New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-31

greatest dramatic spectacle ever p''
duccd upon tho worlds stage ended 70
d.v when most OF the cast Of the Ford
Peace Expedition were handed 'he''
ucke,s for home. During It's TWO
months run the show has aroused more
lively interest, cynical amusement and
sheer pity than possibly any other III
history.
A group Of the principals and stage
Manager Schwimmer remain for tne
epiogue. Stars Of real magnitude nave
bcon approached on the subject OF JOIN
ing them. other stars are being sougn'
from tho neutral countries in when
tho show has run II Is possible ths'
the resultsn. unofficial conference VIII
oven,uallv become a capable, well bal
arccd group worthy Of the serious At
.o,,;op os intensely serious belligeren'
nations.
+, cannot be said, therefore. while
there is still the hope Of collecting
conference the real object OF the eA
ncditon that the performance ma
been A failure. But it cannot ne over
looked that up TO. date the expedition
has not failed to make colossal spec
tacle Of itself.
The unprecedented cast has from the
first been subject Of great conjecture
The theory that the stage door was SIM
nlv left open has been supplanted no"
nv the fact that the stage manager was
allowed to pick the cast after the log
ion, stars for the leading parts had de'
clined. With certain exceptions pert"'
on the Oscar II were the rewards ioi
nersonal favors extended the stage
manager in less prosperous days.
Dramatic reporters were invited 70
the performance and were expected by
the stage manager TO see nothing eVil
when dressing-room disputes EXTENDED
70 the stage and the curtain could not
he rung down quickly enough. 10 com
rIete the theatrical analogy, crowd
of college students acted as supers.
Curtain Rises.
The first act, staged on the high seas
was complete in itself. The ovation al
Uoboken was a stirring curtsin-raiser'
For six whole nights the performances
clung strictly TO the legitimate drama.
;,o,lo oveninp IL degenerated
into ordinary vaudeville.
The crack OF an invisible whip was
heard ff-stsge, the actors at that point
had not learned its significance yet
NOR whence il emanated. and the cast
on bloc was given the alternative OF
climbing upon pedestals, attacking pre-
narcdness or Of losing their speak ing
parts and taking seats in the audlehce
as guests of the production packer
Al this later date II IS sign ihcahI ~
note that some among those refusing ~
sign the fatal resolution altacA'ls,
President wilson's announced poiicy 81
preparedness, and thus automa'Iea'ly
losing all claim 10 be classed as pea
delegates. were later received INTO tnc
ranks of the faithful without lur'her
ado when they were needed.
Fgorts made 20 block the wireless on
the ground that the world snould nov
hear of this dissension on craft OF
neace we're but the beginning of a
short sighted publicity policy tha'
tempted the dramatic reporters 10 oe-
come dramatic critics. \ blacklist was
d-our nm of the correspondents whose
copy-handed direct 10 the wireless op
eJafor~was not written as the hand
that cracked the whip would have IL
written. One of the operators later
was retained in the open employ OF the
stage manager
Act II Falls Flat.
The reception of the second act was
chilling. Nature made Norway cold IN
winter The four Norwegians VINO well
ccmed the cast on its arrival were four
better than no reception at all. me
university students were cordlal
throughout they were rewarded. Nhen
the inner history of the expedition IS
written the delegates will learn that
the banquet given the pilgrims by the
students the banquet at which Mr..
Fcrd's gift Of $4,000 was announced
was paid for by Mr. Ford. Why, can
not say.
The Norwegian delegates chosen in
cluded one man of the desired callbre.
Here al The Hague now. he IS prepar-
ing 10 return to Norway as soon As
POSSIBLE 10 look for others worthy OF a
place in a serious unofficial neutral con-
ference He feels that his country
should be fttingly represented. Haak-
on Loeken-the city attorney OF Chris
tiania is an asset 10 the coming con
ference But the possibility that mis-
efforts may bring palpable results in
Norway does not change the fact that
Norway received the Ford expedition
very coldly.
At the close OF the second act the
hacker of the production, who had
been sitting quietly in box and watch
ing. fell i'll and was quietly taken out
OF the theatre by the man who. al Mrs.
Ford's request. hal accompanied him 70
the performance. CASTOR Plaintiff was
instructed. before the fgurative leader
Of the party left. TO spare no pains IN
caring for the performers and the pro
duction. He and his assistants carried
out their chiefs orders admirably.
Third Act Goes Big.
1t has been said that from this point
il was not Ford's expedition. As a
matter OF fact, " lever was tords e&-
petition. The hand Of the stage man
ager guided all Al admired Mr.. Ford's
personality, but realized that Il was
not the sort TO make him the leader
Of peace expedition. The stage man
ager quickly showed that she had not
the peculiar qualities needed to guide
the destiny OF the pilgrims.
With no big leader in plain command,
La. orIarc ,rt
by the stage manager secreted behind
the scenes and carried out BY tac,less
secretaries should produce irritation
and dissension II was only natural