Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-23

speare" purporting to discover the
poets biography In his works, and In
their current appearance IN Harper's
Magazine, the new Shakespearian dis
coveries Of Prof Charles William Wal
lace promise remarkable development.
Even the frequent reprints Of such
books as ROlfe's "Shakespeare the
Boy" Just reissued. serve 10 keep in
mind this steady popular interest, ali
the moro noteworthy in an age ac-
cused OF Ignoring commentary Of all
kinds for the sake Of works Of fiction.
At the last meeting Of the Society Of
Authors, London, Maurice Hewlett
drew attention 10 the fact that Thomas
Hardy. recently elected. was but the
third president the society has had In
its entire career. Mr.. Hardys predeces-
sors were Tennyson and George Mere
dith. Americans seem to show him CON
tinung favor, as his Far From the
Maddening Crowd" is announced for
publication next week I'm the new thin
paper edition issued by the Harpers.
The first presentation Of an Ibsen
play In Nippon denotes landmark in
the history Of culture. II we consider
how long IL has taken as TO appreciate
The genius Of the worlds greatest psy-
Geological playwright, the performance
OF John Gabriel Borkman" in Japan is
indeed an event Of stupendous signif-
canoe and Importance. Asia Is indeed
awakening from her slumber. Modern
Japan. despite its ready adaptation OF
western manners dwells theatrically
still in the feudal ages Iuterminable
sanguinary dramas with fiery dragons
and hideously masked warriors, writ
ten centuries ago. are still the chief at
81 ~. Al.
Kingdom. or late. however Yone
Noguchi a young japanese poet, tells
US in the 1heater Magazine an attempt
has been made 20 modernlze the Japa-
nesc stacy. SadO Yacco, a japanese
actress, well known in this country, has
attempted to interpret Shakespeare 10
her oriental compatriots But il Is a
far cry from Shakespeare to Ibsen.
from an International classic TO the
head Of a movement that still retains
its revolutionary character even in
Europe Kaoru Osanai. distinguished
japanese novelist, Is the father Of the
reform movement and the manager Of "A
new Library theatcr" Forget" he
fiercely cXClaims. "your old art and
your old stage tricks Make fresh
start. The new art Is not mendlng the
old, but building anew. The ground
has TO be levcled. leaving not one trace
Of the old art Entirely new plans have
70 be drawn; every member must be
new Are the carpenters ready2"
What he suggests, comments Mr.. No
guchi, is "a revolution. 1t was for the
first time in the long history Of Japa-
nese theatrical art that we had seen
on the stage such sober colors. such
cruel self-analysis such intensity Of
emotions. We are ready To cry with
Erhart that the air was sitting: we
could hardly bear the new strange yoke
we were most Unexpectedly brought
under" AS as protest against old meth
DDS, the writer goes on 10 say. the pro-
duction Of John Gabriel Borkman"
was certainly a success II Is almost
impossible for the occidental mind to
appreciate the tremendous difficulties
and prcjudices that had 20 be over
Come.-Current Literature (ApriD.
A new volume Of stories by Sir Gil
bert Parker. which was announced by
the Harpers for spring publication,
has been put Oft until fall. Like his
latest book, Northern Light" IL Is
expected to contain vivid pictures Of
life far from humdrum cities and
Ccuters He is now making the final
changes and additions TO the book.
Every now and then some would-be
wiseacre rises up 20 announce POM
pously that the day of the book-play
is over. IL Is indeed true that the
success Of book does not now
necessarily insure the success of
play made from IT, Perhaps this was
never true, though once upon a time
certain circumstances lent color 20 the
notion-such as John Drew's playing
Richard Carvel for an entire sea-
son But if any one fancies that the
public will not stand for a play work.
ed out OF dramatic idea or situation
Ina a book. why there are facts a plenty