The Washington herald., 1908-07-20

tr--l"F tle N1sll-E-ll HGrlld-
In recent conversation with The
writer, Miss Hattie Arnold. who has do,s
such excellent work this season At the
New National Theater in the oDeras
'Eru-nie' and .lIikado." gave exDres-
sion 10 fact that has long been patent
10 every cultivated nan and woman
Miss Arnold was deplo7iag the present.
day tendency 60 drift away from,
tho1oughness and artistic attention 70
detail in her profession. and said.
Nowadays il seems that all thar fs
required OF an actress. especially Fl,
comic opera. IS an attractive face and
figure. beautiful costumes. A fairly poo5
voice, and. possibly. the ability 10 dance
That paiastaking attention to detail. in
expression, gesture. and stage conduct
which was exacted OF the profession a.
the preceding generation is disappear
ing
Unconsctously, perhaps, Miss Arnold
placed her finger on the weakest Iinl-
IN the chain OF modern an in America
The old-une theatergoer remembers how
he has sat breathless through the per
formance Of a Booth OF a Maggie Mitch
ell. how he has cried and laughed AZ
their VIII. and emerged from the thea
ter IN that dazed frame Of mind s,-b
as traveller from the stars might ex-
perience when first aIightiug on this
sordid earth He wonders why the mod
ern drama or comedy. fails TO awaken
Ike emotions, and imagi1es that he Is
growing Old and bIase: but the true ex-
PLANTATION lies not there
When President Garfield wrote William
Black that he shoUld not have made
Macleod Of Dare" end so sadly. he
showed that he had been touched BY A
work Of fiction. he. the man Of mature
years, who knew life and men. who oc-
cupied the highest position in the land
and was bUrdened with cares Of state
could be affected by an imaginat tive
creation And throbhlng deep in the
hearts Of all Of us-old and young-are
the same emotional faculties. responsive
ever 70 true art. Only. perfect art. or
art approximately perfect. IS very rare
nowadays. and this lack OF attention 70
detail is. in large measure. responsible
fer its absence.
On the stage the principal object seems
20 be to appeal TO the eye and the baser
passions, in literature il is action, ever
action. that is wanted, and. again. that
subtle appeal to the passions. The higher
nature Of man is neglected entirely. Fin
ished perfection IN acting or writing.
Nnlcn necessarily implies careful atten-
ton TO detail. is regarded as superhuous
by many theatrical managers and maya
zine publishers. All the people want IS
TO be amused" they say, and We are
here to give en- what they want"
So. then. the present deplorab BILE tendency
in modern American art-wlth the pos
sible exception Of paintings Up TO- the
people. But. hold, We are only what
heredity and environment have made
US II we do not demand a high order
Of merit on the stage and IN our lit
erature, Il is because We never have
had time 70 cultivate an appreciation for
such Like spent swimmers. we rest on
the grassy bank merely TO regain our
breath, and then are compelled again TO
plunge into the current The struggle
for existence IS 50 severe that We have
10 tine 70 explore the beauties Of the
green country lying close at hand. Lit
erature and the stage are taken BY Us
in small. easy doses; and not because
Of any Inherent love OF art, but simply
as relaxation for the jaded mind, TO ft
It 10 renew the battle OF life next day.
And what OF the future?
There are those who maintain that as
= wealthy. leisure class grows up IN