The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

Ur DOLLY DALRYMPLE

vy DOLLY DALRYMPLE 1 don't know whether you have felt about the much talked about Brieux play, Les Avaries" Damaged Goods"), which Is to be presented here next week, as have, but if you have you will readily un- derstand my attitude when I say that in- stead of seeing it on the stage l have felt more like picking it up with the tongs" and putting it as far away from me as I possibly could.
 Yes
 That's the WAY felt about it-exactly,
 Until
 l talked with somebody who knew"
 When l tell you that the person talked with happened to me MT. Kllbourn Cor don. grandson of the late beloved and honored Gen. John B. Gordon you will understand easily how my attitude changed, for man of more refinement and more delicate sensitiveness have scarcely ever met.
 An ex-newspaper man, knowing the game from A to "Z, a one time actor and now the representative of the most talked about play in the world today per haps, Mir. Gordon possesses striking per sonality, infusing into his work rare knowledge of men and events seldom found in one of his immature years.
 MT. Gordon has been ahead" of Dad aged Goods since it's first introduction, and his experiences have been rather novel and unique.
 l found after talking to him that l was not the only person who had the feeling ,,1a I was glad to hear his ideas concerning how 1t had been received and what had been said of it in the various places it has been produced.
 In speaking with Mr. Gordon about his experiences as advance man. for Dam aged Goods he said, among other things:
 There Is thing about blazing the trail for the sex play--it is always inter- esting. No two cities are alike in their re- ception of Damaged Goods and in their attitude toward the play, when it's coming becomes matter of general knowledge. or course in many instances it becomes necessary to fight strenuous and very de- termined opDosition--in fact a determina- tion not to allow the play to be presented in that town Then it is that the man ahead finds himself busy, and when you realize that the man ahead stays in a bVNh piliS els AOiS dS uOtS Ills one day and one-night stand, for ex- ample, you will appreciate that he has to show what the fellow on the street de- nominates s a certain amount Of speed D
 '1s the attitude of the southern people toward the play different from others?" asked.
 We have had several instances in the south quite recently that were interest ing said MT. Gordon. Tn Nashville the play was censored by a committee of six appointed by and, including the mayor, and in this instance the verdict of the censors was unanimously in favor of the play and 1t was allowed to continue with out modification. Of course it's very easy to realize the mental attitude of those who hear of the coming of the play who know of the extremely delicate theme of which it treats, and who somewhat naturally cannot conceive that any dra- matist, no matter how skillful, could pos sibly present on the stage before mixed audiences such story as Is unfolded in Damaged Goods I know how that is because when I first heard of the play, and long before I was selected to go ahead of it, l said to myself, Tt can't be done' Once I saw it. however, I changed my mind"