The times., 1897-11-21

had since "Brummel, y, and the best play
OF the present season. The critics We're
kind 20 Shaw on this piece, but he hadn't
forgotten their restrictions on his other
play, and he characterizes the New York
reviewers as "a flock OF ganders includ
ing one flsttering goose
He docsn It care d rap for outwa ard appear
ances Or conventionalities. For instance,
he'll go to ii London first-night ia q flannel
shirt and slouch hat, and he lives in the
simplest manner, dispensing with all lux
uries. Intact, he's a good deal of socialist,
not only In his opinions but in his appear
arce. He wears his hair long, and when he
talks to you he throw his head back and
forth and runs his fingers through his hair.
An exchange relates this anecdote to show
how simple his tastes are:
OF course, you've heard of Miss Eliza
betss Marbury? Shaw Is one OF the dozen
ormore Observation-Disclosures authors whose
American agent she Is. u certain play or
his. produced here not long ago, was not
very great success. Miss Marbury thinking
he would be rather displeased at the small
remittance for his royalties on this play,
wrote him q some what apoioget1c letter,
giving the warm weather and other reasons
for the poor success OF the play. In due
season she received a reply, which began.
'kapGciOuS Eliza hetn AIarburyi " nat
do you want me To make fortune for?
Don you know that the draft which you
have sent Inc viii permit me TO live and
preach socialism for six months The
next time you have so large an amount to
remit, please send IL To me by inStallmentS,
or you VIII put me TO the Inconvenience
or having hank account. What do you
mean by giving me advice about writing
play with view to the box office
receipts? | shall continue writing Just
as / do now for the next ten years. A fter
that We can walio~ in the gold poured a
our feet by dramat tcally regenera ted
public
SE3w is 9 II an who Is entirely wra pped up
IL his work a dramatic critic and play
wright He viii make no concessions what
ever to the actor who produces play of his.
The play must be taken and produced As
written or rot at all He enjoys the en
yiahlc distinction OF being the oniy living
human being who can crush Mansfield.
When ht sent OF er The Devils Disciple
he sent letter the contents Of which we
have heard, but would only dare give in
eXpurgated form. II ran something like
this:
Dear Mansfield, l send the MSS. here
with. Grant me two points. You really
must You, or course Will want to play
--. it's the Fat and it's to he expected
that you would want TO play IL. Now,
| remember. This man is low minded,
Don't try To act that, or you'll spoil it,
Be yourself, be perfectly natural. The
otber part l want "a Ken care or Is the old
man Get the best old man actor IN a neT-
tea. | understand you have good actor of
tnfAe parts named Joe Jefferson. EnEa ge
him at once, dear Mansfield, do, at once.
The note of egoiSm is very strong in
shaw. The London production OF THE
First 5orn" gave him a new opportunity.
He wrote in his paper:
The latest attempt to escape from hack
neNdom and Cuckneydom Is tne Chinatown
| play, Imported, OF course, from America.
| There IL no reason, however, why IL should
not be manufactured in England. I beg re-
spectfully 10 inform managers and syndi-
| Gates thatf am prepared to supply Chinese
| plays" music and ALL on Teasona ble terms,
| at the shortest notice. A form OF art
| which makes merit Of crudity need never
| lack practitioners III this country. The
! Chinese music is unmitigated humbug.
The Salt of the Earth is the ,iescrip-
| tive title Of lew play by Joseph : r
| thur, which Will he produced by Charles
! Frohman at the Columbia Theater on Mon
! day night November %. Mr. Arthnr is
/ the author of Blue Jeans The Still
/ Alarm and The Cherry PicRerS'' all OF
| which have beeh great popular successes.
| The new piece, ne says, Is a cuuntr )
/ comedy, and, while 1t has an intensely
! romantic and dramatic story, it is enIfy-
ened at several points by bands Of singers,
! country dances and other forms uf simple
but hearty Gestivlty common TO rural coIL-
| munities.
Miss Arnie Russell has been specially
eageged by Mr.. Frolman to create the
! part OF the heroine Ann May- farmer Is
daughter It is said to he character
aVounding in tie gentle human ma ture. Il
which this artist can give such conyinc
ing and winsome expression. 1t is a part
| OF the Esmeralda order, and il viii be
| remembered that il was as Esmeral1a Miss
Russell first gained recognition for heT
wonderful art. In The Salt OF the Earth
| Miss Russell viii be heard to sing for the
| first time As flag-making event in the
play she will render The Star Spangled
Banner The other people in the cast are
Theodore Rabcock, George W Wilson,
George Denliam, R A Roberts, Frank Ian
GERS, Alice Fischer, Marion Berg, and a
band Of singers.