The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-01
CLEVS PLAY ABOUT 4 BROKER
HENRY, JR., MAY HAVE FOUND
A MODEL IN HENRY, SIR.

|"
4is LIE In Paris Its Theme 10 the
odd one That Money isn't Everything. |
When Henry Clews, Jr., went TO live In
Paris several years ago 1t was said that no
intended TO devote himself to painting 40
aprofession, and he did enter one Of the ate
liars there. Previous to that time he bad
heen for q while In his fathers brokerage
oface, but gave up business altogether after
hs marriage to the former wife Of Frederick
Gebhard, who was Miss Morris Of Baltimore.
Mr.. Clevs hos sent no examples OF his
skill as q painter to this country, but the
first evidence Of his success In another
sohool has reached New York. He has
written q play In French verse dealing with
the conditions Of life In this city. The hero
Of II is a millionaire stock broker and might
IN some particulars have been copied from
The gentleman whose name the author bears.
Mr.. Clews has apparently become sooialistio
IN his beliefs since he went TO Paris to live.
He calls his play "The Poverty Of the Rich.'
Mr.. Clews b still under %.
Az q preface he writes en- analysis OF the
character OF Thomas Tips, the millionaire.
who Is the principal figure OF the story.
He says:
He has become 90 mechanical under the
unlimited mechanism Of our epoch that he
might pass as a prototype OF the human being
Of the future.
His gestures, which are rare. and his set
walk resemble a machine more than o man.
He seems to have been manufactured piece
nv piece. To look At his skin, like parchment.
one could believe that he had cold. white
blood, a sort Of oil, which acts IA yellously
on the machinery OF his body.
He gives tho impression OF listless energy.
Of an endurance equal to any test. He Is
aHable without knowing 1t. He appears TO
have pleasures, suiferings. sorrows, passions
different from those which humanity has ex-
perienced up to this time.
There are some other traits Of the Ameri-
can millionaire as he knows him to which
the author also calls attention:
Is Il not against his nature to wish to amuse
himselff He resembles at that time an
engine of the track. gloomy and useless.
Boredom visibly accompanies all his Efforts
to amuse himself. He wanders aimlessly to
the four quarters of the world. visits one IA
nous city after another and stops indifer-
entity here and there. II he looks at q beauti-
full forest Il is not to admire the luxurianceo Of
the foliage, but to estimate the number OF
trees. II he pauses before o beautiful lake 1t
Is to calculate instinctively It's superficial
area. At night he counts the stars and COM
putes the dimensions o! the neon. He makes
the infinite material instead OF shuddering
at the mystery Of 1t.
Art does not exist for him. He has, how.
ever. the mania for collecting all kinds OF
thin %. He is ceeselessly in quest OF the beauti-
full productions Of all ages. But he collects
books and pictures solely with a view to their
mercantile value. If he does not interest him
self In art he has recourse to an architect
for his purchases. He has carte blanche. He
builds the palace, the furniture, decorates II
from ROOF to cellar. to such a point that the
master, who knows nothing about the furnish
ing but the cost. Is able to enter his establish
ment to hnd everything complete from the
pictures TO the books In the library.
After these unkind observations on the
artistic failings Of the American millionaire
MIR. clews gives him q handsome tribute
from another viewpoint:
He IL a GOOD husband. model father and ex.
cellens patriot. His life free from reproach.
IL responds with mathematical precision to
his social duties. The machine works Won
derfnlly. 1t realizes tho highest degree Of its
capacity.
This preamble to the play prepares the
audience for the character Of Thomas Tips,
Ia whose home the action passes. His
house IL on Fifth avenue, facing Central
Park. The room providing the scene for the
play is an apartment Of great splendor.
Amid this magnifcence Is a table Uttered
with business papers and supplied with a
telephone. At the opening OF the play
there is q group Of visitors admiring q new
Velasouez which he has just acquired.
Among these is q newly appointed Bishop.
Mr.. Tips admits to himself in soliloquy
that he had to pay 100000 for the mans
appointment az Bishop. The society women
who admire the new picture are. also in
terested In Mr.. Tips's dealings on the stock
market for them. The guests praise the
depart. When the hero Is alone he sum-
mons Mr.. Kelly. his secretary, who Is to put
his correspondence in order. It appears
that the secretary has a real soul for art and
Is able to appreciate much more than their
posseeeor the treasures in the room. He
especially admires two costly Chinese vases,
saying:
His things are more to me than they are to
Tire. His soul feels nothing OF tho admtre-
ton Of these treasures which mine accla ms.
The secretary learns from Mr.. Tips when
be returns to the luxurious DON how
much the Chinese ~porcelains cost and how
long II would take him to pay for them
even Il he gave up all OF his yearly salary
OF $1,000. The contemplation OF ais great
WealCl WHICH INtb puiCuoo0 puk6OoeD
Mr.. Tips leads him to oonide to his secre-
tary his idea OF the importance that 80 much
money gives a man In the world to-day.
He says:
From time to time the world has been
dasaled by others. Every epoch has lie cult.
They rushed at the dawn In crowds toward
Jesus to touch the hen Of His garment. Then
II was the turn Of poets and warriors. Now
the laurels come to US handlers Of capital.
Mr.. Tips sven admits that bis millions
make him the true poet OF this day, just
as famous men Of the past were poets OF
their time
Look around you and read my poems. these
powerful trust and public gifts. What en-
blems, Kelly. bear witness to my sovereignty
l am the Alpha-I. Tips- and the Omega OF
all.
Humanity ebbs and flows In my brain. I
found q hospital with a gesture and raise q
giant city durlng my siesta.
Is It not the most beautiful poetry that we
have-that Of which l make the cadence with
my millions?
My names engraved on the pedestal OF my
century. II is worthy from its radiance OF
this glorious decoration.
To this spotheosis. Of his power the score
tary assents with the humility OF an enh-
ployee. but he Is bold enough to ask the
millionaire N he can put death under sub.
lection. Tips thinks he oan scare It Oh, ut
any rate. by his physiciane. The arrival
~ NJ RL6rlhiyo tho arohitacf. who has