New-York tribune., 1914-11-30
y. nFcr0R TuRNBULL.


beauty and wonder Of "Ihe Garden OF
por,5isep for the harsh reality OF
co,Bmbus Circle viii be a feeling OF
,rofound pity for those unfortunate
humans who walk the earth without
imagination aad therefore without that
blessed boon, belief in fairy tales
For such unlucky mortals, Of course
tbore is but little hope, and the spleh-
Td sneetacle will probably move them
no more than any other series OF ian
tastically beautiful pictures. 10 tnose
~ MS. however, who are happy enough
20 know in our hearts that fairy tales
being older than the ages, are there-
fore ever so much more real ana true
and human than the stun we can nv"
erature. which is made for the cultlvat"
ed classes only, "The Garden Oh fara-
disc" will prove the rarest OF treats.
An the pleasures you found in the
nrinted fairy tales of your youth (and,
we hone. when you grew up, tool is but
a hint Of the strange experience that
awaits YOU within that unromanuc
building called the Park Theatre. Here
one realizes again that fairy tales have
lived through the many wears OF crush
ing materialism since their birth only
because thew were passed on to new
generations by poets with fine fancy
and rich imagination, and that sucn
narrators alone have the power to dis
close their true beauty and meaning:
In Edward Sheldon, who has adapted
the fairy tale for the stage and VINO IS
considered as more or less OF prodigy
since his rapid rise to fame as play
wright, there is discovered new VEN
of romantic talent and fine sense OF
the beauty Of spoken words that is re-
markably akin to the same quailtles so
apparent in the tales of the Irish poet
Yeats In his version of the sacrifice
10 love made by Swanhild, the mer-
maid. Sheldon has so cleverly blended
romance, fantasy and an occasional
touch of everyday homeliness llest we
forget that his creatures are human
that his tale fits perfectly within its
fantastic frame without single Jarrlng
note being struck or once disappolnt-
ing the quickened Imagination OF his
audience.
Beginning in a vein sometimes light
and capricious and sometimes grave
and gentle he shows US Swanhild.
princess in her fathers court. under
The sea She is about to be given in
marriage 70 the King Of the Crabs.
Before the ceremony it becomes the
duty of her two sisters 70 take her for
the first time to the top of Che sea.
Swanhild cannot abide the King Of the
Crabs, and her thoughts are filled with
q tale she has heard by which she
learns that mermaid may acquire q
soul and reach Paradise after death If
only some human love her enough to
share his soul with her. She ascends
a. 4Ir ~~.rro~a - fLa fMcf In flYna
20 catch sight Of the King Of the Blue
Mountains, who is Drawing storm in
his little ship with his sailors. The
craft is wrecked. and Swanhild, who
falls in love with the King at once,
carries him safe TO shore. Here he
lies unconscious, with the mermaid,
half submerged, keeping guard. The
Beautiful Queen of the Southland, who
lives in q nearby convent with her
maids, finds him and cares for him.
Although the King and Queen do not
know the station of one another, they
fall in love Immediately. only TO be
cruelty separated. Swanhild, forgotten,
deseerds 70 the cave Of the sea witch
and begs a potion that will make her
human In form. The witch brews the
draft but the little mermaid must
first promise 70 return as the slave of
the witch II she fails 70 be married to
the King. This she promises, and is
Sound by the King at his palace steps,
like a waif from a shipwreck From
here tho tale is fraught with a most
appealing and poignant note Of sad
ness. Swanhild is beloved by the King
as a page and faithful servant, but not
as a prospective bride. He is COM
PEELED by weight OF matters Of state 70
marry the Queen Of the Southland, and
as he knows her not he wishes himself
we'll out Of the bargain and free 70
search for his lost love at the convent
by the sea. Swanhild goes as his am
bassador 70 the Queen and discovers
that she is loath 10 marry the strange
hing because of her love for the poor
sailor lad cast up on her shore. Here
S"anhild struggles with her conflicting
Impulses, and finally, with a great eff
fort, persuades the Queen 20 meet the
King. thus ending forever her chances
~ human soul and the joys of Para
use 20 come. When the King and
Queen finally meet, Of course they
tecognize each other and are straight
way married. Poor Swanhild Is given
chance 20 save herself from the tolls
Of the witch IL she will stab the King
70 the heart and touch his blood. OF
hiiow her % consider this method Of
salvation, and she casts herself into
lne sea, expecting a horrible fate at
the hands Of the witch. Suddenly the
teene changes and the little mermaid
Sseends 70 Paradise in gorgeous robes,
tfeeo forever Of the horrible witch's
vengeance because of her great un-
selfsh love.
All through tho tale Sheldon has
snown high order Of sympathy and
lntelligence In bis balance Of imagina-
we fancy. with impassioned and poetic
tpeeen. A. an example Of the latter
We follow with few lines that pass
Det"een S~snhild and the King when
she ~ ms page and he does not know
ot her great love for him:
me ne sweetest Of all sweet things,
~ Httie page, is human love. II is
1Hs W,he we tread out Of the grapes
OF ne. And even when we have
drunk deep Of that enchanted vint-
age. and the fire In our veins has
told us we are not men. but yods-
even then II ia a bitter thing 70
crop me empty cup, and die. But
oni little Swanhild, IL Is bitterer
ssl 70 leave the cup untasted. 10
,ioSe our eyes forever with no
memories Of that draft divine
carry 70 our graves the little
iyYe-Wofds we have never said.-the
ushpefate kisses we have never
kEsn-the unsvakened rapture in
yef ,,. hearts, Am not rightf Come,
nas ioundling--tell me what you
,. shs answers him, telling Of happy
''ss opt " her own unhaprinsgs.
bpro, know the dea9 warm
human lCyG IL 60. IL.