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

an impossibility; Mr.. Champion. a mon
strosfty; McCon1as Bohun, Walter. freaks
all three All. me. We must go on. DraInat
icus assumes an air OF deep scorn. tenn
pered by sublime patience. as who shouie
say "Pitiable, but he cannot help it, Bu
here Is a clever play. Arms and the Man,
a very clever play. Mr.. Shaw. declare
Uingers over pages) bit OF romance
well. well. this must have cost you SOME
effort Did 1t pay7 (beamingly).
Dr-Pay? OF course It paid. It's the only one
that did pay.
Cr-Indeed Well. we must see why. Proceeds
doggedy to enumerate) Rama. another
nevrose a Man--humph. the name doe:
seem to At a little; Catherine. fool
I.ouka a vixen: Nicola. another parasite
Petkor another ass; Sergius a cad: Blunt
schI, Bluntsch-ah. that is the Man. sec
very good. very good. but he is not the
same As Why. Mr. Shaw, here Is the lay
figure again. the ideas Of Bluntschli are
yours. perceive. Oh yes. yes. an admira'
bic plan; you iectured from behind the
footlights In uniform. But-tturns suddenly
upon Dramaticus) but you said 1t paid? How
did YOU make II pay? I thought London
got all II wanted OF you In your criticisms
and repudiated your piays7 Here you tell
US In your preface that the Avenue Thea
tire MANAGEMENT lost something like fj.OOO
on this play
pr-QIastily) Yes yes. that's right. 1t was In
America that IL paid. I never had any sue
cess as q dramatist In my own country.
Cr-So YOU went to what your Dr. Trench calls
"the scum of the earth-Americans and all
sorts?
Dr-Ooftily) do not identify myself with the
opinions OF All my characters. sir.
Cr-Oh.
Orwell alphabetically. had to 20 some
where. And then you know the saying. a
prophet is never without honor save In his
own country. He naturally goes where he
is honored.
Cr.-Yes. even to the Scum" suppose But
tell us. now about your prophesyng |
fear can take no testimony from the per-
sons in your plays They are not human.
They do not do anything. Their characters
are as stationary as their bodies. They
seem TO be perpetually arguing about some
thing. but can't quite make out what 1t Is
What IL their grievance They seem to
have one Tell US.
Dr-(Strking an attitude. glancing around TO
see that every one IL listening and clearing
his throat) me Gay OF ~ p'I7SlnS
await Pauscs Murrnur Of approval
passes around among the Ibsentes) Sex
Oumultuous appiaus" from IbsenItes)-sex.
say. Is longer what 1t once was!
Earnest partisan. To a friend: All what
epigram,') Love. the matrimonial tie; re-
ligion. philanthropy. are no longer To be
viewed through a glass G.'ky. through
popular morality for which | have no re-
spcct: through popular religion. In which
have no belief They are to be viewed
through the dramas OF that heaven-sent
genius. Henrik Ibsen prolonged cheers
from the Ibsenites). through the works
OF men. Of men. like-necd hesitate'-llke
myself, When have a sickness In my foot
do hide myself in hospital? No I
write article about II In The Saturday
Review" When the human race Is suf-
fering from disease should II wrcstle with
II In private. with scemliness. with reti-
ce1ce till the disease lac conquered? Perish
the thought, Let the sores he placed on
exhibition: let the medicines be brought
out. let the surgeon uncover his instru-
ments 10 the eyes OF he whole world. let
the blood splash in the faces Of the people:
let the cries Of the patient resound 10 high
heaven and in the ears OF all men: ie, man
See how sick he is: let him until his
stomach turns; let him
Cr.-If you please. think we have had enough
I follow you. You want TO reform the
world and make IT over. The retcencc
which human nature invented for its own
higher development the day OF Ewes fall
you consider an artificial restraint imposed
by society on itself for selfish ends. You
call ii Hypocrisy and by tearing that hypoc-
risy down and exposing the corruption that
l.LLr..i,-.I .l.aia.r Mini. that