Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-29

hNtl sounds a note at the opportune
NkW moment and for the time ap-
pears prophet and a son Of a prophet
Seldom does one OF these timely efforts
possess real merit, either as literature or
drama. 1t happens quite as often that they |
even lack accuracy. But IL is their good |
fortune to come at time when the pub
lie does not care especially for didactie in |
struction. II wants fuel for its developing |
sentiment. which. right or wrong, soon |
crystallizes into action and assumes the |
concrete form that gives it place in his |
tory. Such novel and such a play was |
Uncle Toms Cabin" Mrs. Stoves work
did more to fan the flame that heated |
the north to a point where it's various ele-
ments might fuse in opposition to slavery
than any other single agency. The potency
Of her written word and its effect when
depicted on the stage, was beyond the elo-
quence of her gifted brother or any Of the
galaxy of orators whose tongues rang with
denunciations Of the institution that
brought about the simple tale that moved
so many thousands to a common impulse.
1t may not be that any of the plays deal
ing with modern political conditions will
have similar effect. But the application
is similar and through it's operation "The
Lion and the Mouse" and "The Man Of the
Hour nave their vogue.
It is hardly fair to the American people
to say that either of these is the great
American play" That term has been
loosely applied to a great many plays, and
nothing serious has come from 1t yet.
singularly enough, It is usually given 20 a
play that deals intimately with some COM
mon phase of our social or political life.
When THE Henrietta" was written capa-
BILE critics were certain that Mr.. Howard
had sounded keynote. Something about
the family affairs Of the Van Alstynes
seemed to so closely depict existing condi-
tions in American life that 1t seemed the
bell had rung. But Belasco and DeMllle,
taking their cue from this play. and with
a finer perception of stage craft, brought
out THE Charity Ball. with it's inter-
mlnging of church and market place-its
INTERVIEWING of business religion, the home
lfe Of the Van Burens, the contrast be-
tween Ann Kruger and Phyllis Dare and
the tense tugging strain at the surface
emotions, with occasional appeal to the
leeper and nobler sentiments of mans ma
ure. This was again hailed as the play
hat was to live as embodying the truth of
5ur complex national life. But these plays
went their way, as did so many of the
plays have come and gone but none have
been hailed as the illuminator of American
80 until Charles Klein made his incurslon
nto frenzed finance and built a drama
from material afforded by the muck
rakng magazines and the hystercal news
papers. 1t did not count that Mr.. Klein's
play would not stand the test of analysis;
neither would the stories printed day after
day and month after month in Mr. Kleins
source of inspiration. The public mind had
been prepared and was ready for even
more than Mr.. Klein had to offer In this
regard THE Lion and the Mouse" is but
subdued reflection of pictures presented in
public print of the abject condition of the
nation beneath the domination of the
Money Devil. Happily for the nation, the
pictures were not based on photographs.
But Mr.. Klein is entitled to credit
mark. He offered a way out. Judge Dare
scarcely stands as typifying the great pub
Tic, but the course that would save him
would save others, and, II John Burkett
Ryder could only be induced to relax his
hold on one victim he might in time come
10 let up on others. This is Mr.. Klein's
lesson and the chief excuse for the success
OF his drama. II is also the reason for
whatever OF success has come to Mr.
Hroadhurst in his effort to portray mu-
nlcpal politics of the old and new school
Ia THE Man of the Hour"
.
One thing must be borne in mind when
considering these plays The simple mind
reasons along straight lines. The great
American public for whose edificaton the
drama under debate is prepared has neither
time nor inclination to waste time pursuing
An ethical proposition through the laby-
Nl.G..
fined reasoning Sophistical diversions con-
Germ it not; It simply gees the effect, traces
Il back to the cause and proposes, at least,
to directly apply the remedy While the
bulging brows Of the esoteric circle are
splitting hairs the low brows, wet with
honest sweat" are inclined to take the
most direct course to the remedy sought.
II may not be the right course; it is ad-
mitted now that the conflict that broke
out in bloody war in 1861 might have been
settled in another way but the simple
piind that was influenced by Uncle Tom s
Cabin" caught its inspiration and acted on
rs impulse. So, too, are the smple-minded
of today pressing to solution of some of
the great problems that are being dealt
with by play wright and actor. II is not at
ell likely that resort to the arbitrament
OF arms will follow but it is reasonable
10 believe that a readjustment Of CONNER
eIal and political practices will be had.
On this point all parties are united. and
no one man mas done more to make the
Success of the Klein or the Broadhurst
plays possible than Theodore Roosevelt.
.
What form shall the great American
drama take? We have had 1t in comedy
IN farce, in society drama, in musical com
sdy and I'm about every form known TO the
stage, but tragedy-that is. high tragedy
Now Mr. Robert Mantell, having exhausted
the possibilities OF Shakespeare and other
elassicists, yearns for the great American
tragedy' One Is halted between two
thoughts-eitheT Mr.. Mantell is already II
possession OF something he is going tC
spring on u.s. and is making his talk Al
= PREDATORY preparation for the more inn
portant announcement, or he is moved bS
desire to stimulate the dramatists slonG
hitherto unbeaten path. Some poetic
4 dramas have been based episodes ir
American history. but none that might
even by stretch OF courtesy be called great
Most OF them have been forgotten by al