposing & magnificent propaganda in favour of the Roman Catholic Church? I wrote this to you as a friend & not as one sharing the prejudices of my Orange fellow citizens. It is a mere matter of intellectual curiosity. I wonder whether they are going to take it lying down'. A letter of remarkable content, written just three months before Stead perished in the Titanic. Some extensive, although light, water staining, causing minor wrinkling, and with a few minor tears to the edges. Despite the faults, the text of the letter remains completely legible. About G Charles B. Cochran (1872-1951) English theatrical manager and impresario who produced some of the most successful musical revues, musicals and plays in the 1920s and 1930s, becoming associated with the works of Noel Coward. In 1911 Cochran had a success with the play The Miracle. The Miracle is a wordless play written by Karl Vollmoller and tells the story of a wayward nun who deserts her convent with a knight, influenced by the music of an evil minstrel. A statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and takes the physical place of the nun, who makes her way through the world and its many vicissitudes. She is eventually accused of witchcraft, but escapes. Finally the nun returns to the convent with her dying infant, and is forgiven as the statue of the Madonna resumes its place. Cochran worked closely with Max Reinhardt in the creation of the stage production and the play first appeared as a vast spectacle-pantomime at the London Olympia on 21st December 1911. Reinhardt directed the principal actors, cast and musical performers (who numbered around 1,700) and the music was specially composed by Engelbert Humperdinck.