New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-26

ton meant. Their difficulty Is not I'M
like that of the doctor in the play
who cannot grasp the explanation OF
the conjurer's last trick. The physi-
clan could not believe the explanation
because it was 30 simple. The key 10
q proper understanding Of what Ches-
terton meant BY his play is equally
simple. He meant just what he said
Now that an All-America movie team
and an All-America vaudeville team
have been picked for the season, It
seems permissible for us to select our
own particular All-America acting
eleven. In fact, we want to pick two.
Our first. or masculine, team, based
ON this seasons work. would include
O. p. Heggie, William Faversham,
Reginald Barlow, William +. Meehan,
William Gillette, Norman Trevor, phil
in Merivale. George Giddens, George
Hassell, Willie Collier and Roland
Young.
The second team would be made up
of Jane Cowl. Gertrude Kingston, I'm
ma Dunn. Margaret Wycherly, Flor
ence Reed, Estelle Winwood. Anna
Wheaton, Elinor Cox, Ruth FIndlay,
Peggy Wood and Fay Banter;
We don't say these are the best pos
sible teams. We won't even bet on
them if some one announces aggres,,
sively that he can pick still third
eleven Of much greater power. In TACT,
we are frightened every time we look
at the side lines and see some OF the
talent which we forgot or did not ap-
preciate. Still, when all departments
are taken into account, they are I'M
questionably good teams.
o. p. Heggie has eloquent hands.
There is an unusual scope to his gest-
nres We have in mind particular
moment in Magic" when he exclsims,
Immortal souls" The phrase is ac-
companied with a full, rounded gesture
of both hands which suggests some
thing so vast that words alone can
hardly picture il.
Others may have what part Of
Magic" they will, and there is rich
ness enough in the play to go around.
but our particular choice is bit OF
love scene between Patricia and the
Conjurer. Patricia has expressed her
Willingness TO take the Conjurer as he
is, but he explains to her that 1t Is
nonsense, and tells of the hardships
his mother endured when she chose TO
marry wandering fiddler. "She
might have worn pearls by consenting
20 be a rational person" says the Con-
iurer. "And she might have grown
pearls by consenting to be an oyster
adds the girl. ,
The Conjurer shakes his head
gloomiy. There was little pleasure in
her life" he objects. Patricia looks at
linn steadily. "fhere is little, a very
little, in everybody's," she replies. I'VE
can't turn life into a pleasure. But we
can choose such pleasures as are
worthy Of US and our immortal souls.
Your mother chose and ] have chosen"
You may not believe the philosophy
Of Patricia, but it seems to US that
Chesterton writes with such charm as
10 make even 2sceticism seem at
tractive. OF course. it is barely pos
Sible that Patricia was not thinking AL
together Of her immortal soul. In these
Misunderstanding days there is some
thing infectious in her enthusiasm over
the obvious housekeeping advantages
Of beng conlurerS VIE. y on can
always take rabbits out Of the hat" she
explains.
Just ut the moment we can't think Of
any one who has been able TO do quite
20 much with small part as Louise
Coleman does in Lilac Time" Miss
Coleman il the French woman whose
son is killed some time between the
second and third act. and the moment
IN the final act IN which she tells of the
death OF the boy is one Of the most
vivid moments Of an interesting play.
By the way, We are not particularly
impressed by the necessity OF the baby
cap in the last act of Lilac Time" We
refuse 90 subscribe to the doctrine, APP