Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-04-29

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II. BEERBOHM TREE.
American and English people. They tall
very much as we do and think very mucl
the same, only with an occasional naugh.
added
In giving expression to my thoughts or
the different cities we have visited arr
nearing the seat of indiscretion, for
should not like to risk offending any o.
the many delightful friends we have madi
on our tour.
have not paid much attention to sur
roundings, because have been busy study
ing the people, but I was struck particu-
larly with Boston. 1t seems so very much
like England, could almost imagine my.
self in London, and the people have very
decided English accent.
New York liked very much, with the
exception that / found the houses toe
warm and the streets too cold by contrast.
did not care greatly for Chicago as
city, but l met some very charming people
there
have frequently been astonished dur.
ing my visit to this country at the bril-
liancy of the after dinner speaker. Az
Englishman, as a rule talks better thar
he speaks. An American speaks better
than he talks. / recently sat at dinner be.
side taciturn American from whom
endeavored in vain to extract a remark
during the progress of dinner. talked
to him of terrapin; he only nodded his
head. Ienlargcd upon tho origin of species
he only stroked his chin. lured him or
to the question of eternity; he only re-
marked, "That is so" His reticence was
that Of temporarily quiescent volcano,
for after dinner he got upon his legs and
poured forth tho lava of his eloquence in
such torrents as 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 ir
praise Of my Hamlet. That is my pet part
and / was very anxious to see how they
would like it. 1t is very different, as l in.
terpretcd it, from certain traditions thai
have existed in regard to Hamlet as playcd
by famous tragedians before, but its sue.
cess was instantaneous, and I think
great deal of that success was due to the
appropriate music which was played dur.
ing the evening. Music is wonderful fac
tor, and If properly considered adds to OF
detracts from the ensemble of play very
much more than people sometimes think.
Wagner was greater dramatist because
he was q musician than no would have
been without it. His music is better than
his dramas, but he is without an equal in
all.
The discussion of "Trilby" seems very
odd to me, for we read it very little in Eng
land. went to see what it is rs play,
for am always interested in what is de-
batcd, whether it is good, bad or indiffcr.
ent. That was what helped my Hamlet sc
much---this discussion by American critics
of my methods. / do not mind what they
say in tho least. 1t sets up u healthy irri
tation. Tho more frantic they get, tho
more splash they make, the better for us.
I have noticed one thing about the
American public, and 1t is very like the
English In that respect. Many people
who have dined late go to the theater and
look upon the drama principally as an aid
to digestion and not as n means of educa
tion. They look upon life itself rs too Sc
rious thing for them to find enjoyment
In Shakespeare. This accounts for tho pre-
ponderance 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 tho times very
clearly. 1t should not be classed with ths
drama, and while l suppose it may be
called u theatrical sensation, simply be-
cause 1t requires stage to show it, it has
no real place in the line of substantial
suggestion for the future amusement OF
the public. 1t is almost useless to specu-
late on the future. AT best it can be only
guesswork, and very risky guesswork at
that. 1t is like criticism of a play before
it has been produced and can only be q
tissue of suggestion that is likely to hit
wide of the mark, or like picking the win.
ming idea of the year.
! do not think the new woman, as she is
called, is of any very great Importance.
She is mostly q paper and ink individual,
created by tho novelist, dramatist and
newspapers. She cuts very insignificant
figure in real life. In spite of the advance
woman has made along many lines, she Is
not yet mans equal in all things-art, sci,
ence, business, etc. At least she has nc'
demonstrated perfect equality with man.
And furthermore believe that If women
suoceed in reaching perfect equality 1t
will be at the loss Of the higher and nopler
qualities which she possesses over man
The women who have made history In
most instances are the soft, womanly
women, not the fluttering, Irritating Kind.
In only one arenqSin 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
tall YOU the reason better than /.
had very funny experience when J.
first came to New York with an editor Of
New York paper.
was invited to . dinner. given by a