The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09
The National Art TheateT.
An Endowment by One Man Not Con-
ducive to Its Success.

QucAVe 70 us SuCCeSS.
| There have been many assertions
that Andrew Carnegie or some other
man of great wealth could be induced
/ to build the National Art Theater. Re-
peated1y it has been said Mr.. Carnegie
would give willing ear TO a representa-
tive committee of theatrical men and
would provide, not only for the con-
struction of the theater, but also for
its financial support
! No one viii dispute the strength Of
the Carnegie purse strings. but if the
ironmaster has not lost his wisdom he
viii reject all suggestions of this sort
If they are made-and continue TO
/ sink his millions in libraries and peace
palaces II the National Art Theater
is to be a success it Will come only
through efforts such as are now being
made.
The word national" embraces the
whole people. So the National Art The
alter must be national in spirit as we'll
as in name. It must be wholly Amer
/ lean, and not a monument to individual
wealth. 1t must be built by the work
of many, else it will fall.
"A
/ theater have been alarmed by the
thought that. after all. Mr.. Carnegie
might be called in to overcome the dif-
hcuIty in promoting the scheme There
\ has been no real cause for alarm In
all things that touch the patriotic spirit
Americans are independent Libraries
! by the score may be built by million
aires, but no individual may put pane
of glass in the White House. There is
nothing to prevent an individual, how
ever from building a theater and calling
| il National" but not all the riches
in King Solomon's mines would make
the public look upon it as a national
asset.
Big Checks Not Desired.
The National Art Theater will he
built without a single big check. The
present movement is healthy one. and
seems to promise success Persons in
terested in artistic achievements have
lent their names TO the cause from all
parts of the Union. There has not been
so general a tendency to give hard
cash; but this will come when enthu-
siasm has grown.
There have been many railers at the
idea OF America setting up a national
theater. but OF late the opposing voices
have become fewer and less assertive.
Joseph Jefferson has been mildly sar-
castle in saying there are too many oh
stacles to be overcome, one obstacle
being the difficulty in obtaining the
best dramatic talent The value OF this
prediction Will not be known until the
theater is built. William A. Brady has
openly disapproyed the scheme. and
others as far apart in their talents as
these men have Joined them in argu-
ing that the United States would not
find in the National Art Theater what
Paris has found in the Theatre Fran
Gals.
OF late there has been a remarkable
increase in the membership OF the Ma
tional Art Theater Society, OF New
York. From a few sincere organizers
the society has grown until 1t is backed
by more than 500 sympathetic mem
, bers.
Representative and Practical
That the society is representative OF
theatergoers is shown by the following
men who have become Identified with 1t;
Nikola Tesla. Rudolph Keppler, presi-
dent of the stock exchange; Edmund
Clarence Stedman, the Rev Thomas R.
Slicer. Fernando Miranda, the sculptor;
: Prof. Adolphe Cohn. and w H Carpen-
ter, of Columbia University; John R.
, Dos Passos, lawyer; Frank Tilford,
banker; former Judge ~ J. Dittenhoefer.
Commander J. d. Jerrold Kelly. U. s.
! N; Isaac L. Rice, Hamlin Garland, and
! Irving Bachelor.
r The officials OF the society have been
striving for the last three months to
change the public belief. fostered by
miscellaneous. that the National Thea
c | ter would be run chiefly for the produc-