The evening times., 1899-05-10
Some Unconscious Humor.

There is sort of merry go round in the
| newspaper world of Manhattan this week.
and it is caused by little work of George
Bernard Shaw's. entitled The Perfect
Wagnerite.'' In this book Mr.. Shaw
sets forth theory that Wagner en-
bodied certain sociaiistic ideas in the
tetralogy known as the Ring of
Niblungs." The theory is based on
the facts that when the operas were
written Wagner was a revolutionist; that
he was writing pamphlets on the religious.
social, and political aspects of revolution
AIRY doctrines one day and composing the
music and libretto of these operas the next,
and that, considered as mere music dramas.
added metaphysical and political meaning
they become artistic and beautiful. He
also forestalls in a most clever manner
nearly all the objections that the critics
are likely TO make to his book. analyses
| the operas minutely, explaining the signi-
| icance of each scene and the element In
modern society personified By each char
acter. and altogether makes i very inter-
esting and complete exposition of his ideas.
cal comments on the Inconsistencies of civ
ilized people. in Mr. Shaw,s well-known
style 1t may be briefly stated in regard
! to his Interpretation CT these dramas that
he considers the dwarfs TO typify the rest
| less. self-seeking. inscriptions, ccrstous
/ members OF society, the glants to represent
| the patient. dull witted laboring class. and
I the gods the thinkers. who frame laws and
| make literature, churches and moral phil
! csophy He says that Wagner intended the
herc-the perfect man-tc be above even
the gods. who are merely embodiments of
abstract ideas. one-sided creatures who
must pass away when true freedom arrives.
and the dramas are simply metaphorical
pTeserta tiun Of the struggle now going on
in the civilized world bstween those va
rious elements.
Tne New York Tribune" got hold OF
this little book. and nearly had con-
vulsiou. 1t published a solemn -eview.
and described Mr.. Shaw as a conceited
/ Philistine who was tGmpering with sacred
writ. attempting to destroy the fame of
! Wagner by aIlying the composer with
| socisIists. II called Mr. Shaw danger
ously plausible. and said that he Trsatad
the subject with a stodgy seriousness. The
| latter expression would probably make the
London critic smile bad. sardonir smile
I NJ the expense of the Tribune reviewer.
To the ordinary person it will seem that
here is no particular harm or danger in
Mr. Shaw's Interpretation. since all
thoughtful observers admit that there is
great danger in plutocracy. that under its
influence even church and state lrepre-
seated by the gods) sometime tremble
AMI that the truly heroic man is not
c-iy greater than the plutocrat. but greater
than established institutions. Therefore
the '-Tribunes'' exaggerated attitude of
| fright is rather funny. But there is more
to follow, as the hymn says.
Thc Brooklyn Eagle" saw the Tribune
review. and swooped on it with an all
coaquering claw. In a column or more of
somewhat labo-ious and ponderous wit
it declares that Mr.. Shaw's whole book
was nothing but a gigantic joke. and that
1t is extremely funny that anyone should
take It seriously. Now. there is one thing
in this world funnier and more pathetic
than the man who cannot see a joke. and
that Is the man who insists in seeing a
joke, and laughing over it half an hour
or So when there is no joke there. II
Mr.. Shaw's book could be regarded a
hoax, 1t would be very poor one. since
it has not only the appearance but all the
elements of truth. II may be. of course.
that Wagner had no conscious intentions
of embodying his philosophy of life in
these dramas. but since he was at the
time of their conception an enthusiastic
socialist. it might easily happen that
without definite determination to teach a
lesson, he nevertheless taught one.