The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

goers 10 demand Of playwrights things
impossible 20 do" He held up the Amer
Jean play as worthy TO be considered
among the fifty best in dramatic iitera-
ture.
However. all this is preliminary 20 the
real issue-the open revolt Of actors
against the treatment accorded them by
these impartial literary hangmen. Ethel
Barrymore and Arnold DAILY have recent
ly thrown discretion to the wind and
aired their opinions OF the metropolitan
critics. Their frankness is delightful
They actually assume that they have as
much right 20 eriticise the critics as the
critics have 10 criticise them. OF course,
this Is seditious.
Miss Barrymore was asked by the Her
aid how she expected to be received when
she appeared as Rosalind. Il expect to
get roasted" naIvely replied that splendid
young daughter of Thespis
Having defined their wrath. she began
to dlssect them-the critics. She did
liz with adroitness and sans fear,
answering the query as TO what qualities,
IN her opinion, should adorn a critic with
ready analysis He should know at
least a few things about the stage. should
be intelligent, should be able to lay some
claim TO a literary sfyle-and he should
above all things, be free Of prejudice" "
That sounds simple and reasonable.
And what kind OF criticism should be
written" asked the interviewer
Honest and dignified," answered Miss
Barrymore. This ridiculing plays that
are inteaded to be serious, ridiculing the
work OF actors who are serious women
and merz who are seriously trying to do
the best that Is in them-all this is wrong
Sarcasm should have no place IN criticism
NJ al IL only makes the men at whom
IT IS aimed Tesentful-and It hurts the
women. 1t does not stir any one TO doirg
better things; It simply makes them Bit
ter and makes a difficult life stiIl more
dlHicuit. II does no good and il does a
great deal Of harm"
A good deal more along this lire Miss
barrymore said. and when she was asked
about audiences she up and declared. 7
yeaTn for the audiences Of other cities
audiences that appear 10 come to the the
ater 10 be amused and entertained. The
New York public has such a superior air
and its attitude is that OF trying to find
out how bad q play can really be found
to be. Il goes 20 carp not 70 laugh and
cry"
Il was straight from the shoulder. in
her most amiable way. all through She
had the satisfaction Of knowing that her
blow in the dark had landed on some
thing. for one OF the critics soon after
iauded Maude Adams 10 the skies and
held the latter Up as an example OF a
nice girl who never INDUCED In gratui-
tous filings al the critics
But though Miss BARRYMORE smoke her
mind freely and without mental reserva-
ton or secret evasion. it was not so Sc
we're as Arnold DAILY in his arraignment
OF tie craft He said: we have the
spectacle of gentlemen Of education and
breeding making a pltiable exhibition Of
themselves in a futile effort 10 be funny
az the expense Of an unfortunate being
Ihis. ! may say is the attitude Of the
New York critic toward everything on
the stage-they must be funny-at any
sacrifice they must he funny That your
critic has no attributes for his Office is
easily proven If YOU read them well ANY
mediocre actor could take the criticisms
oi most OF these sO-caiied critics and tear
thfif reasoning 10 pieces. because they
Feally know little concerning whereof thev
speak. Your critic is not even an en-
tlusiastic theorist. Criticism Is the only
thing connected with the theater that has
not only stood still but has actually de-
generated in the last century. We have
ponce reporters boldly attempting that
Wnlcn scholars IN Kean's time tinidIv.
FeFeTently, and conscienuousIv approach
ed Henry Irving and Augllstin DAILY
treated these assassiBs of the pen. as
Forrest called them. in the only way In
which II Is possible 10 obtain from them
continued fayorsble comment. They al
ways gave them plenty 10 eat and drink
thus suggesting that their stomachs con
tanned whatever brains they~-possessed
Moreover, they sometimes tickIed thair
vanity by naming their pet cats and dogs
after them
is there anything more audacious on
record2 And what VIII happen 10 DAILY
Whe" be next appears here. and what
VIII happen TO Miss Barrymore when She
does make her debut IN Rosalind2 One
hesitates to say But II Ajax may be
considered a brave man for defvine the
lightning. / give the palm TO these mod
erns VINO openly denounce the sacred
oracles. the high priests Of the temple
VINO have no sense Of appreciation Of the
STUN that martyrs are made of. They
nave the rack and wheel al hand 10 break
every apostate who comes along with q
gay and buoyant disregard of his per
SCnaI comfort and ho4Ttb