The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27

- LAUCUS and / having an idle
~ hour, betook US to the new
theater a-building in honor Of
Dionysus at Berkeley. 1t was
A an Olympian morning. the sea
a pearl in the lap OF the Cold
en- Gate. the sky behind the soft black
biOtches Of the pines a trembling pre-
ctousness Of blue. At our feet was gold,
September gold. the burnt gold Of the
earth, the bleached gold Of the grass,
pale with the spent passion Of the sum-
mer. The wind ran sweet about our
brOws'-GlaucUs' phrase, not mine-pine
scented and odorous with the thin sweet
ness Of redwood. BY broad oaks We wan
dered, tin Cleon, a youth returning from
the classes Of the sOphists-for the the
ater Is in the groves Of the Academe-
cOurtecusIy directed our steps to the road
that winds up the hill whereon it stands.
Talking Of the vanity Of TheodOrus, who,
as all know, VIII not permit the entry
Of an inferior actor before his own ap-
pearance on the stage, ard Of the enor-
nous sums paid 10 Polus for a single
performance, We wended our leisurely
way under the pines.
By the gods. but twas fair morning!
Even nj the day was for the first glimpse
OF the lovely temple now complete and
dedicated 10 the muses.. Silently we drew
near the heart Of the grove, where sheer
and sudden uprise the stately walls OF
the sanctuary. Silent we stood before
them. worshiping the noble harmony OF
the proportions, the business Of the orna-
ment. the singular beauty Of the color
ing-a gray born in the sunlight. As ST.
lently We entered then and sat looking
down upon a stage where perhaps a new
Sophocles shall vouchsafe 10 US new
''Oedipus."
The place inflames the soul. Glaucus
said: What nobler challenge TO the poet
than the silence Of the stage below Us
..Or where surroundings more lifted 10
inspire him?' returned, looking ABOUT
ma.
We climbed then to the lip Of the great,
auted shell. wherein 1000 people-by the
grace of two obols a head!-may sit. It
lies against a gentle slope that stretches
where unhidden by trees into an impe-
rial purple distance. Redwoods point
proud fingers al the gods above the col
umned stage and the milhon-scimltered
eucalyptus, virgin-bare OF limb now, It's
dark armament part redoened in the
blood Of summer, shimmers at the edge.
Through the trees one may catch the
distant CLEAN Of the Golden Gate, where
the ships OF the world sail in, sail out
10 their fate. And below, hidden by the
grave arabesque Of the grove, the far
cities glisten in the sun, lifting their
voices 10 him who shall sing their songs
unto the ages. For here is their eter-
nal temple.
More there would have been Of this
had not Gorgias, happening on the scene,
wrapped his chiffon about him and NUT
tered: What a place for prize fght!'
I found II very easy TO get to old Greece
efter talking with Professor Edward B.
Clapp, who is head OF the Greek depart
ment in the University OF California.
Professor Clapp was kind enough to dis
cuss with me the other morning the sig
Difcance and suggestion of Mr.. Hearst's
splendid gift 10 the university, the new
Greek theater. We met him. tall, broad,
swinging easily along 10 the station on
his way TO the city. But at my request
for a chat he turned back with ready
courtesy and took US TO his charming
5asmine-bOwered home on the campus
Just what is IL you wish to talk
about?" the professor asked, seating him
self against q background Of wistaria-
hung window
Something like this" I replied, taking
IN gratefully the tranquil suggestion Of
the low room, the unhurried unworldly
atmosphere Of the professor himself II
should like 10 know IL you in the univer-
sity feel that any extraordinary signif-
icance attaches 10 the foundation of a
Greek theater here2''
In what wav2'
Wei, not q few people believe that a
rather extraordinary proportion and quail
ity Of genius exists In California-we are
certainly in the talent belt as Taine
would say. And II seems that the build
ing Of a Greek theater, here where the
physical and climatic conditions so
strongly resemble those Of Greece-in
fact, in a city on the same line of lati-
tude as Athens-is a matter Of peculiar
moment"
Il think So" the professor agreed. And
j believe there is an unusual proportion
Of genius here, OF original thought For
example, IN exceptional talents ike those
Of the young fellow who died-Norris-
and London. Then in peculiar fields-the
translations Of d'Heredia's sonnets by
Dr. Taylor OF the university here. for in
stance, that are attracting wide atten-
ticn in London Just now. one finds much
being done. In music and the drama, too,
believe the promise and perform
ance are also exceptional Victor
Cousin, by the way, discusses the effect
OF environments on the development Of
genius al much greater length than