The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20
HALL GAME IN NEW YORK.
Noted Author Arrives and Talks of
His New Play.

n oted Author Arrives ana talks OF
His New Play.
New York. Oct. 20-HaH Game ar
rived from England today on the Lu-
oania. He was accompanied by his wife
and his is year old son, who is now
editor of Household Words, and who
recently has established Dickens
Fellowship" an organization of adj
mirers of Dickens works.
Mr.. Game, who had not visited the
United States for four years, has come
here to put the finishing touches to the
dramatization of his book, THE Eternal
City the first performance of which IN
this city will take place on November II
at the Victoria theater, and he viii re
main here only long enough to satisfy
himself that the American production
- adequate.
While the Lucania was on its way up
from quarantine Mr.. Caine was asked
about the unfavorable criticisms made
by the London press of his portrayal OF
the pope on the stage.
Il understand, he said, that many
Of the London critics have criticised the
play on that account, although there
are a number of critics, among whom
are Clement Scott and Joseph Knight,
who take tie other view The piece,
though, is a popular success.
"Of course" he continued, "the queS-
ton as to whether or not it is proper
for a dramatist to portray on the stage
a sacred or seni-sacred parsonage is
debatable one. There are in the east
representations which correspond to our
plays in the market places, in which
Mohammed is seen; there is the passion
play at Oberammergau, and in the
Roman theaterS. under the walls oil the
vatican, the pope is seen on the stage i'll
plays in which, by a ray of light, God
himself is represented.
I am the first l think. to put the
pope on the English stage, but I hear
that a well known dramatist is now at
work on a play in which the central
figure is the pope. The question as tc
If in some instances a stage presenta-
ton of a noble character might lower
him. it is quite possible that his dignity
might be heightened.
Another basis of criticism is on ac-
count of the sort of pope / have pOr
traved.
1.-The pope himself has read the 'Eter-
nal City He was interested in nv
work when 1 was in Rome and as soon
as the book was published he sent for
copy and had it read to him. 1t was
rumored shortly after that the work had
been placed on the index. A friend of
mine in Rome not at my request, how
ever, went to the secretary of the index
and asked him if my book had been put
on the prohibition list.
NO the secretary replied. nor will
It be-
''It is difficult. however. to suit both
sides. Six months ago I opened a Cath
Ollie bazaar in Douglas, Isle of Man, and
made a speech, in which I referred fire.
quently to the holy father. The Nation
al club of London, of which 1 am
member and which was founded as a
Protestant club, got hold of a COPY of
the sDeech. and thew sent it back with
the words holy father UNDERSIGNED
wherever they appeared, and I virtually
was threatened with expulsion. I was
charged before a committee with hay-
ing acted to foster the Catholic religion.
There was no action, but it was intima-
ted that I had better not do it again.
six months ago 1 was accused of
paying too much respect to the Catholic
religion, and now l am criticised for
not paying enough.
Il am satisfied that the production
will be of the highest order, and for the
rest 1 have confidence in your broad
American Catholicism.
THE idea of The Eternal City was
suggested in the first place by a dream
concerning a woman who betrayed her
thought that it was new version OF
the old story of Samson and Delilah,
which might have some interest. In the
second scene of the first act we strike
the note of this idea, in the passage of
scripture which the little boy Joseph
reads to his mother. But the actual de-
velOpment of the Samson and Delilah
idea comes later in the play in the
scene in the vatican garden, when the
p<pe induces Roma to tell what she
knows of David Rossi'
when you first made note of this
story was it with a view to writing a
play or a novel?'
"A play. l wrote a rough draft Of the
play, and it was submitted to Charles
Frohman. He commissioned me to
supply him with the finished play by
certain date. 1 then went to Rome in
order to study my subject, bbut I found
so much there that interested me, both
from the religious and the political