New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
ACTORS SOON OBSOLETE
CiceIy Hamilton, English Writer.
Makes Gloomy Prophecy.

The writing ladies Of London are quite
remarkable persons. They can't write plays
that compare in success and popularity
with the product put forth by some of the
American women, including Margaret
Mayo, Marion Fairfax, Martha Morton and
some Of the others, but they have certain
social md intellectual prestige. Their little
plattudes delivered at teas and luncheons
are much thought Of by the press, because
there 5 no denying that the dOings OF wom-
en- are Of much more account IN London
just at the present time than anything a
man can do, writes Archie Bell in THE
Cleveland Plain Dealer" Mrs. Pankhurst
throwing a brick through d window at
tracts twice the attention of a new Shake
spearian revival 10y Sir Herbert Tree, and
some lady standing on a soap box in Hyde
Park shouting Throw bombs at the men
in Office gets her column OF space In all
the British journals. while the young actor
of talent has a difficult time getting para
graph concerning his performance.
The British writing ladies create terrible
romances and lurid things for the stage
and most Of them wear frizzly hair over
their foreheads. and each tries to look Ike
IuelOQEdlldslC ItID4LF lNO "'SiAo SANN-
she's been driven out into the bitter snow
storm They'd have a certain artistic llghc
to act as they please and say what they
please If they could turn about and 90
something worth while along the lines IN
which they dabble There isn't an actress
on the London stage to-day VINO may pe
compared favorably to at least half dozen
American women But they talk and they
say outlandish things, hoping to attract al
tsntion Their position as authoresses or
actresses gives their names SUFFICIENT pup
Hcity to attract the eyes OF editorial copy
readers.
Cicely Hamilton, known TO Americans as
the author Of "Idana Of Dobsons anu
by her book, Marriage as Trade uhe
latter title is typical of the British wom-
ans methods Of achieving notice. mas just
recently uttered something that has thrown
all takers Of artistic London into panic
Gilbert X. Chesterton, who formerly DEVIL
dered the reader with striking PARADOX
but who fails TO do so now, because all VINO
know him and his works expect him TO 90
Just the opposite thing from what other
people do and the different thing than Is
taught by all codes of morals; George Ser
nard Shaw, the most elegant OF all hVlhs
satirists. and a lot of other people, always
willing to discuss anything in print wheth-
er they know anything about II or not nave
used Miss Hamilton's words as topic.
She says that the actor is soon 10 De
come obsolete. She says she DeheVes vi.
time is coming when he may be ehHilld'eu
entirely from the life Of the day. ana th"'
people will look back with wonder AT Tue
time when they went 10 the theatre "
see men and women stalking around pre-
tending TO act parts in the drama copieu
from life. All OF which Will be quietly
pooh-poohed by the thousands OF people
who BET their livings at the theatre to-day
They will argue that more theatres are
being built than ever before In the ms
tory Of the world. They will tell about the
salaries, which II will be argued would not
DO paid 70 fading institution. But new
ertheless. Miss Hamilton's remarks nave
certain truth, and a thoughtful glance a.
tne present tendencies In the theatre VIII
Dear out the theory. She isn't exactIy
new In the field, for Maurice Maeterlinck
iong ago advocated a return 10 the theatre
u tne marionettes, with the elimination OF
'he actor. his part 10 be performed by
wooden dummy, similar 10 the punch and
Judy folk with which all were familiar in
childhood.
Sut about everything is being done that
eouh be done 10 eii.pinate the actor, and
strangely enough, he IS often blindly con-
o1Outing his energies 20 the killing of the
sV0se that lays the golden egg. The theatre
spnnging up too rapidly all over the
.ouhtry and Playhouse are rapidly being
hsd over TO moyinl, pictures. "sumu-
Z Z.S ths latest novelty TO strike America,
o"S large number Of players who do
Nv speak word thrc ughout the action.
- In Russia. where tney are originating
many things OF artistic value in recent
ean' there's a thegtre where no words
~"sDoken ana where actors are used only