The times., 1898-11-27
THE PASSING SHOW.

L
The days of miracles are not yet pass
ed Lottie Blair Parker, who wrote "A
War Correspondent is also the author
OF Way Down East"
Some two weeks ago. when The Times
found occasion to say that James X.
Hackett would never be a great actor, no
end of exception was taken to the pre-
diction and some little trouble came out
of it. There were many who were eager
to point out the fact that criticisms could
not and should not be supposed to stand
In the light OF prophecies. especially in
case where labor and study might make SO
many changes for the better. But in re-
turn someone quoted various proverbs
regarding the advisability of judging
man by his works and the difficulty of
making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Once in a generation that feat is accom-
plished, however. and when one takes
into account the differences between the
vehicle in which Burr Mcintosh starred
and that in which William \. Brady has
sent out his excellent organization 1t
seems that just such a change has taken
| place in Mrs. Parker. Only, no person of
| discrimination would be likely to ac-
| knowledge that any forecast he had made
| of the playwrights future abilities was
| altogether wrong. From last weeks
| programs at the National 1t would ap-
| pear that one. Joseph r. Grismer was
responsible for the delicate operation that
resulted in the manufacture of so good
| a pocketbook from such poor material.
| Because of the absence OF any law to
| punish such an offender, there is in
| this country n strong feeling against men
| whose mechanical use of other peoples
| ideas is their only excuse for forcing
themselves into public notice. Mr.. Girls
mer is the man who is reputed to have
| changed some three or four speeches in
| Paul Wilstachs farce and then had his
named printed as being that of the Of
| fering's co-author. Had Washingtoniaus
never seen "A War Correspondent"
| therefore, 1t is not improbable that the
adapter's claim to some credit for "'Way
| Down East" would have been met with
| mixed ridicule and resentment. But as
1t was. localities had been taught by OBJ
| serving Mrs. Parker's other dramatic ef-
| fort that not even a frst-class, frst-cen-
tury miracle could have enabled her to
| produce the beautiful idyl of New Eng
land presented at the National.
The authors ideas may be and undoubt-
| edly are good. She has a fertile imagina-
bilities in her stories. But she knows
| nothing whatever of construction-one of
the most precise of the sciences-and
| would therefore, be totally unable to
turn out SO perfect work as that which
William A. Brady is now giving. The
rustic play not only involves considerable
skill in building but also requires a GER
tain subtlety, delicacy and simplicity
| which has proven an insurmountable
| how a1r but tXyp
James A. Herne and Denman Thomp-
| son. Contrasted with "a War Core
spondent" the later effort is the offering
| of a century. In the one were notable
only lack of purpose. bluntness of rela-
ton, ignorance of method and absence of
any cohesive qualities whatever-in the
other are definite story told with def
mite end, web and woof of comedy and
atmospheric detail that in no way inter-
fere with the plot, an intensity of dra-
matte force and pathos, a nicely of tenl-
permanent and an eXactness of construc-
ton that are not only admirable but re-
markable. These are the causes that un-
derlie the effect-these the reasons why
the tale of "'Way Down East goes
straight to the heart and remains there,
sometimes causing laughter and at other
times bringing tears.
"a War Correspondent is-or was-a
very bad play Way Down East" is a
wonderfully good one. Its force and pow
er, its richness of humor and wealth OF
feeling are wonderful. Its situations and
the manner of their building. its episodes
and the character of their handling and
its atmosphere with the lack of digres.
sion that marks the piece deserve only
commendation. WAY Down East" is 6
master-work.
Mrs. Parker probably wrote the piece
, as a sermon-a sermon the purpose OF
which was proving that the man in "the
case is often more to blame than the
woman. and that even those who have
fallen lowest may rise. Such an effort
was undoubtedly ennoblins but it ecu
hardly have been entertaining. and peo
pie refuse to pay for mere ennob'em nj
at the rate of dollar and a half a head
1t is not improbable that the author 6e
voted all her time to diffusing this them.
through some five separate and distinct
storics-all of them abountiing in nor
bidity and other fonns of amateurism
, To continue with q sort of analyzaiio.
that may be more unjust than was at
tempted prophecy. these sub-tales mus
; have been placed in the hands of abou
. eight people. To this foundation on,
may safely state that Mr.. Grismec add Il
much-both in character and characters