Telegram-herald., 1891-12-20

had agents in Europe expending large
sums Of money for them in securing
the latest European successes, they did
not notice in time that the American
people had suddenly changed their
taste. Production after prodnction lost
fortunes for the managers while pursu-
ing policy which few years before
had made them rich. Our oldest theat-
rical company, WSllack's, was ruined
and disbanded on account Of this utter
ly unlooked-for and unprovided-for up
heaval.
This sudden change found no body Of
dramatic writers in this country prop
crly equipped and experienced to meet
the new demands. The result of this
has been that some Of its managers
have saved themselves, with . hard
struggle, by having European plays
"Americanized" As fast a. brought
over. A few have had original native
plays to offer the public; and fortunes
have been made by others, unknown
before in management, who presented
semi-variety performances filled with
hits upon American social life. ! am not
sure that performances of the latter
kind, such as those Of Harrigan and of
Hoyt, have not been the most important
contributions, thus far, to the coming
american drama" They arc full OF
neat character touches, and IL Is on nar
tive character first and artistic construc-
ton afterwards that . national drama
is founded.
have said that this torrent-like, sud-
den desire for its own subjects shown
by the American people IN q great
phenomenon In dramatic history. To
see how great q phenomenon IL Il one
hn ily 70 consider three facts. First
no m.-Ss Of humanity 80 largo and st
the same time so homogeneous and %
generally intelligent, has ever before
existed in history. Second. the devel-
opment OF dramatic impulse like this.
ir any country. has heret fore been
gradual evolution. not sudden change
within fifteen years Third, never BE-
fore has . great nation, at the very
dawn Of its dramatic interest in iteeli,
been fully equipped with magnificent
theate' ! In every large town: with an
immense Ndy of actors and actresses
compel - illustrate any phase Of
human aracter and the passions a
the day: and with unlimited wealth
freely offered hy ths capitalists 10 pro-
dcce and sustain any theatrical enter
prise that promises q fair rpturn.
Where. in tie whole hisscry Of the
stage. css al these conditions be dupli-
>ated7
Now for a thing lacking: . bcdy Of
dramatic ~ IN sufficient IN mum bsr.
experience . "A talent 90 meet the ana.
den and unprecedented demand. Ma
foreign writers can do IL and n tAev
could. they do MT new exist. Eoglsod
has been redsced 10 . very few capable
drsmass -, too few 10 Jock after ths
eurreut leveiepment Of her c~n .e-
tsonal character. II lcohs a n the
brilliant French scboos Of this e~zturv
had esbsvsted 10 pyrcseshsics. Bvs Il
would be useless to look In THE d;-~e-
ton. II there we're . hundred ro,A
dr1ma.isss In EUROPE for the bak.~ss
dozen that really live today. They
know nothing sbsut America or Amer
lean life. they ears a ifftle ~ they
know about IL and they have All the
eonsenrs for II vhisA s1wsys seeoD-
psnies tgncvanee.
Thh aueesson-vhe<e - csr ey.0-
stists - nee4 the Gsese pepslss ~
nand--is ore SAs4 inserseA. ssly IN
very mid ~ay. ths general A1eTsess
public II tbsy ~ vhss oas ~sss
they VII en3sy ~ II ~ ~ VII
smus thsnsstpp in ssDs eesw d.
s.1tsaa- II thsy - - - onie hgnin9