The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-03
Two German Dramas.
Work of Younger Writers for the Ger
man Theaters.

Little Is known 10 the olltSlCe world.
even to that part of it which watches
with interest the progress e the stage.
concerning the younger German play
wrights. The German comedy farce is
popular everywhere, and especially in
America; but the serious dramas Of the
Teutonic world receive little attention,
unless their authors become famous.
For some time critics have spoken of
the work of Arthur Schnitzler in con-
junction with the productions Of his
more eminent seniors and countrymen,
Sudermann. Hauptmann, etc. Schnitzler
has had several popular successes, and
he is regarded as a growing man. He
is not a problem-play writer. but he is
praised for his vivid. striking pictures
of a dissoivins. dying. morally unsound
society-a society which has discarded
the old moorings without having found
new ones, a drifting, aimless society.
Schnitzler's last play is declared by
the critics to be richer of content and
more significant than any one OF its
predecessors. II is entitled DER Einsam
Veg CThe Solitary Way, and is a
study of modern life. morals. and ideas
among the most intellectual strata of
society. Having been given az St
Petersburg by a Berlin company. the
critic OF the '-Novosti." after rcciting its
plot, characterizes il as follows:
"In this play, the scene OF which is
Vienna. there figure all the representa-
tives OF culture and intelligence. We
have here a celebrated painter. an emil
nent dramatist. a physician, an author,
and a professor. All these personages
are highly cultivated and refined; they
are all clever and original; they vie
with one another in witty sayings and
criticisms Of their time and environ
ment. In the society Of such people one
can never experience tediism; but ex-
anime them more closely and YOU get
alarmed over them and the spiritual
emptiness which torments them. Each
OF them is a distinct individuality and
master within his special sphere. but
none Of them has vocation or purpose
in life apart from such special pursuit
None is intimately connected with the
deeper sides Of life. They have had their
adventures. their love affairs, Of a light
and superficial kind. but as they grow
older discomfort takes possession OF
them and they dread their future. old
age. the lack OF ties and companlonship
Yet you feel that these people are cap
able Of other. Of greater things. Only a
oecaying society produces such types.
The story of the play is as follows:
Julian Fichtner. a painter, had in his
youth loved beautiful girl. the hancee
Of another named Gabrielle. Fichtner
had agreed TO elope with her and make
her his wife. At the eleventh hour. he
had shrunk from the responsibility and
led without the girl
Many years had passed since that ae-
ton. F1chtner had not made a bril-
liant success in art He became a
wanderer-a disappointed man. Gabri-
ella had married another, a professor.
Wegrath, and had died, leaving a SON
his son, though named and known as
the professors legitimate child. He de-
cides to open his heart to young Felix
70 acknowledge his paternity. But
when he does so. Felix repulses him and
treats him as an utter stranger.
Fichtners friend, a writer stephen
Won Sala. is also a man with . a.
soul He Is fatally IN. He is loved b,,
pensiYe and high-minded girl. Jo-
hanna. The hopelessness. of her a0eo-
ton drives her to suicide. Won sala roo
takes his own life. II is Won SaIa who
up the lesson Of their tragic. wasted
lives thus: What Is there IN comn,oy,
between that which we have done and
been and real love? Have we ever made
any sacrifice? Have we paused before
falsehood. self-indulgence, egotisn? II
we had kept wealth and fame ana had
raised families. we should stin have
been lonely. We should have belonged
TO nobody, not having surrendered our
inner selves"
There Is more psychology than "ac
tion. In this play, but the Characters
are said 10 be well drawn, and the in
terest is sustained by the pIaywright's
vivid depletion OF their mental and moral
experiences.
In the same class OF psychological and
modern plays is TO be placed HERNIA mn
Bars Der Meister" ('.The Master'1 a
play which represents another aspect OF
modern life. This is a study of the
objective" cold, scientific expert a
sort OF "superman" who is above tho
emotions Of ordinary humanity. and
who considers affection 10 be a weak
ness.
The master" Is celebrated surgeon
lie IS naughty and excessively conscious
OF his own merits. He inspires resnect
and confidence, but not sympathy. He
Is impatient with weakness and human
failings
This master. however. is married to a
woman who. clever. educated, and ad-
vanced as she Is. Graves affection. She
is her husbands hrst assistant in his
celebrated surgical clinic. and apparent