New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-27
Theatregoer, Just Getting
Up from Table, Wants
Comedy, He Says.
CITY'S DRAMAS
RECEIVE PRAISE
Cobb Pleads for Preparedness
in United States at Dinner
TO English Actor.

Since full stomachs interfere with
the operation Of the imagination and
Imagination is necessary for a proper
appreciation of the drama and drs-
matte productions usually follow the
dinner hour, Sir Herbert Beerbohm
Tree, actor-mansger, would abolish the
late dinner.
He outlined this line OF reasoning
last night 20 600 members Of the Twi-
light Club, who rendered him a dinner
at tho McAlpin Hotel. Three hundred
more admirers Of the Shakespearian
actor were permitted 90 crowd into the
ballroom and shake hands with him be-
fore he explained his views concerning
the relation Of the drama to the diges-
ton.
"The serious drama is suffering
from the epidemic Of late dining" he
said. when we have dined well we
do not go by preference 20 witness
tragedy. What is tragedy? An empty
stomach. What is comedy? A full
"A
man is not revengeful, he is not re-
pentant, his mind does not soar to the
heights Of Imagination or descend TO
the depths of despair. His animal
nature is uppermost during the process
of digestion, and in this state he will
prefer the gentle Utilization Of comic
song 20 the dogma Of the drama.
Fashion Strains Endurance.
"Bu. in the name of fashion people
will endure much. They will even en-
dure the higher drama. But earnest
ness is not seriousness, any more than
grief Is gayety. There is young lady
sitting at these tables. who happens
10 be my daughter-she writes poetry
with the acute pessimism Of extreme
youth. I asked her the other day;
why is il that you, who are so joyous
in life. are 50 morbidly tragic in your
poetry? She replied: oh, you see Il
is we happy PEOPLE like the Greeks
who enjoy the beauty of tragedy II
is the dyspectics who contribute to
the comic journals
by The bye, I was told that New
York would never support Shakespeare.
] am glad 20 be able 20 give positive
negative TO this assertion. l myself was
from the first sangune as 70 the result
OF my ENTERPRISE, for ! knew how rich
" the New York public had supported
the opera; and believe that the people
OF this city are singularly curious as 70
the higher reaches Of dramatic art, for
the theatre here is part OF the national
life much more than it is at home.
There is no such thing as playing
down TO the public; If you play down
10 the public II is because that is your
natural level. Besides, first rate
artist cannot DO good pot-boilers II ne
tries.
There Is plenty Of activity in the
drama Of New York to-day-and GER
tainly Shakespeare has come into his
own-and ! hear on all sides OF the
success Of an admirable presentation OF
The Merry Wives Of Windsor which
the laudable ambition Of Mr.. liackett,
for whose speedy recovery we all hope,
has given to New York. | had myself
intended 20 give a presentation OF THIS
play-indecd, I had brought over my
scenery with this yiew-but courtesy Is
the better part Of rivalry"
Irwin S. Cobb forgot to be funny
when called upon 60 speak, and sue
ceeded in converting the function into
preparedness meeting. After describ-
ing seNeEdl lUClAt44eS ~ ApNFeAif -
cium. both before and after the sack
ing Of the town by the Germans. he
earnestly spoke of the necessity for
preparedness on this side Of the At
lantic
ut is because I believe that the
Providence that takes care Of idiots.
children. drunkards and the United
States may some day forget us, be-
cause | know that Il a fat oyster places
itself on exhibition withou. q shell
somebody is certain 70 come along with
an oyster fork, that ! am convinced
we should have the most powerful navy
and the smartest army in the world"
he said.
Seated at the speakers table were
the Rev. Merle ST. Croix Wright, Miss
Elsie Ferguson, Charles L. Guy, Au-
gustus Thomas. Haddon Chambers,
Louis x. Ansnacher, Andre De Brisson,
Irwin s. Cobb. Miss Jane Cowl, VIII
. lam Norman Guthrie. Miss Katherine
+ Ridder. Daniel Frohman. Frank Crown
. inshield. Lawrence Grant and Miss
Edith Wynne Matthison.