The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01

of Shakespeare's time came back from the
Caribbees with his souvenirs and his ru-
mances. he was probably asked il he really
came across any two-headed dwarfs or
floating Islands. or genuine mermaids in
J his wanderings. and IL he said that he did
not. but saw other wonderful things. the
purely legendary lore OF the village story
teller may have suffered an eclipse. In
this more enlightened age. he general
interest in truthful pictures of human
nature may lead to a better understand
ing of our fellowmen. and more amicable
and useful relations all around. There
is TO gain in believing that a man is
monster or an imbecile when he is really
very good sort of man much like our
/ selves. The mission Of the story-teller
/ in this coming age may be to prove
through the power of the human imagir
alton the great truth OF the brotherhood
of man. This truth is the very foundation
of democratic government. and unless we
realize it we shall sooner o. later cease
TO be nation. In some ways the most
/ powerful political agent in the world is
the popularity of "Ivanhoe'' in the South
( helped to bring on the war. b. establish
( ing more or less impossible ideals of
chivalry. and it is certain that Uncle
+ Toms Cabin faulty as /, is from liter
airy point of view, had much to do with
that event The fiction writer of the fu-
( ture cannot be great enough to cope with
his task unless he possesses scientific ac-
curacy, sympathetic intuition, and deep
knowledge of the laws which govern hui
man life and action; and IL he has all these
[ he cannot fail to help in the making of
the nation
( What is true of the novelist is also. to
! some extent, true of the dramatist and
I actor The same causes which produce
I genius in the one produce it in the other.
There is an additional reason, however,
for predicting great revival in the drama.
] We are probably about to enter upon an
/ era OF material prosperity, of the making
/ OF large fortunes by individuals and syndi-
[ Gates. This favors the production of
dramas on an elaborate scale. 1t means
money for the manager with which he may
! engage good actors and provide fine scenery
i and rich costumes. 1t also means money
( in the pockets OF the theatregoing public,
( resulting in large audiences and new thea
tres
1 One thing which affects the drama does
] not affect any other art. We have, here
I in America. a theatregoing public OF a kind
which probably never existed before in the
1 history of the play. 1t is made up partly
! of educated and intelligent people whose
/ parents did not believe in playgoing. partly
OF people OF the same class VINO have al
ways been patrons OF the drama, like their
ancestors before them. and partly OF the
! less intelligent multitude whose parents
! lived where there were no theatres, or
were too poor 10 afford such pleasure.
( We thus have public with perfectly
/ fresh taste ard for the most part. good
though very -..de judgment This public
thinks about a play. 1t does not criticise
/ its construction but rather the literary
/ quality and moral tone. Certain actors
who appear in plays morally clean, though
artistically imperfect, can always draw a
tremendous audience. while the run OF a
play which depends for its popularity on its
salacious qualities is usually short Some
times this public will endorse absolute
Stiffness, and sometimes it fails to APP
preciate really fine acting which has no
striking qualities; but. in general, its judy
ment is good, and when the drama becomes
sufficiently vigorous TO throw Off the yoke
Of greedy capitalists. there will be an APP
preciative audience for every good play
and fine actor on the stage. The taste of
the people for the drama will develop just
as its taste for literature has already done.
and. in spite of all the trash that is sold.
i really fine bcnk is nowhere more quickly
appreciated than in America.
The outlook for the years to come is
uncertain politically; still more uncertain
50 far as international relations are con-
cerned; but in this matter of artistic de-
yelopment the forces now at work will al
most surely bring sbout phenomenal re-
suits.