New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-21
Plays First Produced on
Tiny Stage in the Fer
rer School
HONOR IS CLAIMED
BY FREE THEATRE.
Reader Sets Us Right on
the Religion of
q. K. c.
h, HAYWOOD BROUN

~
This il sackcloth day, in which we
correct some OF our errors. First, it
seems we we're mistaken in saying that
king Argimenes and the Unknown
Warrior" was produced at the Princess
Theatre for the first time in America.
AIT in this case owes a debt to anarchy,
as may be judged by the following
letter:
"Will you kindly permit me slight
correction in your review of King
Argimenes'? ] would not trouble you
with it at all if not for the fact that
it appeared in The Tribune in partc-
ular. | am referring to your statement
that it was produced for the first time
in America AS a matter OF fact, |
produced all but two ("The Gods OF
the Mountain" and one play which
neither Mr.. Walker nor the Neighbor-
hood Players know of) OF Lord Dun
sany's plays two wears ago. This IN
cluded the plays which the Neighbor-
hood Players gave. | had them from
Lord Dunsany directly in manuscript
form. No newspaper ever reported
them-cven though ! sent regular no
tees of the productions because they
we're given az the Ferrer School, the
anarchists headquarters in New YORK,
and on a stage 8 by 10 feet. Little
stages were not in vogue then. and the
Ferrer School, where was the Free
4 "A fura tra of
time.
THE only newspaper that ever dared
venture above a three-line notice was
The Tribune. and curiousiy enough at
the King Argimenes' production. |
gave one performance of that play at
the Woman's Professional League, and
there was a young woman reporter
there from your paper. who said the
next day that King Argimenes,' by
Lord Dunsany. was produced and that
number OF society people were in
terested in it, A lifting feminine criti-
cism of one of the great plays OF to-
day.
"This is not said in order to detract
anything from Nh. Walkers work.
do not think there was any one more
delighted than ! to see Lord Dunsanys
works finally reach place where they
would have an opportunity to be APP
preciated by others than anarchists
or would-be anarchists. ! am simply
writing this because | thought it would
interest YOU to know that yours was
the only paper which said something
about n play two years ago of which
YOU think so highly to-day. And, in
cidentally, | may add that II ! gave
any plays to-day at the Free Theatre
you would give them as fair criti-
cism as you give all other productions
at any rate, believe you would not
care overmuch where they were pro-
duced. MAURICE RELONDE.
Mr.. Relonde is right in assuming
that we would not care ovcrmuch where
the plays were produced, Just so long
as they were free, as specified, and not
performed earlier than 1880 p. m
IL is fitting, perhaps. that Dunsany
should have been introduced into this
country by the anarchists, for of all
the modern dramatists ne alone gives
the actor an opportunity now and again
to appear without his shirt.
The next correction is in regard to
the religion Of Gilbert X. ChestertoA.
Felix Orman wrltes:>
at is not a matter OF great impor-
lance, but believe that in your arti-
Gle OF last Sunday. replying to Father
Burke, you gave your readers the I'M
preston that the distinguished Ches-
terton is Roman Catholic. In this
country the word Catholic is generally
assumed to mean Il COMMUNICATE in
the Roman Church, and by the nature
Of your article your statement would
have been so construed. There has
been much discussion and controversy
regarding the religious affiliations of
the noted G.. X. c. | understand that
Roman Catholic dignitarles in this
country have expressed the belief that
Chesterton is a member of that Church.
Unless this has come about within very
recent time, it is not so. A lesser known
member Of the Chesterton family did
embrace Roman Catholicism, but Gill
bert X. Chesterton is a member OF the
Catholic party Of the Church OF Eng
land. and is licensed as a lay preacher
in the Diocese of London. privilege
which | understand he has often used.
Once heard so vigorous a controversy
regarding the noted English writer's
religion that | wrote him an inquiry.
His wife replied that her husband was
not a member of the Roman Catholic
Church, but was in sympathy with that
body, which. Of course, Ia natural
feeling for any orthodox religionist."
By the way, we are sorry we ever
wrote anything about Father Burke and
the Catholic Theatre Movement. be
cause somehow or other a number OF
people seemed to think that we had
raised religious issue. and We have
received quite parcel of letters OF
commentator from atheists. A. p. As
and free thinkers Of one kind or an
other Beside these folk the widest
OF the baseball fans seems tame. As
an EpiscopaliaD with High Church
leaning we are properly appalled,.