The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-27
THE NATIONAL THEATRE.
Why the Head OF IL should he . Native
Born American.

To TIE EDITOR or TIE SpS Sir. The
other day there appeared in THr SrN n letter
which deeply Interested me. II was signed
An American Playwright" and its subject
was the national theatre and the necessity OF
having ut Its head q native born manager.
IL seems most natural. most desirable. most
fitting that there should be put at the head
OF an endowed national theatre n man thor
oughly in sympathy with American ~tastes.
ideals. needs. peculiarities. tendencies. II
would look very silly to select any man but
an American. IL would tend TO lower us in
the eyes Of other countries. There has been
enough patronage bestowed upon us. Let
us be independent In our art as we are in
other things. II stands to reason that no
German. no Frenchman. no Englishman conld
do 80 well for the American drama as an
American.
The other day there appeared in a New York
paper an interview with Granville Barker,
in which he said that he had been ZAP
preached with regard to taking charge OF
the Now Theatre. MIR. Barker said he had
never been in America and that his ideas in
regard to the American drama we're vague"
However able he may be as a critic Of plays,
IL stands to reason that he In not In a position
TO recognize American conditions and TO
minister to American needs. From the inter-
"icw I should Judge that he has many insular
preiudices and lacks the accessibility" which
old John Dryden praised and which he said
most Englishmen did not have. Surely We
do not want an avowed disciple Of BERNARD
shaw at the head OF our national theatre.
II the New Theatre Ia not TO he national, il
to be merely the plaything OF a few rich men.
the public has no right to ~criticise or to sug-
gest. Such men could select a Hottentot II
they chose. IL would not be the concern OF
the public. But II this theatre is TO be an
endowed national theatre, then American
Dla vWrf1ht" and nfhar critica have a parfarf
right TO express their opinions. There must
be talent. observation-disclosures. accessibility TO
new ideas. progressive thought and arctic
S c9l Gsrma aese d Don't @s' let ss us 10 be- ec csiidTe;n, AFRAID afraia
to take an Independent step.
When Tennyson died and the laureateship
was vacant Gladstone refused to appoint a
poet 70 succeed Tennyson. because. az he
wrote In q letter to me, he knew Of no one
b bS5o %"ap sa ihliSerGy sthous VII otssrWis eSr s.nnS
appointed Alfred Austin.
Now there is no one In America more eli
gible for the mana cement OF a national
Theatre than Minnie Madden Ftske. but she
Is, handicapped as Jean Ingelow was. Mrs.
thraidom in art and against commerciaIism.
Her standards OF taste are the highest. She
has done more for American art thar many
people realize. She has also done more than
any one else In America to anticipate the play
Of the future. which Granville Barker pre-
for n5TV an ~ entire NTH 20 oo Or sur Her er' work Ru as 'se stage Rsss
manager has been TO give a fun. well rounded.
polished. performance. In which every per-
former has been trained adequately and
thoroughly. in which the star does not shine
at the expense OF any one else. Her work has
been unselfish. patient. painstaking and brill
iantly successful. or her own work as n
great dramatic artist this II not the place 10
speak. She has won a fame which will en-
dure, In the history OF the stage her rank
viii he among the highest. Her. ability as a
woman Of executive power and OF intellectual
force. and her. services to American art
would be valuable were H. possible to have
her at the head Of such an institution. But
unfortunately Mrs. Fiske is barred out.
As your correspondent ~refrains from nam
who are lifted to be Mt the head Of a national
theatre. | will initiate his example, merely
recalling 20 your memory what Henry Arthur
Jones said at Harvard the other day:
A you vie with us In friendly games and con
tests OF bodily strength. may you more resolutely
ornament OF life; have the wisdom richly 10 cndow
and increasingly to foster all the arts and all that
makes for majesty of life and character rather than
for national prosperity and comfort. Especially
so much neglected and misunderstood In both
countries. train your actors. reward your drama,
lists. sparngly with fees, lavlshly with lsurels: hid
them dare TO paint American life sanely, truthfIlly.
painted. Dare TO let your drama ndicule and re
prove your follies and Vices and deformitIes. Dare
TO let II mock and whip as well As amuse you. Dare
20 let u be a faithful mirror. Make II one OF your
national esteem. for II will draw upward all your
national life and character upward TO higher and
more worthy levels, 70 starry heights Of wisdom
and beauty and resolve and aspiration.
Now I ask: Could an Englishm1n who has
never been In America carry out these friendly
precepts as well as a native horn Americana?
MoNTCLAIr, ". J., July 20.