The Washington herald., 1914-06-21
A Shelf Of Foreign Plays.
Nv DIXIE HINES.

I have long held the view that dra-
matte success in tbe United States might
be augmented by the frequent puolica-
ton OF the better plays in book form.
that they might be read and studied by
playgoers whose interest In dramatic art
was worthy Of cultivation. During the
past several seasons this idea seems TO
have grown in the minds Of the pub
fishers, with the result that each week.
In the announcement Of new books, there
is sure to be several devoted to the stage.
One Of the most interesting contributions
is dramatic works Of Gerhart Haupt-
mann CB. W. Huebsch, New York;, Vols.
III and ~, Symbolic and Legendary
Dramas" The first named contains The
Reconciliation" translated by Roy
Temple House; Lonely Lives" trans
lated by Mary Morrison; Colleague
Champion" also in a version by Mr..
House, and '.Michale Kramer" the Eng
lish Of which is by Prof. Lewisohn. The
other volume presents ''Hannele" and
The Sunken Bell" In the familiar
Meltzer renderings. and Henry OF Aue,"
known in German as Der Arme Helm
rich," the translation being Lewisohn's.
Any one of the volumes thus far pub
lished would be ample testimony to
1aupIlndnn Ihc lOhE lO-
gether explains why he is recognized as
the oyershadowing dramatist and poe. OF
the continent More volumes are PROM
ised and will be eagerly awaited.
The seven plays varing 20 widely In
matter and method were created between
1880 and 1902. They range from Haupt-
manns naturalistic manner to his most
elevated poetic flights; nowhere is the
versatility Of his genius 80 polntedly
manifested.
The translations throughout are ad-
mirable: scholarly without being academ-
ic in the worse sense; free and spon-
taneous, yet always inspired by the one
thought Of giving to America and Eng
land, faithfully and unmarried, these
treasures Of Hauptmann's genius Charles
Henry Meltzer made the translator of
"Hannele' and The Sunken Bell" Roy
Temple House that of The Reconcilia-
tion' and "Challeague Crampton," Mary
Morrison that Of Lonely Llves." and
Ludwig Lewisohn, the editor Of the
whole, Michael Kramer" and Henry OF
Aue."
Joseph Echegaray, the Spanish author,
Is beginning to become better known to
American playgoers. ] had occasion
recently to review his THE Great Gal
eoto," and I now have before me
Mariana" (AIbert and Charles Boni. New
York;, which Is one Of his better Known
plays, from an English point Of view.
at any rate. Its popularity was given a
severe test recently when Mime. Bertha
Kalich chose its dramatic mOment
for condensation and presentation in
popular vaudeville. II was not alone
the remarkable power Of this actress that
commanded and held the attention OF
playgoers during the few tense minutes
she was engaged in presenting this pow
erful drama, II was also the great power
of the play itself. Mariana" was well
chosen for English translation, and the
publishers have placed plsygoers In their
debt for bringing It out In such simple
and effective form. Save for Mariana"
and The Great Galeoto," his two most
interesting plays which have been trans
lated have been THE Son Of Don Juan"
and Folly Of saintliness," and It may
have been q coincidence, or 1t may have
been the demand for his works that
prompted two different publishers, toI
bring out his two best plays about the
same time, Each 10 In q different yeins