The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-25

praise. Nc death bed repentance would
save them. He turned to the criticisms
Of the theatre-of managers, rather-as
TO their responsibility for the d~ccadence
OF the drama.
Only Half True, says Ames.
half true. Let me ask, what chance
would Shaw or Thomas. here, or Barrie
in his more fantastic moments have had
with our fathers. who regarded The
Lady Of Lyons as a perfect marvel?
Look at 'Dundreary.' Fine as was the
work OF MIR. Sothern. every critic agreed
that the piece was perfect pinle. No.
the trouble Is because the average In 10
low. Good plays are submerged among
the many bad ones. Who's to blame7
You? No. We? No. There are four
causes. First, our American democracy |;
second. nj free public schools third.
our labor unions. and fourth, a period Of
unexampled prosperity.
"In the past twenty years the people.
with new ideas in their heads. levelling
ideas. will money to spend. have fiocked
to the theatres. But II has not been an
intelligent public. It has been unin-
telligent. To them a play was Just a
show They demanded q simple. excit-
iu8 ttOTy OIu III teTU1S VI dCtlOn. 81.
called high class dramas went by the
board. II you want to have aristocratic
drama you must have aristocratic
audiences. Russia has the most ad-
vanced stage In the world and none save
the aristocrats go to the theatre In
Russia.
And so. we behind the curtain. have
been playing ragtime-not because we
love ragtime. but because We lik to con-
tinue our careers. Experimenting In the
theatre is more costly than in any other
form OF art. Every play that falls costs
some one $4,000.
but sothern and Marlowe did not
take this easy course. Despite al temp
tation they devoted their best years to
Shakespeare, breaking up home ties, en-
during the rigors Of the road. losing
everything that makes life worth while
to you and to me. We Of the theatre
know. Mr.. and Mrs. Sothern. that no
other American actor and actress have
don. so much for the theatre In our time.
You have set up a standard to which the
wise and the honest may repair"
Recalls Days Of L0ng Age.
Miss Repplier recalled long past years
when as a child in Philadelphia she saw
ktN BtNsS "a NV ~ iEtu
whole pages. The old Walnut Street The
atre there was to her the abode OF all
felicity.
And the other day." said Miss Rep
plier. when l walked past hat old the
atre where Booth had played I saw h a
IL vas plastered over with crude and i'm
beetle posters advertising a crude and
imbecile production born OF tho crude
and imbecile comic supplement. l read
just the other day that a defective child
In Denver a developed into a very
successful newspaper comic c%artoonist.
I'm those DAYS the brilliant idea OF ex-
Guiding the public from the best seats
unless they went to a hotel and paid a
premium hadn't occurred to u simple
minded nag
'.Sothern and Marlowe have dor their
part. hui their going leaves us desolate.
Al a OF kindergarten plays
stretches YEARLY before U.S."
Otto II. Kahn spoke Of the part this
country should play after the wal in
keeping alive the interest in the theatre.
"In the ~post-bellum days, when the
nations at war will be inclined to let the
light or the altar OF art grow dim he
said. 1T IL Americas privilege and duty
to keep that fame alive.
W have here tonight two prophets
Of the right god. Though We do chase
false gods sometimes. let the right god
come along and we will follow him.
The people are hungry for soul culture.
The sluggish soul needs stimulation as
much as the sluggish liver"
Mrs. Corinne Roosevelt Robinson read
a poem dedicated to the guests of honor
and Augustus Thomas spoke OF the early
days of his acquaintance with Miss Mar
lowe.
Found Wide Love Of Plays.
In responding Mr.. Sothern said that
II had been the experience OF Miss Mar
lowe and himself that whenever they gave
Shakespeare in large theatres at popular
prices they played to very good business,
He had been kcenly interested in the
spontaneous admiration Of children for
Shakespeare's plays.
elm Chicago cnce We played before a
large audience OF school children said
Mr.. Sothern. quite obviously. they
grasped all OF the points OF the play
and were delighted. And squarely In the
who was bubbling will excitement
sprang up and plped ouo: Gee This is
better than a nickel show! Also. 1t has
been our experience that whenever we
could induce uniformed persons. who
had been terrified about Shakespeare.
probably, to attend our performances
they enjoyed themselves immensely.
at Is the dream OF Miss Marlowe and
myself that a theatre will be founded
where actors may school themselves in
Shakespeare's plays"
Mr.. Sothern said 1t was very difficult
for an aspiring player ever to get started
In Shakespearian work.
miss Marlowe's mother had to raise
$1,000 before Miss Marlowe could give
her first matinee" he said. And 1t may
interest you to know that her first real
hacker was a Sixth avenue restaurant
keeper named Bristol, who had seen her
and who foresaw her career"