New-York tribune., 1912-05-26
Joys OF NEW YORK
Otis Skinner Liked His Long
Run-But, on the Quiet,
He's a Gypsy.

by the worthy and the unworthy, is still
considered in player circles to be the mecca
of dreams.
II was Just 10 hear him let loose few
adiectives Of toy over his present position !
in the aforementioned paradise that Otis
Skinner was chased TO his lair the other |
night during a particularly jubilant per-
formance OF "I[ismet" al the Knickerbock- |
er Theatre.
Mr.. SINNERS dressing room really should |
not he referred to as a lair. 1t is unfair
both 10 the distinguished player and to his
large and breezy room with its splendid
view of 3Sth street. Dressing rooms are
by no means always able to boast an out
side window. The lair word slipped in
i'm the way scornful phrases always DO
when an Occidental idiot is talking about
the Orient And "Kismet" seems Ike the
Orient as does Mr.. Skinner seem bona
fde Oriontal-even I'm his dressing room
rcar-to-whcn me has ON his dark complex
ion. his Bacdad beard. his turban, his soft
white garments. and the hide things bound !
around his legs.
The door Of the dressing room stood sJar
and a ray Of blue light such az they use
in harems. so that love may always live In
moonlight. shot in and rlmmcred DULY In
the silver hand that dangled on chain
about the neck Of Hail tho beggar They
were lust making ready the harem scene
on the stage.
"Oh, it goes without saying, said Mr..
skinner that long run in New York Is
the pinnacle Of happiness for an actor
New York is very much the centre Of &C
tivity for things dramatic. You feel 1t
when YOU are here and when you are away
When YOU are out on the road you are
metaphorically, always looking toward New
York
A suspicion must have rlckered in the
eye OF his interviewer.
Why do you ask II 1 should rather te
here than on the road?' he queried. III
seems so self-evident OF course ike
travelling. AS matter Of fact, love IL
Which one OF your real actors Is not
born wanderer?
'Why. tust the mere fact OF going from
one miserable road town to another Is fun
he said, his voice gathering enthusiasm as
he went on Some people are iona OF
travelling In the sense that they Ike TO
20 somewhere new, and are willing 70
stand the goirC in order to get the Joy OF
arriving Not 80 with me. am fond OF
the new place, too. If 1t is pleasant one
But the mere going to 1t IS enjoyment IN
itself TO me.
81 think I am gypsy, after all he went
on as though he were about TO admit
something that he was in the habit or
denvinq. New York is an Obsossion. You
can't seem TO get away from IT. You come
back and come back, and lie right down III
II Rut I don't like to live here l am
fearfunv bucolic Ike the country. When
the spring comes l like to be out where
tbe view IS clear and 1 can see 1t coming. /
4 warm breeze sailed through the grated
window. There must he a tree or Dlade
of grass or something in cSth street. Maybe
the breeze came from Bryant Park or from
orross the Hudson or out Of the sprlng- /
haunted imagination-anyWaE, there seciheu
,o he an odor Of spring in that 3Sth street
hroezc. And inside, gypsy was talking 10
gypsy. r,..s,a
4 should go 10 the place where Bagdad
cnce was ir could get there any time out
in the middle of the summer unused ''25}
,,rrctf,,uy. I've never been nearer u the
orient than to touch at Tangier,' he
,,,rbod "prt I'VE been to Italy in Au-
,-rst and that made me feel that ! would
hi never again play about IN hot country III
the summer time.
.Vr,ai 7 enjoy best when 7 am at leisure
is 90 live IN some lovely country plave near
tho city
"Ney York;" lie was asked.
New York IS wonderful De- said.
The mecca Of dreams?'
Well" said the man of quiet manner
I'm afraid il is not the mecca for ne
As the unwilling truth was spoken the
blue light aicEercd more brightly on the
silver hand that HaU wore about his "tt"'
the hand of Fama wife Of GaNanH.
'sThere's England said Mr. skinner
softly. Some one has said OF England
when she gets up i'm the morning she
grooms and arrays herself, and when you
vourself get up she lies there sWcctly for
YOU The same poet said Of America that
although she gets up, she neither washes
nor dresses
England is qui,t and peaceful, and that
is one reason why | like H." he went on
hunted expression coming over his face. /
live now on Madison Square. When ! am
in nv apartments the blasting, the steam
drills. the bells .and whistles and general
bedlam make the noises Of 'Kismet here
seem like a Whispering silence.
every week end / get away from II all
nv running over 20 Bryn Mawr. where l
have home. You see. I'm keeping two cs-
tsb,ishneuts and It Is very hot work
Hail mopped his brow. No more spring
hreezes had found their way I'm from "Ath
street. and just then the callboy piped the
cue for Hail
"Goodby." he said. jumping mp and put
ting on his turban. Now / must 30 Kill
lie disappeared into passage that lea
beneath the stage, so that he might come
up and enter the harem by way Of the trap
door.
II ANYTHING. "Kismct is more real
from the wings than from the front. the
swinging incense fumes from the tripod
burner sweep closely over the senses. ne
1,oices are near by and bell-Cloar. The Wife
Of wives lies on her pillows right at your
f,et The water u the swimming pool
Glirmers I'm the blue light. Suddenly Halt
enters from below 20 steal his appointed
visit 10 the Wazirs lady. and she finds out
that he is not the prince, but a beggar
Their faces are tonse and their voices sup
pressed. You can hear the laborcd breath
ing Of the bcCgar. who thinks that now
kismet has left him and his magic day is
10 end in death. The Wazirs lady calls for
her lord and Mansur rushes IN in his loose
robes. only TO be stabbed and rolled into
the waiting pool and held down till the
gleeful Hail kicking his heels together ana
cPuckling, counts the bubbles
Perhaps what makes it 50 real behind
the scenes is that it is not only Hail who
IS enjoying the wonders of his magic day,
br. Otis Skinner as we'll TO the real actor
romance is as sweet thing as life itself