The age-herald., 1900-12-02

ing the fact and fearing that the popular taste will be diverted from the real drama, the authors of these popular novels are en- toying opportunities for money making such as were never enjoyed before in the history of bookmaking. All phases of the dramatized novel seem to be interesting, whether from the view point, artisucally and financially, of the author, the publisher or the dramatist; for 1t seems that an au- thor is seldom able to dramatize his own work, and generally a third party has 10 be consulted. And very naturally this third party comes in for a large share of the profits. James L. Ford, well-known jour nalist and litterateur of New York city, re- gently discussed the dramatized novel In an interesting way in a New York daily. Among other things, he said that 1t was curious fact that Dickens, who knew and loved the stage and was himself an anna teur actor of no mean skill, not only found 1t impossible to contruct play himself which was the ambition of his life-but never even succeeded in writing a novel which could be turned into play.
 This statement can hardly be reconciled with the fact that one or the greatest of recent successes in London Is the drama tized version of "A Tale of Two Cities" which appeared under the title of 'The Only Way" The height of its popularity was during the summer of 99, while Henry Irving was playing "Robespierre.' One of the most promising of England's younger actors, Harvey by name, took the part of Sydney Carton, and just as he has always been one of the most poetic and pathetic characters in fiction, just so the play, which was most admirably rendered, was appeal ing and n every way full of human inter- est The play was given with an opening prologue, and in the stage presentation lost nothing of the dramatic situations, strengh of characterization and intensity of human feeling which have always marked this fas- cinating story. Sydney Carton, one of the most pathetic and unique characters in f1c- tion, on the stage is simply intensified, and as presented by MT. Harvey did not fail to touch the tenderest chords in the hearts of his hearers. The whole performance was artistic and perfect in the extreme. The performance was the more thoroughly en- loved just the past couple of years, during which time there has been a revival of in- terest and attention to all that pertains to the French Revolution. Few things have ever been produced on the stage that were finer than "The Only Way" which is no other than Dickens "A Tale of Two Cit ies."
 If we are to judge by the large audiences that nightly gather to witness the stage presentation of many of our popular novels we are obliged to admit that the public lkes them. And yet if we go to the thea the hero or the heroine who has perchance tht hero or the heroine who has perchance delighted and enthralled us in some pecu-
 liarly subtle way, what is left us? Who can tell whether the actors conception of the partt will accord with our own ideal of it? And there is the danger of loss. That indescribable charm which comes from the forming of ideals is destroyed in the same way that an illustration, no mat ter how good a one, in a way interferes with the mental image. David Harum' and Richard CarveP' may be very good as the actor presents them, but the charac- ter we glean from the authors own pre- sentiment of him, emphasized by the read CTS imagination, is far dearer possession. Thus 1t Is we so often find the dramatized version of our pet novel so exceedingly dis appointing. PAUL PRY.