The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-03
LITTLE ORIGINALITY IN THIS WORLD
People Steal Each Others Ideas and Hand Them Out
Their Own.-Vaudevle Houses Are Scenes
of Wearsome Repetition.
This is not always the case, howev.

rms Is not always the case, nOWSF-
er.
For many observation-disclosures
not many of them can be ranked as
actors or as having any relation to
the dramatic art-are of the same cali
bre as they state are their audiences.
Some of them masquerade and some
do not.
The writer had an honest admiration
for a girl who did some fairly clever
musical recitative when she replied to
a question as to her former theatrical
experience and affiliations
Il worked four years in grocery.
Stating that she ''recited" at church
entertainments in her little town and
was advised by her friends to go into
vaudeville. That she went to Chicago,
appeared before some manager there
and was at once booked. That she had
been on the vaudeville stage for but a
few weeks.
The simplicity of the girl was the
natural accompaniment of an actual
talent
She possessed the true dramatic in
stinct and should if she works as hard
as she says she was doing to perfect
herself in this particular stunt" be
considerably higher up on the theatric
ladder in an inappreciable interval.
The possibilities of the vaudeville
sketch are enormous. But rarely in
deed, especially in the cheaper class
proaches near it's ideal-the one act
play.
We have had just one good one here
this year
1t was called politics and Petit
coats" and was presented in its chief
est role by an experienced actor of
the Northumberland written by
well known producer of what is called
tabloid drama
In its dramatic construction it was
admirable.
Actors have told the writer that it
is almost impossible to get q good
sketch, one stating he read over fifty
before hestook on the rather vacUous
and inane production in which he was
seen here,
Belasco, it is said is to try his hand
at vaudeville sketches, or, rather, short
plays for vaudeville, but this u.s. of
course, in the higher priced houses
Even at that it is not to be doubted
this gifted producer viii encounter diff
ficulties both sides the footlights he
has not strategically planned for.
But the taste of the day is for con-
centration, abbreviaton, elimination
The popularity Of vaudeville comes
from this mental trend of modern So
ciety
People nowadays refuse to be both
cred with superfluities.
Does anyone ever read a President
message?
I You couldn't find one in congress
sional district.
But they'll read the short editorial
commenting on its substance.
Churches have had to recognize this
psychological manifestation. Il. &
Sermons are constantly becoming,
more abbreviated. Nv =
Services more varied and elaborate
Sects formerly scorning the slighF-
est tendency toward ritualism hay,
embroidered their-church worship with
many decorative accessories"
But in brevity and variety are seen
the sign-rosts which point the road 70
success with the public.
If it is the day of the specialist Ill
the arts and professions it is also his
day in the half-and-half, the mongrel,
and all their offspring.
And because specialism is practicetl
even in it's crudest sense in all so
cial phases lack of originality pro-
walls.
Originality is only attenuanj upon
diverse interests.
Although possibly the greatest ori-
ginality- discovery may be the ra-
suit of specialism.
Be that as it may, it remains that
there is little Of that infinite variety
either in the vaudeville-house or out,
which is the SAVIOR Of life.