New-York tribune., 1904-09-19

the handsome young American actor, plays the
pa-t OF Neuville with an air Of distinction.
Mr. Frohman's aim at the Duke Of Yorks
Theatre without doubt IS the gentle art Of anus
ing pIaygoers with bright dialogue and an in
teresting sentimental story, but am not sure
that the author has so much TO do with the sue
cess Of Merely Mary Ann" as the actress her
self Miss Eleanor Robson makes a romantic
figure Of Mr.. zsngwiu's lodging house drudge.
and disarrns the critics, who are ready to sreer
st early Victorian stories OF the Dickens order
and &c reject the plot as conventional and banaL
Less fantastic than the Marchioness of the
curiosity Shop" this was drearnland maid Of
all work without the taint Of vulgarity or the
slightest pretence OF realism: and she charmed
-aded pIaysoers accustomed to condemn any i'm
re-sonatlcn that was Tot convincing and within
The range Of plsusibilty. The critics went to
the theatre with well worn phrases on their lips
about the crudeness OF American acting. the
Hasal twang and tendency 10 overact parts
md 10 overemphasize phrases; and they rem
6ered tribute the next morning 70 Miss Rob
sons enforced humor. exquisite delicacy and
llnceasing charm. There could be nothing but
admiration for a performance which was so ar
tstic as 10 conceal the weak points OF q con-
ventional play, with a fourth act involving bla-
tant concessions 10 the galleries. Miss Robson
without doubt saved the play by her freshness
and the originality Of her irnpe-sonation: and
certainly she touched the coldest hearts with the
tenderness, sincerity and sweetness Of her ideal
ized. romantic drudge. ! shall not be sur
prised Il Merely Mary Ann with this charm
ing bit OF character acting. rivals in popularity
Mr. Jacobss Beauty and the Barge" which
has settled down at the New Theatre FOR a long
run.
Mrs Craigies friends. who are familiar with
her methods OF work and literary aims. have
been amused by al announcement IL the Arleri-
can press that she was feverishly engaged in
writing three novels a. cEce. and was dropping
her intellectual style and going in strongly for
plots Every sincere snd earnest artist forms
habits and clngs 10 them. Mrs. Craigfe IS
never II haste, and neither publishers nor the
atre managers oan get work from her until II
is completed By leisureiy processes She IS ac-
customed 10 keep several themes in mind. Just
painters have various portraits ard subject
pictures n their studies. Each Of her novels
represents az least three years Of study and
consideration and she is neyer preoccupied with
a single subject 10 The exclusion OF other work
When work is the result Of thought. observation
and experience this is the natural method II
net the only one possible. and i has been fol-
lowed invariably she would probably say. by
convey, 10 The best OF their gifts. large i'm
preston OF life and human feeling. She nrst
sHetche6 The Flute Of Pan four years aEo.
and she has been working at il ever since. at
Intervals; and, while II IS romance II contains
e definite philosophy. There has been no recent
change II her literary activities. She tells her
friends that she can invent plots easily enough.
bur ADDS that an Enecdote does rot interest her
until she can find some meaning in it, and that
a situation, 10 matter how dramatic, is q blank
10 her unless she knows something about the
souls Of the individuals posed That thing
should be done is not enough for her. She
wants 10 understand Ehy, rightly or wrongly.
II was done She writes because she takes an
intense interest in Psychology, and. since che
WoTks deliberately and fully develops her
tHeznes, she likes TO tel her friends that there
is not line in her books which she has any
reason 70 consider false. taken sentimentaIIy or
otherWise Mrs. Craigie would rather have II
SAID thar she is not q novelist al all than read
descriptions OF her fsverish activities as =
weaver Of plots ana maker OF books Accord
Ing to my lights" she is apt 10 say. my study
Is mankind; and therefore I cannot play for
what is known as boom" INF