Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-01

sitous dukes bill."'
1T ought to pass" continues Sir Herbert.
we are sadly deficient in that regard. II
reminds me of a repartee made by an
American woman of my acquaintance.
Someone said to her: All, but you Amer
leans don't understand what blue blood
gives No. she said, but we understand
perfectly what it takes away Quite
clever. wasn't itT''
When the laugh subsidies Sir Herbert be-
comes the serious and impressive manager
actor once more. For a little while he has
been the brilliant phrasemaker who says
sharp and witty things so quickly that you
cannot recall them, one verbal nail driving
out another; he has been the Beerbohm
Tree, who as POSTMASTER at the Guitry
supper given a few nights before com
menced his speech by saying: when a
pretty woman shows you her pretty rings,
why, what can you dor who. tired out by
the opportunities of his creditors when as
dramatic sportsman he was plunging heav-
lily, said ~languidly, Il shall soon be able
to retire on the blackmail I have not paid, -
who said to a friend that he could imagine
a man in lively middle age praying, "Oh,
God, give me back my enemies" and orce
upon a time corrected the mood of a neigh
Dor at a dinner party, who had gained a
few laughs at the expense Of his friends by
saying. why not palliate the pangs Of
conversational vivisection with the chloro-
form Of courtesy"
when He ia Serious.
In the serious mood he gives it as his
opinion that, as one of those who stand
at the top of the profession, he does not
attempt to read the public mind prophet
icaIly. He has no inclination, no accom-
plishment in that direction. He gives what
he is impelled to give, that is all.
I'VE are the playthings of Fate. We
know what we are intended to do. No one
Of us is essentially deceived as to the
meaning Of his life, do you think so? We
must express that which is in us seeking
expression.
"As you study the salient facts OF life
far below the surface we see that there
is a certain force, indefinable and per-
sistent, which is the keynote of the mans
conduct. He obeys IL oftentimes in spite
Of educatlve influences. He answers to
it's demand although 1t would often seem
that in doing so he was turning his back
on his best interests. We look on and
often oppose or advise, but he has the
profound knowledge which puts to shame
our lighter reading and proceeds onward
to the goal OF his desire.
Apply this reading to dramatic matters.
Why does an actor scott at the roles for
which in the public opinion he Is ""'
entity fitted in order to produce something
for which there is apparently neither 30
mand nor understanding? He does it be-
cause he must. He doesn't look from
his watch tower to discover whether the
public eye is turned in the direction of
romantic drama, of problem plays, Of So
cial comedy. He doesn't care where they
are looking. His art demands the sacri-
flee Of this idle INDIGESTION. 1t demands that
he be himself at all hazards.
On a New French Play.
Just at present l am deeply interested
in philosophic questions and their ex-
preston in a new play by Brieuz's called
La Fol which shall produce here in the
autumn, the translation of which is to be
made by j. B. Pagan, author OF The
Earth which Mr.. Harris is to bring out
in America in the fall, I understand. !
don't know whether the public's interest
Nill follow mine or not.
"Brieux did the splendid play called
Maternite' which was given here with
ma hNu HuNNCoSs 1 bNalFNN NAAAS pllN 10 JIG
the greatest that he has yet written. Al
any rate. It is full OF interest TO me and
has taken me into many bypaths Of spec
ulative thought. II sweeps aside the usual
hypocrisies that govern stage craft in a
very subtle way, applying the conditions
Of ancient Egypt to modern life, and in
doing so making II possible 10 speak with
the greatest candor Of the central fact
and the questions Of conscience which re-
20 H.
''rhe central fact OF life is or course
love. Is there Any real doubt concerning