The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-02-23

Nevertheless it was ncontcstabc that, of all
the arts, the drama made the widest and the deep
est appeal What could the reason be? The more
| | thought about it the convinced / became
that was due the lifeinstnct itself, strongest
of all human instincts, finding expression through
our appctites and interests through all those
forces that, in spite of obstacles, adversely even
tragedy, kept US interested in living and deter
mined to live
From our first breath we were trained to the
drama. Each day dramatic festival repeat
ing itself through the pageant of the days, making
US both actors and audience. The more wisely
we lived the more keenly alive we became to the
enjoyment Of the spectacle, and the more prof
tied by its meaning. Here profit and recreation
went together. The had to give the
we could receive. Indeed, giving and receiving
were, in essence, the exercise of the same faculty
In the drama OF the theater we found the drama
of life concentrated with its meaning interpreted
The closer we were related to it, the more we had
to offer by means of our relation and the more
we were able to take away in enjoyment Through
forgetting ourselves for time, through complete
lily losing ourselves by means of absorption in
the lives of others, escaped from the burden
of the self and secured wholesome recreation.
II Many enthusiasts of the drama forget that, for
the enjoyment Of plays this kind of relation is
necessary. And among those who most for
getfu those highly cultivated people who
think that their taste ought to be imposed the
public that the relation they achieve ought to be
established where such relation exists. 1t
should be borne in mind that the cultivated take
to the theater many interests that are artificial,
that have been developed out of their special
training.
! One of the sons of Joseph Jefferson used to
tell story about old farmer who, during THE
Rivals, at the close of the first act, given by his
have his money returned. Young Jefferson was
curious to know the cause of the dissatisfaction.
i"Cant grasp it." said the farmer Unconsciously
he expressed psychological principle. He could
not relate himself to that work OF art. He could
not follow with understanding the antics of Bob
: Acres.
. When heard OF the incident, lady who was
present remarked: HE must have been very
stupid, for farmer" She was right, but she
: understanding that she herself lacked and that
most OF the cultivated lacked, important kinds, too
related to the sources of life.
The cultivated people, in referring to art, have
way of taking tone of authority that to those
u lacking in their special training, must at times BIZ
e irritating. They arc particularly irritating wher
e they wish to impose on the world works derived
e less from life itself than from what they cal
y culture. Just now, for example, we are hearing
e lamentaton because certain credtable productions
of Shakespeare arc not finding great popular ia
# vor. They unquestonaby worthy of support
" But it does not follow that they should be sup
J. ported.
l. The drama steps down from its high office O
e recreation when it assumes the guise of duty. A.
- a matter of fact, it is not natural that audi
ences, that is, great public, should rush to sec
II Shakespeare. The Shakespearean plays are too fa
S, removed from psychology. To appreciate
them requires or less systematic preparation
extending over years 1t may be urged that thu
d more familiar plays, like "The Merchant Of Ven
h ice" "As You Like It," and Romeo and Juliet
# arc familiar and so human as to be easily in
= tellgblc and easily sympatzed with. So they are
y for the minority. But for the majority they arr
y alien thinking, expressed in alien speech.
We waste good deal of time and we do harm
to the cause of art by trying to force this taste
. that on the public. In the same way we caus
J. children great deal of grstuitous misery ant
Ell sometimes weaken inhibit the enjoyment OF ar
e for the rest of their lives. How often do we Sc
10 children making faces piece of literature
interesting and beautiful to understanding blu
IL to them tedious and ugly 1t is not surprising tina
r. the impressions made those fresh minds shout
lie be hard to change. So many wrongs have beer
N done in the name OF culture and so much nsincer
ity and pretensc has been associated with It tina,
. among many. it has fallen into suspicion and dis
IT reputc Instead of re-creatng the spirit, as
y should, it is often vcxation
ot ---------- .
'r The Presidents Educatien.