davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Emery and daughter
Of Brighton were visitors in town
Wednesday.
A limb on the large oak tree in front
of the Folsom house on Church street
became so weighted with water from the
heavy rainstorm Tuesday night that it
broke down. falling directly over the
electric car track. The trolley wire
was not disturbed and no damage was
done other than a delay in the car time.
C.. M. Eastman Of Boston was a caller
in town Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs J. E. Brown. who have
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Old Home week cannot out-do the
summer buying carnival provided by
Gardiner merchants.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Made in Gardiner. The Oakland 5t
cirar-a cool. sweet smoke. Always {
big value for the price.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Leishton's Dollar day bargains in
clude prs. f9c and 15c boys pants, for
81; any 50 soft felt hat for 81; Il prs.
mems l5c hose, 81; 3 union suits. boys,
for 81; and many others.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

On each of the three Dollar days, c.
A. Brawn Co. will sell one new hlgn
grade upright piano at half price
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

There's solid satisfaction for buyers
in the Gardiner stores this week. The
windows are the index.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Mildred Eastman has bargains for
the three big days. Money saved on
millinery.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

c. O. Davenport makes special offers
in high grade silver plated ware.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

From an almost entirely new stock OF
household supplies and china ware.
the Ludwig & Harlow Co. make hne
specials One item illustrates: Reg. sl.oo
teacups and saucers, three designs,
sale price, 81 doz. Bargains throughout
the store
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Preparedness is the woodland the
store windows yesterday gave evidence
that merchants are ready for eventual
tiles in the way of big business.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-10

Straw hats at half price is one item
a III. G. Barker Cos. Reg $50 Bates
street shirts, s1.15; auto dust coats,
$50 value, 81. Remember the refund
sale of spring and summer suits.
The sun., 1916-10-14
HAS THE AMERICAN DRAMA
GOT INFANTILE PARALYSIS?
Brady Brings Charge Against Playwrights Who Are Too
Young Mentally Paywrights and Managers
Speak Pro and Con.

A most serious charge against the
American drama OF to-day was recently
made by william \. Brady. which
brought forth the following comment in
tho editorial pages OF THE SUN:
air. Brady sadly asserts that the
American drama is suffering from Infan-
tile paralysis. This pessimist!c accusa-
ton Is the outcome Of Mr.. Brady's pro-
foss!uual connection with countless plays
that are unworthy OF production and a
few that reach the boards. They are
the WORK. both those which are rejected
and those which are played, OF young
men or women whose experience OF life
IL slender or of elderly writer's who have
never grown up mentally.
"lf Mr.. Brady's contention IL we'll
founded there seems to be a short cut
to the solution of the diHiculty. When-
ever any young person comes under sus-
picion o! being engaged upon the writing
OF "a play let the law step in AT once.
The Culprit should bo held for ohserVa-
ton and IL seriously afflicted with the
plnywriting germ should he placed under
treatment. Compulsory attendance NJ n
really good school for teaching the cle-
mems OF tho dramatic art might be wise
In certain selected cases.
POSSIBLY there is no limo OF human en-
deayor that demands such thorough ac-
Q~uaintance with the peculiarities Of
human nature. Its heights and depths
The sun., 1916-10-14

7 mean. n very good novelist. Would
any rational person l.. moved 10 suffer
all that his genius" suffered TO attain
the ends lie attained" MY only disap-
pointnicut IN "Tle Genius was that I
thought II not quite 40 good II buok a.
SISTER GARLIC which. being interpreted
la the terms OF the professional moral
lists, II 4 presume, that It IL not
quite so bad n book.
II seems 10 me ground for regret that
our literary prohibitionists have not a
clearer idea OF what constitutes real mo-
rallty. did not rear II wor,l OF rcinon-
STRANGE from them touching what seemed
To me a very immoral book which had "A
trcincndou, success not very long ago.
H. this curious ook there was, for cX-
ample. She spectacle Of n nurse murder
ing a baby In a public park by beating
It's head against n stone fountain. while
a policeman looked OF and laughed and
when this crime was brought To- tho at
tention VI the wealthy mother. by n
righteous intcntioned woman FROM the
country. the mother resented the imper-
Thence OF the woman who had brought
the information.
The effect OF this sort OF thing was TO
create In the minds of the immense pas
toral audience that read the book the be-
lief hat the metropolitan police are
hopeiessly vicious; that the nurses en-
ployed by wealthy persons are murderers
In disguise, md that women OF wealth
are very well satisfied TO have their
babies put out OF the way.
This seems to me the sort OF immoral
!ty that does actual harm though even
In the case OF such a book ! would
rather have each reader be his own CEN
sor. The pity is that a greater number
OF Individual censors do not condemn
the books which are untruthful md give
stronger approval TO the books which
tell the ruth. THE Genius' seemed To
me a truthful book-and I do not mean
only that IT was truthful literally. but
that 1t was truthful spiritually and Ia
It's philosophy OF life.
The sun., 1916-10-14

The question of literary censorship
has becn brought before the Authors
League Of America through the attempts
ed suppression OF Mr.. Theodore Dreiser's
book. 'The GENIUS" by the New York
Society for the Suppression Of Vice. This
body. self-constituted and supported by
private contributions. has demanded not
only that publication he suspended but
tsat the plates and all existing copies be
destroyed.
Although Mr.. Dresser is not II member
OF the league, II acceded TO the request OF
his publishers hat he be permitted to
present his case before the executive
committee " that body.
II was the sense OF the committee that
The Genius" was not subject TO con-
deinnation by the vice society, that II
was neither 'lewd. licentious nor OBJ
scene" that the test applied In such cases
was narrow and unfair, and that unless
modified II would prevent the sale OF
many classics and of much Of the serious
work which Is now being offered. and
that the Authors League take such action
AZ may be possible to prevent the up
preston of the work complained OF.
Mr.. Dresser contended that In the ten
months the book had been out not a single
criticism had been produced cond. ming
II as "lewd and obscene" az the vice So
clety alleges. 81 look on this interfer-
ence with myself or any other serious
writer as an outrage said Mr.. Dresser.
"and 7 fear for the ultimate intelligence
Of America. A band Of wasplike ccn-
sors has appeared and is attempting to
PUT the quletus on our literature. which
is At least showing signs OF breaking the
bonds OF PurItanisii under which II has
40 long struggled In vain. Foe. Haw-
thorne. whitman and Thoreau have
in turn been the butt and gibe OF unin-
'cliigent persons. until by now we are
well nigh the laughing stock OF the
world. When will We lay aside the
swaddling clothes forced ON US by the
%antiquated theories Of ignorant oralis
aud their unclucated followers. and
stand up free thinking men and women
ITO me this interference by the vice
society with serious letters Is the worst
and most c%orrupting form Of oppression
conceivable to tho human mind. plumb
ing as IL does the depths of ignorance
and intolerance and checking Initiative
and inspiration at It's source. Life. II II
Is anything at all. Is Il thing to he OBJ
served. studied. interpreted. We do not
know too much about II in fact, as yet
we know hardly anything OF II. II is
our great realm of discovery. The ar
The sun., 1916-10-14
~ LOUIS

I've no doubt there's something 10 BE-
said on both sides ot the Censorship
question. but I'm much in favor OF Thco-
dore Dresser. and I can't see thai lie is a
TO American morals. On the
contrary. I think such hooks ss his must
have. In the end. n stimulating effect In
the direction OF sane conduct. When II
comes to a question OF morality. | can't
conceive OF anything more harmful thar
the practice OF a self-appo!nted indiyid-
ual or solf-appointcd individuals pre-
Stunning to say what IT is right for other
individuals to do.
To me the novel may be regarded as a
parallel matter TO n case In court and
the novelist may be looked upon as the
trial Judge. II is obviously the duty OF
the conscientious Judge Tin both cascs)
to lay bare all the evidence, even when
1t is wholly unpleasant: and he Is n
moral or immoral Judge according to the
conclusion he draws. IL he adheres 10
the fundamental doctrine that the wages
Of sin Is death"-!f only fguratiyely
speaking-he seems to me TO establish
his claim to being a moral Judge.
II We may accept this test, Mr.. Dresser
is a very good Judge" indesd-by which
The sun., 1916-10-14
Ellis Parker Butler speaks.

Observing the American stage from
afar. say tho fourteenth row. Just north
by west of the big drab pillar. through
hyaline or polished crystal lens. per-
sonally. for and 10y myself Cand, mark .
with II freely critical mind. paying FOR
my own ticket, beholden neither to play
wright, producer, actor nor Ilaysmithb }.
or (Which might better test tho tcmpcr
of tn ttmc) hearing with my car the
outpourings of friends - p~laygocrs,
critics, playNrirhts. actors, readers.
scene shiftcrs, nice old ladies with well
preserved compilations. Harvey i, O'Hig-
-ins, play agents. wives cor my own.
one OF other men. many, children and
others-in praise, blame, simple chat
tcrlng recapitulaticn. hawhawiug satiri-
cal criticism and so forth. OF the cur
rent and recently current plays, as ! do
do see and hear. hat Isl. ! dare state
tbe,ng. or having been, Asked. that In
competency In playwriting has not w To
the present moment OF tiImc-and what.
! nay ask, other ome than n mo-
ment Of time IL therC"-has not, re-
peat. reached the utter height aud re-
iinement cor should | say depth and
derradationO OF incompcttncy because
! have not, unless In my sleep or other
wise UNIV l%ttin9l,, myself wrought a play.
The sun., 1916-10-14
\, GERTRUDE ATTENTION.

What American literature and this
ountry in general needs Is not NOR,
morals but more brains. In time per
APPS We shall nav a censor who will
,uppress every book which does no,
ippeal to the Intelligence OF the better
lass of readers and at the same tim,
ultivate the lower levels. As Il IL. the
verage American mind Ia 50 drugsed
with fiction in which the sweet, scnti-
mental and commonplace elements
bound. even when the scene IL laid IN
he more Sophisticated" walks of life,
shat IL has no chance to realize its
DEGRADATION. much less strive after y
more elevated taste. This great publ,
IL constantly written down To by authors
whose education and early ideals fitted
them for an honorable career. but whose
families ate expensive and iusistcrt. II
they succumb 1" ;he public demand Il H.
because the pGbl,c does not know any
better. ard rs the first rate authors who
stick To heir original guAs are nuineri-
The sun., 1916-10-14

he hands Of a discriminating public than
hat accorded Mr.. Thackeray's vanity
Fair" or many OF Zola's masterpieces.
censorship OF books Is not inadvisable.
but II should not he conducted 10y narrow
minded. self-appointed critics. The NOR
us OF the people usually adjust them
'clvcs. We are not altogether bad. AZ
a matter Of fact. I believe the American
,eople to he the cleauest minded IN the
World. An unclean. p~urposel,s book or
'ay can obtain 10 substantial footing In
his country. A book with ~ purpos,
viii find Its proper level. and all the cen-
orship In the world canno deprive II OF
~ place. And now that the Society for
he Suppression VI Vice has tried to put
, ban upon MIR. Drelser's hook I shall
make haste 10 read II. as ] have read all
4 his books that have gone before It.
The sun., 1916-10-14

cally too weak to reform It. the only
hope lies In an intellectual, censorship.
As TO tho so-callcd immoral novels !
have not read any OF those under dis
cussion. but It II safe 20 say that they
do no harm. A long novel pounding
away from first 10 last on any one theme
II SO poi,derous and so duh that 1t fails
~ its own weight. n IL IL well written
only tho intelligently curious will read
II. aud they are immune the half baked
mind. which. a. ! have said. abcunds ~
this country. viii he Incapable Of ilc
mental effort, and II It's taste runs that
way will return with all speed to he
diluted sex fiction that appears I'm the
popular magazines. That does no harm
either.
The sun., 1916-10-14
QUESTIONS WHICH PROVOKE DISCUSSION AN
WRITER'S ARE OPPOSING
LITERARY CENSORSHIP
Attempted Suppression Of Theodore Dresers Work Brings
Him Many Defenders English Writers
'-t Cable Sympathy.

list. II left to himself. may be safely
.rusted to observe. synchronize and ar
ticulate human knowledge In the most
palatable and delightful form. There
is no c%oinpulsion on any one to read.
One must pay TO do 30. Furthermore,
one must have taste and a brain and
heart TO understand. With all these
safeguards and "A double score Of capable
critics in every land to praise or blame.
what real need is there for IA censor, far
less fttcd than any OF the working
critics. to indulge his personal predilcc-
ton and opposition and to appeal to the
courts X disagreed with. The publisher
OF Mr.. Gilbert Cannon's latest novel-a
work hat probably has no greater de-
feet than being intelligent and true--is
warned before he brings Il out that he
will be prosecuted. Similarly Mr..
Frzybyszcwskis Homo Sapiens' is ut
once seized and It's publisher frightened
nto withdrawing II. This also was
the eminent August Fcrel's The Sexual
Question A literary reign Of tel ror is
being attempted. Where will It cnd?'
The West Indicts Also.
1.-The Genius has also been attacked
by the Western Society for the Suppress
sion OF Vice. Endeavots are being ma
by members OF the society to suppress the
book and prohibit the mailing OF the vol.
unse In this country nj Ia England.
+. J.. Rowe. secretary OF the society
has addressed communications to pos
Office inspectors In English speaking
countries calling attention to certain
passages In the hook. Mr.. Rowe said re-
Gently:
REV. John Herget Of Ninth street
Baptist Church became acquainted with
the book when he was called to n telc.
phone by al unidentified person who
complained. We Immediately procured
II copy Of the present issue and find /. is
filed with obscenity and blasphemy. We
rave succeeded In having Il removed
from practically every book store In the
city"
English Writers Cable Sympathy.
LONDON.
John Lane. 1is West Thirty-second
street:
Convey to Dresser and Authors
League following message We regard
1.-THE Genius'' MS a work Of high literary
merit and s~ympathize with the Author.
League of America in their protest
against its suppression.
ARNOLD BENNETT,
WILLIAM J. LOCKE,
L. TEMPLE TH~rRsToS,
IA. q. WELLS.
9.23 +. NJ. Sept. 10. 1915.
The sun., 1916-10-14
Nr. Dillingham; Protective
Methods.

Charles Dillingham;. producer OF
mighty sp~ectaclcs. would not
on Mr.. Brady's pessimistic charge
against the American drama OF to-day,
but his attitude may be inferred from
the fact that nc manuscripts are opened
in the Dillingham; offices, but are re-
The sun., 1916-10-14

Briefly and In a word 7 fee, that I am
not qualified TO pass opinion oil the state
Of tho American drama. Mr.. Brady
thinks II IL suffering from infantile
paraly sis. Sometimes II seems to be In
the las, stages ~ semitic debility then
again II bears a healthy and q robust
iuus air.
But-as 7 say, I DO not feel qualified
10 pass upon the condition Of the drama.
for I don't know anything about the
subject, II you think I do, you have
only To read the criticisms of some II
our leading play reviewers regarding
two plays IN the writing ~ which ] was
more or less remotely interested.
The sun., 1916-10-14

It's ms and ouis, rs the task e->ayed by
the playwright. II should hot be at
teInptcd by those who are unit for II
mentally. physically, morally or through
lack Of experience Of liic. But !nfantile
paralysis of the kind referred 10 by Mr..
Brady IS n difficult thing 10 check. Thc
Greek and Roman writer's referred 10 II
1000 years ago ard 1t has RACED with
more or less severity IN all the highly
civilized epochs OF the world. II the
lawyers or tho doctors, or both COM.
bined. could Mud some. way t. minimize
It's horrors the future OF the race would
10 brighter"
4. ". Woods Concnrs.
According 10 a. H. Woods. william A.
Brady's assertion that the American
drama Is suffering from .nfaatlie par
nlys!s Is well fOundcd After having
felt the pulse. taken the tcmperaturc
and otherwise examined the SYMPTOMS
of countless scripts. Mr.. Woods not only
entirely agrees with Mr.. Brady's dag
nosiS, hut believes that the latter has
overlooked several c~oncomitant ailments.
II lost count OF the number of PLAYS
rye examined years ago plys MIR.
Woods, 1--WE read them, had them read
10 me. watched them In rehearsal, seen
them produced In and OUT of town. seen
them get over and seen them make
their melancholy way To the ~s,orehouse,
and summing Il all up I've long ago
come 10 the conclusion that the COM
b!ned intellect back OF II all IL very sick
or very far away.
Not that there aren't some good
plays and tine playwrights who bring to
their craft an expert knowledge q: life
ana the theatre. I've seen some good
ones. and Halter myself that I've pro-
duced some good ones. hut taking the
output by and large I've come TO the
conclusion that more children under
four years write plays thaU suck their
thumbs and that one of the first =, mp
toins Of seni!ity Is Il tendency TO write
drivel for the stage,
"1'his IL not mean to be discouraging
II a man or woman feels qualified to
write a play. lot him or her go to It.
But the bad plnywrlshts, like the poor,
are always with us"
The sun., 1916-10-14

continue To- come 10, but the Dillingham;
Office boy has learned to spot n play
manuscript 1T II distance Of ten yards
and send them back untouched to the
ambitious play wrights.
Cosmo Hamilton Nefates.
In asserting that the American drama
OF to-day Is suffering from i%uiantilc
paralysis Mr.. william A. Brady is not
accurate. lie should have said that tho
American theatre of To-day IL suffering
from that contagious disease. and Ia
making this very obvious etatcm.nt lie
should have included the English thea
tire. To lay the blame for this condition
Of things upon the humble. ed and
o~bsequious body OF pisywriglts and
dramatists IN these two countries which
are 50 clos ly connected in the thcatrr
business IL IA absurd "a u II unjust.
Playwri-hts and d%ranatistr. the former
being men OF ideas who throw them into
play form ~ the best medium FOR their
exposition. tho latter men devoid Of ideas
who either slavishly initiate the methods
OF Sardou or who are hsndica pped fvr
Ike by having attended "A school Of play
writing-both belong 10 a class Of
writer's who have almost less to do with
the American and English stages than
any member OF the large army attached
to IL, even the call boys n limeligh;
men. Tho blame for whatever Is bad,
uninteliieent and unattractive in the
theatre to-day must he placed upon tho
shoulders OF Mr.. William A Brady aud
his fellow managers. 1t Is he and they
who choose the plays 10y which the thea
tire IL Judged and he and they who. hav-
ing chosen plays for their excellence,
devote their lives e tho work of elimi-
mating that very excellence from these
plays before they ara given to tho public.
The solution OF tho theatre problem IL
Q. easy to fnd as II IN dirfcult to
achieve. II IL not the education of the
playwright that is the vita, necessity.
Brady and company. The less a play
wright knows about writing plays the
better HI. play. THE less n MANAGE
knows about tho theatre the better his
theatre. Because the more a playwright
knows about writing plays the more
mechanical and Initiative will hi. work
DC and tho more a manager knows about
the theatre tho more hopeiessIy behind
the desires OF III, audience 10 lie likely
to he. The American and English thea
tres are not suffering from infantile
paralysis from any fault OF the play
wright. He IL only the person who
makes the Ioa'. " IL the manager who
j. the laher ans who, having trickcd the
loaf IN with sugar and colorcd paper.
places IL IN his shop wiiido TO sell. ii
he can. and II IS lie who Is quite I'M
aware. hopelcssly. stublornly and per-
sistently W ~ What the public
wants. Let Mr.. William A. Brady con-
suit a srieI fist.
The sun., 1916-10-14
A Selection
from an
Important List
ALL
PRICES
NET.

"a 10 you haven't time for that.
send for III complete .'Fall List"
,32 OAaest. giving fuller deSrri~tiouS.
The sun., 1916-10-14

ny GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON.
have not read Mr.. Dreiser's book
THE Genius" but I AIN inclined to the
BELIEF that II deserves q no worse fate AZ
The sun., 1916-10-14
SOME OF LITTLE, BROWN & CO.'S BOOKS
FICTION
II WOMAN GIVES

BY OVEN JOHNSON The story Of III.
regeneration Of a man, by the au,ho, d,
The Salamander.'
Pitttc, ty Ch,hy NWny
The sun., 1916-10-14
PETEY SIMMONS
AT SMASH


BY GEORGE FITCH. More Of thos,
jolly yarns Of Siwash College life. SIS net
The sun., 1916-10-14
CHLOE MALONE

BY FANNIE HEASl.IP LEA. A charm.
ing love story Of New Orleans, with a capt..
waiting heroine who wanted to marry a mill
~icnaire. N.55 net.
The sun., 1916-10-14
THE WORN DOORSTE

BY MARGARET SHERWOOD. A.
American girl opens wide the door Of he,
cottage in England to refugees from Bel
gum an unusual story. N..3 ne,
The sun., 1916-10-14
THE SINS of the
CHILDREN

BY COSNiO HAMILTON. A vital novel
Of American family life by the author Of
The Blindness Of Virtue" N.W net.
THE KINGDOM Of the
BLIND
ny L. PHILLIPS OPPENIiEIM. De-
plcts the ceaseless struggle u the English
War Office against German Secret Service.
N.S net.
The sun., 1916-10-14
MISS THEODOSIA'S
HEARTSTRINCS

BY ANNIE HAMILTON lONNElI..
An irresistible novel Of happiness. in which
a quartette Of children reach the heart Of a
staid and travel-worn woman. 500 net.
The sun., 1916-10-14
BIG TIMBER

BY BERTRAND W. SINCLAIR. The
best out-of-doors story he ever wrote
". y. Herald. N.S mel.
The sun., 1916-10-14
THE HERITAGE
of the SIOUX

BY y. NJ. BOWER. Action and ,ly.p
ture in the Southwest. An exciting ,,o,,
in which the Happy Family play impor,,n,
parts. N.b nl
The sun., 1916-10-14
THE THREE THINGS

BY MARY R. s. ANDREWS.
The greatest story the war la. pro.
dueed." Ladies' Home Journal
ksp illustrated edition. 500 no,
The sun., 1916-10-14
CLOVER AND
BLUE GRASS

BY ELIZA CALVERT HALL.
More Aunt Jane Of ken,u,ky'' .,cr,.
rich in homely philosophy. N.6 n,
The sun., 1916-10-14
THE WHALE and the
CHRISTOPHER
>.l OTAER EApl &c

BY SEUMAS O'BRlEN. A COLLECTION
Of delightful Irish sketches. SIS MI
The sun., 1916-10-14

BY WILLIAM NJ. FULLERTON. In.
fold, the labors Of those men who .h.p.
the destiny Of France to-day. SIS MI.