Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-12-22

New York.-"The New York Idea"
has been a much-discussed play Peo-
pie have wanted to know why Mr..
Langdon Mitchell, leveling his satire
at divorce, was at pains to describe
it as a New York idea.
Il chose New York for my title be-
cause New York is the greatest OF
American cities and reflects American
life," Mr.. Mitchell explained: The
play might have been called The
Chicago Idea or The Philadelphia
Idea just as well, 1 suppose The
most explicit title would probably be
The American Idea"
In other Words remarked the re-
porter, you used the words New
York to mean America, just as we say
Paris when we mean France, or
speak of London when we think of
England"
Precisely"
why do you assume the attitude
you do on the divorce question:"
The author settled back in his chair
as if to weigh lis words. Mr. Mitch
ell is anything but a fiippant young
man of the town. His urbane manner
and an almost imperceptible impress
sion of reserve at once recall his IA
Inor, LII .. w cir hllCA0Il, me HOlSu
physician, and himself a famous au-
thor.
Mrs. Fiske suggested several years
ago." he said, gravely, that I write
a play with divorce as the theme"
Would not such a play be serious %
eff there were children in a drama
of divorce it would be a great tragedy.
I decided, however, that my play
| should be a comedy"
Acting, 1 suppose, on the principle
that ridicule is the most dangerous of
weapons suggested a representative
| of the New York Times.
! No. There is a great drama in the
divorce question, if treated as seri-
Gus problem. 1 should like to write
such play. My decision was reached,
however, to make my play a
comedy
1T has been suggested that your
methods resemble those of Bernard
Shaw. Did you have his work in
mind?'
ANY resemblance to Mr.. Shaw's
plays in The New York Idea is quite
unconscious, I assure you,'' Mr.. Mitch
ell replied. 81 know Mr.. Shaw, having
met him in London while l was liy-
ing there He was very kind to me
when my first play was produced in
England 1 have never been student
of his plays, though. 1 can almost
say 1 have not seen performances OF
them OF course, 1 make a round OF
the theaters every season, but l go
away into the country to write my
plays"
Life as the Author Sees 1t.
Then your criticisms of modern
conditions merely reflect life as you
see it2'
Marriages based on affection, 10y
atty, and a sense of duty are not
affected by the satire and rebuke in
my play. Nearly all married people
have quarrels- Where the husband
and wife have a sense of loyalty and
obligation they pass an unpleasant
day or so and then are good friends
again. With people like Cynthia and
John Karslake, on the other hand, 3
divorce is the first thing that sug
gests itself-the easy, the usual END
of a quarrel in married life.
Who is to blame for such a condi
| tionf The law makes marriage civil
contract; divorces are easy to OBJ
tain The church may place a ban OF
divorce Why does not that keel
husband and wife out of the divorc,
, court? Can it be that the people an
criticising have ceased 20 be guidet
by the church %
Mrs Parsons recently suggested
: marriages on probation, suggested
+ the reporter is such a system pos
sible2"
When we come right down to #
Mr. Mitchell replied, do not som,
marriages amount to precisely that?
THE real trouble and the blame
continued Mr. Mitchell. lies deepe
than the foolish husbands and wive
have sought to typify in Mr. an,
Mrs karslake- The people / reall.
aim at are the fathers and mother
: OF such husbands and wives VIII,
do they not teach their children tina