New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30
Hereditary Influence Is
Traced in Work of
Peter Pan" Creator
SOMETHING ABOUT
CLOTH HE USES
Free for All Among Star
Actresses Finds Emma
Dunn Ready
By HAYWOOD BROUN

James ". Barrie is the greatest
minor playwright Of our day. lie deals
exclusively in diminutive form OF
drama. One OF the critics said that
"A Kiss for Cinderella" was con
spicuously short weight; but he could
only guess for no one has ever found
ID scales upon which to weigh a Barrie
play. Toss half OF butter6y's wing
into one balance and up goes the play
ike an anti-aircraft projectile IN pur-
suit Of a Zeppelin.
But "A Kiss for Cinderella is light
only for want OF depth and not for any
lack o. incident. In an article on
psychology in the Sunday American,
or some other scientific publication. we
once read that whole cycle OF sd-
venture may speed through a brain in a
dream not more than I'VE or six minutes
~ duration. Just so Barrie at his best,
as in the ballroom scene OF the ne"
NAV. can rush any amount OF action
before you without giving the leasv
suggestion of haste. lie is best wnen
he dreams deeply. His whimsicallties
are sometimes a bit annoying when
thew bear the stamp OF life and yet pal
pablv are not of this world. Inere
are two such scenes at the beginning
of the second act Of Cinderella.
A better estimate OF the work OF
Barrie is TO be had when you know
that he is the great-nephew OF the Two
tailors who figure in one OF Hans Cnris-
tian Andersen's fairy tales. II may De
remembered that these two tailors came
TO court with a cloth OF surprising
richness. which also possessed a mag
zeal testing power. Any one who could
not see che cloth was not worthy OF
the lob he held. And so everybody
about the court saw this fine material,
or professed to see it, until one day
when the King rashly decided TO appear
in public clad in suit of the precious
cloth.
As he paraded before the populace
loutish youth cried out: ole hasn't got
ANYTHING on" Others in the crowd
took I'D the cry. and Andersen, VINO
happened TO get his story only second
hand from an eyewitness, leaves the
reader with the impression that the
crowd was right and the tailors were
frauds.
DYING. the tailors beQueathed to their
next Of kin the secret Of the cloth, and
he. after also failing in esorts to popu-
larize the material. handed on the secret
10 Barrie. The canny man began using II
by degrees. lie put only patch here
and a patch there, and never made Il
whole garment Of the stuff until he
fashioned peter Pan"
Again arose the cry OF the rabble
"He hasn't got anything on" But this
time some actually saw, and others,
ashamed 10 confess uniitness. Joined IN
the praise "A Kiss for Cinderella" il
made Of the same stuff, and woe unto
you II you cannot see the richness, the
color. the excellent cut and the gloss
Of this rare and precious material.
Lenox Avenue is not averse TO honor
ing even its own prophets. Monte
Cristo' at Lafayette" headlines New
York's leading negro daily. Play by
World Famous Colored Author Makes
Great Hit in Harlem
The paper declares that the negro
stock company is scoring sensational
success "The action Is fast and ex-
citing" we learn, "and the whole thing
is work Of art, beautifully staged.
The electrical effects are wonderful,
the scenery gorgeous, with ten scenes
TO enjoy; the gowns and costumes all
beautiful. In fact, one would say tnat
no expense has been spared TO make IL
one Of the most wonderfully staged
shows that New York has ever seen.
And. TO can il all. the acting as young
ladv remarked. is simply delightful
II is more. IL is superb.
"Nonte Cristo" may be all OF that,
hut we still regreat most that we fsileG
70 see the LAFAYETTE Players in their
recent revival Of Potash and Perl
mutter.'
Burns Mantle has been attempting 10
stir up some of our stars by sug-
gesting that they change characters
for day and try out what they can
do with the other lady's role. lie
would be pleased 10 see Maude Adams
Laurette Taylor, Elsie Ferguson ran
ces Starr. Ruth Chatterton and hmi
Dunn ioin in the fracas. what tne
others may do is still IN DOUBT ou'
Wi4s Dunn's manager has no hest
fancy IN backing her against the held'
Lee Kugel writes:
81 hold that versatility is the great
est test of an actress's ability, and
know OF no other woman star on 'he
.tage. irrespective of country not eS-
centine Bernhard whose range Is a.
great AS Miss Dunn's. Miss Dunn Is
perfectly willing TO play any role no"
beinq delineated on Broadway oy
woman star il she will play her part
Al a specisl matinee. the entire reeelpts
of these performances TO go 10 sehe
worthy charity" I'D
II sounds interesting. but we would
he more enthusiastic il the contest
we're extended so that George Monroe
-. . ohnrce 10 nlav the part