The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-24


minds eye seemed to him somewhat
significant. But 1t was only yesterday.
when Herr Conried issued his singular
" modest and unassuming statement
OF his German plans for the uplifting
OF the American theatre. that the en-
tire theatrical profession fell 10 laugh
ing as it rarely has before. This the
atFe of Herr Conried's is not only 70
elevate the drama in all its phases, but
It is 10 teach both actors and players
alike how 10 deport themselves and
speak correct grammar.
No play, however great its success,
is 10 receive more than eighteen per-
formances. and Herr .COnried hlmseif
is TO. choose a committee Of three So
ciety women who are 10 decide irrev-
ocably who shall and who shall not be
allowed 10 own the boxes The fact
that throughout his earlier career In
this country Herr Conried has scored
by reproductions of foreign successes,
usually acted here by the German act
ors who scored in the original produe-
tons, and that lie has yet 10 show
what he can do in the way OF pro-
dnction in English OF classic or any
kind of an American play. only lends
his remarkable statement an addi-
tional dash Of humor.
In the present state of the dramatic
market there is no doubt that Herr
Conried win, il necessary, turn 10 and
write a new set of classics himself. Ills
prospectus certainly shows that he POS
sesses the requisite imagination.
-
It probably will be many days before
George Bernard Shaw viii cease 70 De
good copy" for magazine and news
paper He continues TO be interviewed,
quoted, cussed, and discussed IN ali
sections and Ia all manner Of ways.
One of the latest Shaw stories is an
interview In the Theatre Magazine for
December. in which tie unique one de-
clares that the good people are all
wrong and the bad people are right.
And thus he expla ms:
you know I am an old socialist. and
Ii Is as q socialist, as well as dralnat-
list, that / write. Now, ] am convinced
that the old idea that socialism is an
economic financial movement is an ex-
ploded one. The object Of socialism
ought not to be the reform OF the eco
nonic conditions of the world and
change in the distribution of wealth.
The true object Of socialism ought 10
be moral reform. The old notions OF
morality have had their day; they are
now obsolete and must make way Tor
new morality morality more humane
and more in accordance with the new
cond tons of things. with the necessi-
ties and the wants OF the modern world
The fact is that so-called good people
are all wrong. and bad people, or people
Teputed as such. are right. This is no
joke" insisted Mr.. Shaw, noticing an
incredulous smile on his listener, Il
mean what ! say. 1t IS time we had
revolution. Oh. I do not advocate q
revOlut On, because n revolution is con-
sidered wrong by most people; but ]
want TO educate the people up TO a
point where it viii be recognized that
there is nothing wrong in a revolution
Ny plays advocate moral reform.
"T am attacked by Mr.. Comst0ck. who
evidently knows more about morality
than any man living. because he has
des' royed some ninety-three tons Of
post cards. Why. am overwhelmed, !
am crushed. BY that enormous weight
of post cards. But this is neither here
nor there. | see Mr.. ComstOck says he
viii have every actor ana actress play
ing in Man and Superman' and Mrs.
Warren's Profession put in prison. I
have no doubt he vii lif he is allowed
TO have his way. and I am certain he
would like 10 clap me in jail. too. Well,
he won't"
Mr.. Shaw chuckled as if the idea
amused him immensely.
Morality, it seems" continued the
dramatist. lis an affair OF longitude;
the farther west you go. the more peo-
pie claim to be more moral and more
virtuous than their eastern neighbnrs.
The Dutch think the Germans are i'm
moral; the English deplore the deprav-
ity of the French; and the Americans,
in their turn, look upon us English as
monsters OF iniquity and immortality.
And so goes the wave Of VfTtuOuS in
dignation until il reaches the Pacific"
'But in your play Man and Super
man. your hero, John Tanner, who de-
uouuces marriage, becomes AIMS be-
tTOthed. Is not this running away
from your point? May it not be looked
upon as q contradiction-this mar
riage? II almost seems as If YOU had
not the courage Of your opinions
Not bit Of il. / am a socialist, but