Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-27


II. BEERBoHM TREE.
American and English people. They talk
very much as we do and think very much
tho same, only with an occasional naught
added.
In giving expression TO my thoughts on
tho different cities we have visited l am
nearing the scat of indiscrction, for
should not like TO risk offending any of
the many delightful friends we have made
on our tour.
have not paid much attention TO sur
roundings, because have been busy study
ing the people, but was struck particu-
| larly with Boston. 1t seems SO very much
| like England, could almost imagine my
| self in London, and the people have n very
| decided English accent.
New York l liked very much, with the
| exception that l found the houses too
| warm and the streets too cold by contrast
did not caro- greatly for Chicago as a
| city, but met some very charming people
there.
have frequently been astonishcd dur
ing my visit TO this country at the bril-
| liancy of the after dinner speaker. An
| EngliShman, rs n rule, talks better than
| he speaks. An American speaks better
| than he talks. l recently sat Mt dinner be-
| side taciturn American from whom l
| cndeavorcd in vain to extract remark
during tho progress of dinner. talked
| to him of terrapin; he only nodded his
/ head. Icnlargcd upon the origin of species;
he only strokcd his chin lurUd him on
| to the question of eternity; he only re
| marked, That is So" His rCticcncc was
that Of temporarily uuicsccnt volcano,
| for after dinner he got upon his legs and
| poured forth the lava of his cloqucnce in
such torrents ns caused my back TO open
and shut, and am bound to say that in
the course of his speech he appropriated
some of my choicest epigrams.
The press in Boston was unanimous in
praise of my Hamlet. That is my pct part,
and l was very anxious to $50 how they
would like it. 1t is very different, rs in
| terprCtcd it, from certain traditions that
have existed in regard TO Hamlet rs played
by famous tragedians before, but its sue
cess was instantaneous, and l think n
great deal of that success was due to the
appropriate music which was played dur
ing the evening. Music is wonderful fac
tor, and il properly considered adds TO or
dctractS from the ensemble of n play very
much moro than people sometimes think.
Wagner was n greater dramatist because
he was musician, than he would have
been without it. His music is bcttcr than
his dramas, but he is without an equal in
all
| The discussion Of Trilby" seems very
odd to me, for we read 1t very little in Eng
land went to see what it is play,
for am always interested in what is de-
batcd, whether 1t is good, bad or indiffcr-
ent. That was what helped my Hamlet 80
much-this discussion by American critics
Of my methods do not mind what they
say in the least 1t sets up n healthy irri-
tation. The moro frantic they get, the
more splash they make, tho better for us.
have noticed ono thing about the
American public, and it is very like tho
English in that respect. Many people
who have dined late so to the thoater and
look upon the drama principally as an aid
TO digestion and not as n means of cduca-
ton. They look upon life itself as too Sc
rious thing for them to find enjoyment
in Shakespeare, This accounts for the pre-
pondcrancc of farce comedy of the day.
This living picture craze is another phase
of public sentiment that seems queer TO me
and shows the spirit of the times very
clearly. 1t should not be claSsed with the
drama, and while l suppose it may be
called a theatrical sensation, simply be-
cause it requires n stage to show ii, 1t has
no real place in tho line of substantial
suggestion for tho future amusement Of
the public. 1t is almost useless 10 spocu
late on the future At best il can be only
guesswork, and very risky guesSwork at
, that 1t Is like n criticism OF n play before
it has been produced and can only be n
tissue of suggestion that Is likely to hit
wide OF the mark, or like picking the win
ming idea Of the yoar
do not think tho new woman. as she is
called, 10 OF any very great Importance.
She is mostly paper and ink individual,
. created by the novelist, dramatist and
. newspapers. Sho cuts u very insignificant
. figure In roal lifo In spite OF the advance
woman has made along many limos, she Is
not yet man. equal in all things-art, sci
enca. business, etc, At least sho has not
demonstrated a perfect equality with man.
And Furthermore believe that IL women
/ succeed In reaching a perfect equality IL
/ will DO at the loss Of the higher and noble
qualities which she possesses over man
Tho women who have made history in
. | most instances are the soft, womanly
women, not the Tutoring irritating kind.
In only one arena in the past has woman
demonstrated her equality with man, and
that is the stage. Here she claims an equal
place.
} In poetry, art and science she has not
demonstrated her equality. Philosophers,
| | scientists and learned medical men will
tell you the reason better than /.
, I had a very funny experience when
| first came TO New 4Crk with an eultor Oh
Q New York paper.
was invited TO a dinner, given by 4
number of literary men in my honor,
: when had been playing couple Of weeks
in New York ut Abbey's thcater. The
critics had been very kind and tho hatter'
ing notices I received from the papers
| pleased me very much. The Post had beer
especially kind, having taken up my cause
!, with an unexpected and delightful fervor
During tho course of the dinner 1 wa
introduced to Mr.. Larry Godkin, editor q
The Post.
\ He shook mo warmly by the hand and
r said in that bluff, hearty way your Amert
can mon have:
? "Glad to meet you. Mr.. Trce-vcry hap
. by TO meot you indeed. Shall take grea
. pleasure In hearing and scoing you wheI
! you open In New York"
was rather abashed and hardly knew
what to say. Hero was q man who had al
lowed his paper to praise me upstintedi
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