The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-23
BERNARD SHAW AND BIs CRITICS.
gor.e Authorities Seer. 60 Sustain the Resi-
ism Or sna the Mas"

so-e Authorities Seem 60 Sustain the Resi-
Ism ef"Arus sna the Mas"
The New York critics can at least put 10 their
credit a moro amiable Misunderstanding of
Arms and the Man. which MI. Mansfield has
produced. than their london brethren.
In London Mr.. Shaw's comedy was regarded
very generally as q malevolent travesty Of the
profession of q soldier. The cause was not far 10
seek. Mr.. Shaw is a silk -stocking Socialist, and
as such has his own views Of war and warriors.
To represent q soldier as q coward, a ~poltroon,
a chocolate-crcam hero. was q new method Of
augmentation that every true Briton, through
British critics. was called upon TO put down.
The American critics misunderstanding takes
the form of regarding Arms and the Man A" az
q witty extravaganza written in the spirit Of
cynical burlesque. To emphasize this concep-
tion almost every writer has mentioned In sug-
gestive connection W. =. Gilbert's Engaged"
In Arms and the Man." however, there /, moth
amusing arrangement of commonplace re-
"Ena.a.a" l" "0 'uf0e' Vi laughter In
Tnsa
has himself in answering his British critics fur.
ni.hod Az i,irmino,ton .. H. Aasns.n -.
Mr. air's shaw s"' p ra,oa,.nns himself ass f fr Hn Of aii a rsanss.
D as,s1, mo to , Write ri ,,s q . sS% , s snd finding n. ., SUI,
hero and the real hero, for which the Bulgarian
war offered timely material, he set to work.
Having no imasin.slon and being unfamiliar
" ~,, . o rss' ms n mrs, ,s TASK XIV, wa" .o 70 snn n. out what IT, sort S,t
purpose. ne gives MS sources OF m
These are Lord Wolseley''. Gen. Horace Porter's,
,,on. With prn.sisn om..,s
uons WIN RUSSIAN omcers.
cussed in the frst act, he Quotes largely from
Gen. Porter. Ono incident ia that of a Union
regiment At chiotamauga never before under
hupr %a. and s sPs@ss o q ss,t .nS oe''n''' with a
.aa hnsy .a,a s ssn. Gordon am oe. er .nss h1 ,oos, no TN snA'
Gen. Porter is emphatic concerning the dis
erection Of veterans In presenting their breasts
~. shau. Anu uaa,an hent m ooservihs
asn G roD, IN ,is "Msmo, ror .. SounsT sen.
in Mexico. and says he had not the moral cour-
age to refrain lest he be regarded as cowardly.
be remembercd. He starts with every sound.
When Rama throws aside the boz OF chocolate
attempt to make a laughing STOCK Of the boasted
e., ,h;, M f%Hnt sss1 S eha5aeter.H MAKE Laugh; To
who says that after a three days light
tho ooSE.se Of tho braysst wears eut;
been under fre three days. Such, Gays
Gen. Porter, p the sensitiyeness OF the nerves
noise; the flight Of q bird, the crackie OF a
twig, will make tho boldest mar jump. So well
diers nnd amusement In throwing chips past
one another's heads TO make them duck.
Hluntschli, after. lodging the boz, says:
Wouldn't that make the fellows laugh 2"
But the most serious offence and the most
eccentric touch, as II Is ,variously regarded. Is
cream soldier Ii either an offence or an absurd
ity. In war. says Mr.. Shaw, servants do not
pass around between the volleys soup and hsh,
Food 10 almost a. essential as ammunition. He
quotes Cobbett In his advice TO the young SOL
der CRYING because OF his loss of a red herrino.
The experienced soldier abroad takes the pre-
caution 10 I'LL his pockets with chocolate. At
Shipka Pass the Russian soldiers sustained
themselves on chocolate during the Intervals OF
battle. The moment Bluntschli's safety was
assured his hunger came to the fore and he