New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-07
THE DRAMA AGAIN
Still Another Book on a Burning
Subject.
THE AMERICAN pRAMATIsT, BY MOI on,
S5s BOSTON. Little. Brown & Co.

TIE AMERICAN DRAMATIsT. BY Mon
f~ose ! Noses illustrated. $40, pp XII
ass Boston: Little, Brown & 20
The plays the thing Just now with U.s.
there can be no doubt about that "heth-
or the enthusiasm for II and all concern
ing II Will last long enough 10 realize
even q 1.-THE OF the aspirations enter
tanned FOR Il is another question. We are
a people OF intense but short-hveo en-
-hugiasns. Sometimes. also, there cOl-i0S
doubt whether the potential impor-
-enca a-cribed 10 the drama as a lorna
rive influence is not vastly overestimateo'
Meanwhile the American dramatlst i
being lectured and hectored, admohls'ieA
and warned. He is watched by dramatlc
,,,r,1srca committees and dramatic con-
s,,r,srs, leagues. his mentors and nurses
A. the same time agreeing that he y
still in mis- swaddling clothes WhereioI0
ne may we'll need more air more nOeF''
NJ limb and lungs 10 grow 10 lusty man
hood than are conceded him to-day.
And some there be who maintain that
be is not even horn as yet.
M Moses, 70 whom we already owe
a truly serviceable book on the Actor
Families Of America" odds another VOL
ume 20 the fast growing literature on
the subject. Like its predecessor, II has
decided historical and biographical value;
IN is theoretical part II falls OF necessity
into frequent reiteration OF what has
been sufficiently repeated ere now, and
occasionally into platitude. Mr.. Noses s
definition Of the drama for instance, Is
the imitation OF a particular action which
should be accounted Tor from its begin
ming 10 is end. IN q style consistent with
It's emotional color and which Is destined.
through the medium or the artist, 70
awaken II others a feeling OF sympathy or
revulsiou.
IN substance this is merely a repeti-
ton OF what was said thousands OF years
ago by the ancient Creeks, whose TRACE
dies. by the way. Mr.. Moses does not
work so hard as IS the fashion OF the
moment. For this he deserves much
thanks. As for the Comic Spirit, he IN
hesitatingly gives It n good character,
since "for richness Of humanity, for
breadth OF view, for deep understanding,
il has a range that embraces a large
sweep Of life" One stares a little when
he vaguely refers 70 "ons Afara Behn,
and wonders how he. who quotes Kuno
Francke. can write. apropos OF Mr. Gil
Iette's PLAYS. that some say even that
The Private Secretary turks on the
German stage" Surely he cannot be IN
familiar with Gustav Won Moser's Der
Bibliothckar" And when he quotes
Henry Georges enthusiastic praise OF
James A. Herne's Shore Acres" he
onits 70 mentiop that part OF It's plot
was a dramat!zation OF the single tax.
These. however. are only small blem-
ishes on a book that contains much sane
reading. In discussing the essentials.
OF an American play" for instance
Mr.. Noses. who evidently believes in eth
fcaI tendency. but not in deliberate d.
dactic purpose. hits the nail on the head
when he says that
II is the square dear that American
audiences mostly seek. The large
heart rather than the subtle one. the direct
decd rather than the evasive thought. and
t1. terse answer rather than the yelled
meaning compel the sympathetic interest
ID ON American crowd.
The American dramatists examined.
i'm addition 70 Herne and Gillette, are
Bronson Howard. Belasco. Percy Mack
ave and his father, Augustus Thomas
and Clyde Fitch. the minor playwrights
OF the period being more briefly dealt
with I'm appropriate places. The form OF
the drama is discussed as well as IT'S
content. even the kinetoscopic theatre is
not forgotten. The book IS written with
sincerity and seriousness.