The Washington herald., 1917-12-14

Special Correspondent Of The Washington Herald.
New York, Dec. 13.-Enter the Thea
tire de Vieux Colombier! 1t is a new
contribution to the DRAMATIC life Of
the theatrical capital of the world
New York. The new theater is run
by JavQues Copeau. who might be
called the Billy Sunday of the French
thcater.
Copcau. who looks like the maga-
zine type of fiery French waiter. is
revOlter against revolt, a man who
has observed that revolt has acquired
its own traditions aud cliches and
Claptrap. Simplicity is his chief aim
and ayowed purpose.
The theater. TO his mind, has be-
come cluttered up with a hodge-podge
of all the arts. Away with the pain
ter and sculptor. says Copeau. Let
them return TO their studios where
they belong. Let the theater attend
, to its own business, which is that OF
acting plays.
II is his belief that the important
people in the theater are the author
and the actor. If the play is good
and acting vital nothing else matters.
The new theater was formerly known
elN Alit NrdtliGht Oil SAEttl-
II is amusing TO so inside now and
see the decorations and the lighting.
There are iron pipes on the scenery
. placed there by the insurance COM
mission. Scenery means nothing in
the life of Copeau. II is acting.
The man in the box Office has sud
denly become a Frcnchman. He was
formerly Mike Cohan. Now he Is
Mique Cohene. At the opening night
there were very few to attend. They
We're the Observation-Disclosures type
who understands French and brings
along a friend TO prove il. But NJ.
Copeau does not want the hoi-polloI
He Is for art. BY Gum, il he goes
what-you-call-it ze bust,
4 new way TO make living. The
man used 10 write pOt-hoilCrS and he
grew stale and finally drftcd into a
table d'hote place where he has be-
come fixture. One nicht he began
to compose words to songs as he went
along. They tossed him some change.
He repeated 1t the next night. He
will compose a song about any sub
ject for s.. OF course. they are
ridiculous. but when people get plenty
Of the red ink-Vin ordinaire-they do
not care. The other night he COM
posed a song about a dead cat. d
patent health belt. a decayed sausage
and barrel OF glue. And the flushed
diners voted him genius.
The great winter drive on knitting
received a setback in the lobby of the
Ritz the other day when a group OF
Tretty young girls were industriously
plying their needles for the soldiers
Alone in a deep leather chair was a
prim little lady who seemed to be
| making progress on a knitter which
IL stretched would fit snugIy about
Gen. Tom Thumb before he grew up.
One of the young girls decided to go
over and commiserate with the fellow
knitter.
isn't it fine that everybody is so
interested in our soldiers?'
There was brisk nod and then a
speeding up of the needles.
Just what kind OF soldier
sweater are you makinC?"
This is not a soldier sweater.
young lady" was the snappy reply,
this is a winter sweater for Toodles,
my dog"
And here all peaceful negotiations
were broken of.
Booth Tarkington's Penrod has
nothing on this Brooklyn boy. For
several years he has given his sister.
New York business woman. a list
Of things he desires for Christmas.
These lists have comprised wireless
instruments. paint boxes, skates and
the other delights of Boyville. But
this year he wants only one thing. II
is a SIS velour hat. The young man
has just turned Is. 1t isn't spring,
but II Is easy to guess that the
young man feels that way, anyway.
He will get the hat and the sister
hopes II will please HER"