The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-23

Quite.
 He is so many sided that a conserva- tive would find it a task to write of l him. because conservatives we are told
 in the fairy stories deal not in superla- l lives.
 MT. Arlss, actor, student, critic, is
 synonymous with things super, but by no
 means a super-man in the conventional 1 sense yirile to degree, temperamental. 1 charming. MT. Arliss. Englishman
 though he be, is what we in America
 would call regular man."
 The American stage has claimed him
 because he is such splendid actor. and 1 we always claim the best | have named MT. Arliss the artistocrat of the stage, whether you've seen him
 in any of his amazingly clever stage
 productions or merely chatted with him
 as man to man, I believe you will agree
 with me.
 l As the bank clerk likes to think that 1 the Rothschilds and the house of Pier pont Morgan are in the same business
 with himself and are lofty examples of what is possible in his chosen profes-
 sion; the young artist dreams of the glory of Webster and Rodin, and as the writer of stories, views Anatole France, and Gabrielle DAnnunzio, so many of l the stage people view MT. Arliess, as I do-as the artistocrat of the profession. 1 There is an aristocracy in the play house and Mir Arliss is it's prophet. 1 He not only conveys his message as an actor, but himself and his work serve | as an inspiration of playwrights, which 1 is only too charmingly demonstrated in Mir Parker's ''Disrael,'' which was writ ten for and around MT. Arliss. MT. Arliss is the symboi of modernity, the essence of the age in which he lives reduced to dramatic expression. Beautifully educated. refined to de- gree that is Chesterfieldian in it's ele- gance, a profound thinker and erudite scholar MT. Arliss combines with these attributes most engaging personality, which is at once human in it's kindness and exquisite in it's charms.
 Typcally English from the cut of his well made clothes to the monocle which he adjusts in true English fashion, MT. Arliss conveys the impression of being different-not only in appearance, but in his ideas, in mannerisms, in little ini- mate accomplishments.
 The pleasure of meeting MT. Arliss was accorded me yesterday morning and for brief time as we sat in the foyer of the Tutwiler, gleaned from hirl some of his interesting views concerning the great statesman Disraeli, an incident in whose life, namely, the successful dipo- matc struggle for the Suez canal, 'the key to India" which resulted in making his queen an empress, gave Mir Parker the inspiration for one of the most | charming dramas that has been written in recent years.
 The orientalism of Disraeli made him the most picturesque figure in the British history of the last century, end it was | inevitable that a play should be written | about this man of ambition of unalter- able determination, epigramatic, clever and withal romantic.
 Nothing in history stands out with more amazing insistence than Disraeli's devotion and love for his wife-Lady | Beaconsfield 10 years his senior, but | whose marvellous fascination and womanly bearing did more toward furthering Ds- raelis success than anything outside of II his own personal endeavors.
 "Has Disraeli always been T favorite character with you?' l asked MT. Arliss. as ehatted, ''or how did this play of yours come about?"
 '"rhe play was written for me and around me, you might say" MT. Arliss answered.
 '.I spoke to Mir. George C. Tyler sev- ersl years ago and told him that I saw great possibilities for splendid play to be made out of certain incidents in the II lie of Disrae MT. Tyler was going to England that year and he promised that he would MT. Parker whom he con si9ers the only person with the ability II to accomplish the task. I had already II had one Dsraeli play written for me- but declined it as it Was not what 1 il wished. To make long story short MT. Parker accepted the assignment from Mr. Tyler, and when he had finished the first act, he called in London. and told me he didn't think that it would do. Tn fact, he rather signified that he wouldn't go on with it. I then read the first act, and was delighted with it and I told him We soon began to plan the others and before we realized it we had our play"
 Now, what makes MT. Parker's play charming is this," MT. Arliss said He hasn't tried to give every detail and go into every angle and curve of Disraeli s life. He singled out one episode and about that he has drawn the romance. He has caught the Disraeli atmosphere and embodied it most delightfully."- in the play"
 "The famous Disraeli epigrams,' I be- gan. Could play be written without quoting the clever aphorism; flattery is a most trenchant weapon; with royalty it can be put on with a trowel.' And of a certain great English statesman, of whom some friend said to Disraei: His eyes are wonderful And to which the emi- nent man replied: Yes; but they have such Q d. poor background. Epi- grams?'
 "undoubtedly some of the cleverest things ever uttered were the short terse sentences that Disraeli used not only be- fore Parliament but in his social rela- tions. He was at his best in epigram and quip and gest," said Mir. Arliss. "In- deed, his epigrams conveyed absolutely II his attitude toward the world, as, for in stance. the which is inscribed in his powerful story, 'vivien Grey, and which guided his life and his ambition. II Why then the worlds mine oyster, which I with sword will open. From this we fl 10 possess and to win power. to wield influence and to become the greatest statesman in England. 1t is equally easy I| for us to understand Disraei's remarks to Lord Melbourne, the great prime min ister, when that gentleman said to him: II We'll MT. Disraeli what is your idea tn entering Parliament? What is your anl- bition? MT. Disraeli replied: TO be prime minister of England. my lord.' This from man still very young and prac- tically known only fashionable nov II elist and gay flop about town, seemed the II very sublimity of audacity, but he said it absolutely in earnest. He made no