The Washington times., 1908-11-29
Authors Logic
In The Battle
Full of Tricks
Play Has Appeal, But Is
Unconvincing on Close
Analysis.

OF course much of the reasoning
with which Haggleton confounds the
agitators in The Battle" is full of
tricks. What does it prove that the
poor do violate the law? They have
usually less understanding of their Of
tense than the rich, their violations of
the law do not so often endanger others,
and wrongdOing by them would not con
done in any little part lawbreaking by
their brothers OF more means.
Nevertheless, il is good to hear the
plea for charity so inpressively re-en-
forced We can understand that with
out joining with those who condemn
the muckrakers for destroying faith
in human nature" The mUckrakers
are, in the end, much better guardians
of faith in humanity than those who
would palliate ali ohfenses or any Of
lenses But the rich and powerful are
not the only Offenders. and the ability
which has created their power is en-
titled to recognition and admiration.
A Primal Requirement.
such a lesson must be taught bril-
lianuy on the stage OF not at all Men
and women who seek TO be entertained
will not listen TO sermons in the theater
not IN this country Ia Spain, France,
and Germany the drama is accepted Is
something more than on exposition of
human nature i'm motion. Thus Eche-
geray and BOurget-the one the author
of "EI Gran GaleotO," the other the
author of "Uu Divorce could write
long soHIoquies into their plays in con-
hdent anticipation that their prospective
auditors would not weary of good Span
ssh or good French unsteady and iHu-
zzfatiugly spoken.
sat in America, discussion must
p incidental 10 action. and never
o. such length as 10 interfere
with the progress of events That Is
why in these parts a performance OF
Hamlet must be ended at 1850 o'clock
every night, and in Germany or France
or Spain it can run TO 12.S1, and even J.
England holds middle ground, which
means that plays imported TO our yam
llee shores from the British Isles reach
as very much as they have been acted
abroad But plays which come from the
Continent must not only be refracted
through TRANSACTIONS. but abridged be
youd all proper consideration OF the
author.
Above the STANDARD.
Even so, the product is good enough
To make us wonder that our American
playwriehts do not oftener do better
Thus. THE World and His Wife,
..IyAfgIon" Mazda The Marriage
of Kitty" "Divorcons," odd Heidel-
berg" and a book full of other titles
come To mind as Indicating that how
ever continental plays must De made
over and fitted for our intellectual meas
ure, the reward is great. Now comes
I'm Divorce" by a great French pub
licist, essayist, and litterateuT-Paul
Bourget 1t is made from a long book.
The literary purpose was to present a
picture, not to outline il or analyze il
or to preach by it, simply 10 make II
collection of moving pictures of life as
II was in France and let the audience
do the rest
Critics elsewhere-among them the
ablest now writing OF the stage-have
voted I'm Divorce" one of the most
forcefuI and absorbing of modern
plays. If that appralsement be just
then the Columbia Will be a focus OF
interest the ensuing week. The Belasco
goes over TO music, with an offering
entitled THE Gay Musician" an agree
able foil to the spoken drama at the
Columbia. The National adds its con-
tribution 10 variety with Dockstader's
AIinsUeIs.
Management Not to Blame.
The likelihood is that if our three
leading washington playhOuses could
manage their bookings. they would es-
tablish some such variation as this
every week. But they cannot. and there
is in sight no human agency which
would make il possible.
For, in the first place, this would re-
quire a division of all road companies
into three equal classes. In the second
place il would limit the divisions TO
three classes. and that would be rather
unfortunate for cities like Boston, Phil
sdelphia, Chicago. and st. Louis, which
have half a dozen pIayhOuses, each pre-
senting hrst-class attractions. Third. IL
would pretty well require that all these
companies should be held to a schedule
like baseball clubs, and that would be a
syndication beyond the dreams of the
most sanguine advocate of the trusts.
Finally, it would mean that plays which
succeed and plays which far must b
allotted engagements OF the same fixed
length in New York and Chicago. and
that is an absurdity
The next time, then, when there are
Two musical shows" here in one week.
OF when three stars of the highest grade
must bid against each other, or when
no one OF our three theaters OF highest
rank has an attraction of your particu-
lar sort, think for a little on the difi-
Culties of arranging bookings. It will
make you more content.
ALLEN d AI,RERT