New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-30
In the Play World
Defence of the Pessimistic
Irishman in Second Act
of Out There
BY HAYWOOD BROUN

One of the best characters in "Ou-
There" is an Irishman who hates every
thing and everybody. His pessimism
is humorous and complete. A certain
reviewer finds the character amusing,
but objects: There isn't, Of course, an
Irishman in the world who could take
this stand and keep s straight face
The delusion Of the cheerful Irish
man has been fostered TO such an ex-
tent in the English theatre that many
people have come TO believe it. As a
matter of fact, the Irishman is the
Russian OF the West Literary analo-
gies are abundant. The best short play
o. an lrishman IS about the sea and
the toll of lives which 1t takes from
the family of an old woman. One Of
the next best concerns the manner IN
which a young bride is lured away by
a fairy child, while still another Of
high rank is built upon a death mes
sage received by two women at the
gate of jail. Even Chauneey Oleott
grows sad when he sings. and the taste
Of the folk back on the old sod runs
almost exclusively TO banshees, funeT-
ais and hsngings. As we remember it,,
the refrain Of one Of the most popular
Irish ditties makes mention Of capital
punishment.
the Irish are not a cheerful people.
1t is difficult to say whether they are
happy or not, for there is at least
ground for suspicion that they take a
good deal Of pleasure in their SORROWS.
Lady Gregory has contributed the best
portrait Of the melancholy Irishman in
Spreading the News" Il is in this
play that BARLEY Fallon lsments: IF
We didn't expect more, we got less.
That's the way with me always; what
ever ! have 10 sell goes down, and
whatever | have 10 buy goes up. If
there's ever any misfortune coming to
this world it's on myself IL pitches.
like flock of crows on seed potatoes
Later, when he is rebuked for talking
of dying and told that he may live for
twenty years, he replies, with a deep
sigh: I'm thinking if I'll be living at
the end Of twenty years, it's very old
man III be them
Lady Gregory is so shrewd an OBJ
server of the Irish that IL is fair 20 as
sumo that any Character which she
draws has a counterpart IN life, but
almost everybody can think OF some
such irishman of his own knowledge.
The black Irish deserve the name.
Their pessimism is ingrained. The
melancholy Of Swift in the fourth book
of Guliver's Travels and Of Jim Cofey
in the ninth round OF his second night
with Moran was the common heritage
from a people who live under damp
skies and damnable government. Pc
culiarly enough. the Irishman, although
esteemed a courageous fighter, is almost
always on the losing side. He can die
magnifcently for q cause, but he can't
live for one He has the will TO strug
gle, but not to win. He will face any
thing, but he can't get away from the
thought that the BOyne Is at his back.
II there is one thing that he can do
consistently 10 is 10 hate. A score OF
Irish newspaper and periodicals in this
country are inspired, financed and man
aged with nothing but hate. Mr.. John
Dewey has made a living al peddling
hate and Mr.. Jeremiah OJeary has cul-
tivated a hobby out OF the same quality
Next TO baseball, hating IS the fayorlte
profession of the Irish But, Of course,
we like them.