New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29

over all your fallacies. Tney are 'oo "N
merous and, besides. they are SOME
them exceedingly repulsive. But TINS muc'
NAV tell you. You will never help IN
human race on by attempting to persuad
II that because hypocriticai covering vi
of sin IL bad brutal levity In the discus
sion OF IL Is good. Frankness may De truth
but II Is a very limited kind OF TRUTH III IL
effect Truth Is like fresh mountain al
enveloping things TRANSPORTING 'hei'
shamng them sometimes, when they us
close shameful secrets but never oepasi''
them Your truth. like your W.T. OF "nc'
have heard much. partakes or the duaht'
which belongs to the practical joker III
trips up his friend at an unexpected mo
ment The falling man Is Illuminated. ref
haps he deserved the fall. But the py
stander laughs out Of the hardness OF III
heart Surprise Is not Wit The suoue'
uncovering Of n shambles to the puplic eye
with it's abrupt relation OF disgusIihs
things. Is not truth. The wittiest truth
teller. the truthfullest wit. enlarges our ex
perience every time he drives his POM
home. Now. your pleasantest play ,heaver
gave the markD fails to light US on oui
way and lea YES a shocking bad taste in the
mouth
Dr-Does not that taste set people thinking!
Cr-The point is not badly taken: but candioiy
Mr. shaw they are too anxious to get rid
Of the abominable taste to do much think
ing and they know that they can find other
writer's who will make them think about
the same subjects without nauseatnG
them
Dr-FOr example?
Orwell. take an important figure In your
scLool-Mrs Humphrey Ward. whom have
already mentioned
Dr.-(Rroiling in Mortified amazement) Mrs
Humphry Ward?
Cr.-Preciscy. She is a writer OF much wider
outlook Of course her limitations are diff
ferent. very different, and so is her wit;
but we needn't go into the differences The
main point is that she has just the re-
forming zeal that you have: she hates the
degradation OF the slums AS you DO; she
wants landlords disciplined as you want
them disciplined In short. her novels and
ences. are essentially the same in aim
they all make for social reform. Only she
has ideas political. religious. literary. all
kinds OF ideas. while you have only-Mr.
shaw's
Humphry Ward is in your Elysian Fields?
Cr.-I don't know that I've said so. Mrs Ward
Is not by any means a writer to whom the
palm could be awarded for the treatment
Of social questions In form OF literature.
only mentioned her az an illustration.
might have mentioned Thomas Hardy. But
then he Is great novelist. man OF
genius. a master an artist. and
An fiqf7
tist forsoo,h! And pray what am 1? Have
not devoted my whole life to the study
and practice OF art,
(Decadent young poets coo approvingly)
Cr.-(With an expression OF complete bewider-
ment) IL II possible? (Pauses, as though
dazed. Resumes IN a tone OF ncreduty).
And you call these plays art" do you ?
No beauty. no wit no humor. no charm.
and good stagecraft in only one Of them,
Jupiter. Have you eve read Shakespeare?
Dr.-Read him? with a shout) Why man.
I've discredted him! Don't you read the
Saturday Review?
Cr.-(Wth polite resignatonD Oh. you have?
Well ne happens to be inside. don't sup
pose you to enter the same paradise
Perhaps with icy poteness) some OF your
friends here can give you asylum. Good
morning. (RiSes and turns to the gate
Opens 1t. enters. shuts gate behind him
with clang. and the key Is heard turnng)
Chorus Of Decadent Poets Ibscnites. New
Women and the Like. Singing Ecstat
ically)
Oh. we'll surely take him In!
He would do as much for US
Let the stupid Philistine
Shut his gate with no more fuss