Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-19

ward and visible form
e'-''r- pr Henry Arthur Jones
very recently leoturcd us. through the
meGium NJ Columbia university, and lee
turcd US we'll on the privileges and duties
Of the National TheaAer. He assumed that
we have National Theater. taking It for
granted that the New Theater IA New
York Is sHch; but this has neither been ad-
mitted nor proven. IL may have been the
thought In the minds OF its founders. In
deed It Hos announced at the beginning
that Il was 70 be home where no sordid
considerations would enter; where only Art
would be considered, and where ability
Wopio always have its chance. and the con-
Aoeretion OF money would be the very last
OF all II was to present plays OF worth.
regardless Of public patronag e a stock or
ganizatien OF unquestioned prestige was 10
be built up and maintained with such per-
mapency rs Is possible in these DAYS OF
commereinlized esthetcism. and author
and actor and producer wero to find them
selves enthroped as a radiant triumvirate.
triumphant over all. and the cause OF the
stage was 70 be set forward at such a rate
that tho theaters that are run for the chief
consideration. Of the money that is to be
mado therefrom would soon be forced 10
close their doors or change their policy
and follow the glorious lead Of the New
fheater on the way to the sublime heights
OF Art for Arts Sake Only. It's too bss
that Mr. Jonos had to suppose that all .tbis
has been accomplished by the New rheater.
but superstition # is, and superstition II Is
likely to remain.
sad to relate. the embattled hosts Of
Mammon. stoutly arrayed In goody suits
OF sreenbacRs ana supported with armor OF
golden coinage and entrenohed behind bull
warks Of established order, declined to give
over, when Art sounded his bugle cali from
the vestibule Of the New Theater. On the
contrary, one who had been listening
closely, might have heard the sound as OF
someone hoarsely ehuckling in response
20 the CHEEKY announcement that the Dav
OF Art had Dawned.
Lot ua not waste time In trying to pursue
70 Ito end each ramlfication Of the reason
way the New Thsater has not become the
national Theater, and Is not likely To-
one OF the many phases will suffice. Prin-
cipai among its managers is a firm OF
producing managers whose voice has been
lifted up many a time and oft In prociama-
tons for the purity OF Art, and whose ef-
tofts have been continually in the way OF
leading the unsuspectins dollar into its
Golfers through the medium or some things
that do not partake of any greater extent
o. Art than those things the firm most
saneumoniously depreeates in its con
oemnation OF rivals. And the stock COM
pany that was to have its permanent home
e. the New Theater became a sort ~
refuge for the actors who had come under
the direction OF this particular firm. ana
the people came 10 think OF the New,
fheater as It does OF some privately con
trolleo institution. always associated with
the name Of the firm whose other enter
prlses were more or less bound up with the
undertaSings OF this institution that WAS
70 have been for the benefit OF all. AZ any
rate, the New Theater has failed OF hll-
SLING its promise,
But this Is not Mr.. Jones fault and with
HE rostulate that It had proved its utility.
ne found Il easy 90 suggest what else il
might accomplish. First OF all. he gave
his attention to drama as literature. I'm
less our drama does partake OF the essence
as well as the outward form OF literature.
II is not likely TO be accorded a place in
the serious consideration OF the world. And
then he inquiries; well. how do you pro
pose TO bring the American drama into
alliance with American uteratureg What
and where Is the body OF American utera-
lure into which you have 70 ongraft your
drama and there nourish il an Il becomes a
living member OF living thingg' And hav-
Ing propounded these questions. he passed
on TO tho consideration OF questions aside
from the main issue. and a few more gen
era statements that are easily admissible.
but which contain mighty little comfort
Tor the folks who seriously contemplate
the stage as an institution for the fostering
ana propagation OF art and manners. Mr.
Jones told as We mad great writers. ana
cited Walt Whitman and Mark Twain as
examples. Others might be named. but
their efforts have had 50 little effect on
the American drama that they might as
well not have written. From time TO time We
get such expressions as those quoted from
dramauo line. both IN England and