Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-08
A Dramatic Critic Criticised
by an Humble Playwright
The Authoress of "The Fear Market" Disputes
With Walter Prichard Eaton Over
His Review of Her Play
BY AMELIE RIVES
Princess Troubetzkoy.

LNAIR play is the motto of the Anglo
i Saxon, and turn about is fair play" so
1 venture to hope that the EVENING
LEDGER, which printed on the 25th of
March an article by Mr. Walter Prichard
Eaton in regard to my play, THE Fear
Market" will print this article by me in
regard to that of Mr. Eaton.
The dramatic critics, with some notable
exceptions, smote me on the right cheek,
and in silence submitted to being smitten
on the left also, but Mr.. Eatons blow
comes when patience has had her per-
feet wo~': and left me-" Besides even
Scriptu, does not say that one must go
on offerir oneself indefinitely to the smt-
ers without resistance.
Perhaps one reason why 1 feel like
Answering back" in this case is because
."fhe American Stage of Today" and look
forward to an enlightening criticism from
him-something that would encourage, no
matter how severely it might censure.
When two friends of his told me that he
intended writing a criticism of "The Fear
Market" | was much pleased. Now l
shall have some constructive criticism of
my play" was my thoughts something
that will show me where the faults are
and how to mend them" This sort of
criticism I call growing pains"
''Fait' "a are the wounds of friend"
ana cFT ann TO De nelptul SnOulQ be al
ways frieI'dly, even when its friendlinesS
is that OF the surgeons knife. And so
cheerfully l took up Mr. Eatons article
In the EVENING LEDGER
1t began with large headlines that set
forth a very bad pen in very bad taste,
and 1t went on in the usual patronizing
and facetious vein of newspaper criticism
to which / have grown accustomed. He
speaks of the plot of the play as princess
Troubetzkoy's plotting" which he con-
demned for lack of plausibility. This lack
of plausibility he sets forth in an example
as follows:
For instance. the editor of the Shiny
paper will not let his daughter read his
publication, for he loves her and doesn't
want her to find out what his business is.
She, however, consumed with curiosity, is
living at hotel where 1t lies on the news
stand. But, of course, II she weren't told by
her lover, the doubtless lawyer (sic) who
is exposing her father what the business
is, the play would have to be all rewrit-
ten"
Now, from these comments one interest
ing, IL regrettable fact stands forth-the
fact that Mr.. Eaton believes that no girl
is capable of keeping promise, If the
least temptation fall in her way. Sylvia
(the girl in my play) has promised her
father not to read copy of his paper
until he gives her permission. When | was
a girl made my father promises which
kept. though 1t was hard to keep some of
them, and am glad TO say that the girls
I knew then and the girls 1 know now
have also the sense of honor which would
keep them from breaking such promises.
Besides, Sylvia has lived in Italy since
she was years old, and even If she were
such little wretch as to want only op-
portunity in order to break her word, such
papers as that which Mr. Eaton alludes
to as the 'old Town Topics" are unknown
in Italy. l speak with authority, for
have spent six months of almost every