New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-17
Petronius of Broadway
The Adventures of His Soul
Among New York Theatres

MR. GEORGE Jean NATHAN PRESENTS. l2mo.
Alfred A. knopf
Mr.. George Jean Nathan is apparent
ly q believer In the dictum first formu-
lated by Anatole France that "the good
critic Is he who relates the adventures
Of his own soul among masterpieces"
In his present volume, Mr.. George
Jean Nathan Presents" Mr.. Nathan re-
lates the adventures Of his soul among
the masterpieces of the contemporary
New York Theatre, and in the revela-
ton succeeds in giving very clear
idea OF his souls likes and disllkes.
Mr.. Nathan likes Bernard Shaw, the
modern German drama, Mr.. winthrop
Ames. and Mr.. Nathan's ability IN
slapstick paradox; he dislikes Mr..
David Belasco, all accepted standards
either in morals or style, reverence for
tradition, and modesty Of spirit. Inc
book is in some respects the most
searching, in many respects the most
daring and in all respects the most
egotistic volume of dramatic criticism
that has appeared in America during
the last few years. Mr.. Nathan Is
young man who Is very much allVe,
who writes with absolute freedom OF
expression and who does not fear 10
use a Rabelaisian phrase or two. he
believes that dramatic ideals are made
10 be hit upon the nose, and he hits
them hard. sometimes effectively and
always humorously. His chapter on
David Belasco, for instance, Is scream
inely funny, though far from just, and
his cnening chapter on "The Philosophy
Of Philistia" really admirable bit OF
critical writing. One excerpt from this
ought to be quoted: "lf they (play- |
wriehtsO would play with ideas in the
theatre il Is essential first to impress
the audience with the notion that the 1
IDEAS are ridiculous, thus gaining the
AUDIENCES willingness TO listen 10
opinions which the audience has not
heard before, and thus also fatterlng
the audiences ignorance by assuring IL
that the ideas are mere nonsense ana
With no foundation in philosophy or
fact. This, as we'll known, is the method
Now. this is sound writing, sailed
with lust the requisite amount OF
irony. IL is terse, effective and true,
and shows what Mr. Nathan might .
have accomplished had he chosen to
regard his chief subject as the drama
rather than himself or. as Mr. Nathan,
buttressing himself with the great
name of Anatole France, would as
sert. his soul. His soul, returning /
from its perilous voyage among the .
rocks and shoals of the Broadway .
drama. is avid TO impress upon the .
reader several things, but one thing
in particular-its own general SUI
periority TO things American and It's .
knowledge OF the Continental and, IN .
particular. the German theatre. Mr..
Nathan's learning, If we can judge by .
quoted titles. is stupendOus. when .
he wishes 70 crush our poor native
drama in particularly crushing
manner he buries il under the COM
parison of a page or two OF plays and .
playwrights the names Of which are .
a.. unknown to US poor mortals OF the
Anplo-Sa world as worn those or .
Hindenburg and Ludendorf before the .
war. This gives to the book what .
It's author probably considers a cos.
mopolitan air, n-of-the-worid /
upon Olympus sort of thing. !
Mr.. Nathan is also troubled with .
the vulgarity Of the American stage.
He lambasts il with gusto, with so
much gusto that when he has finished .
he leaves the impression that with the .
vulCaritv he he's been attacking he IS
really in complete sympathy In this
connection he is also much concerned .
with the definition Of gentleman.
gentleman, according to Mr.. Nathan,
is a man who has had a governess, at /
tended a private school. belongs to .
smart clubs but never enters them, 4
has clean finger nails and dislikes TO 4
talk over the telephone. Yet it isn't I
meant satiricslly. II is used in dis |
cussing Lanedon Nitchel's "The New I
York Idea" SAYS Mr.. Nathan:
at takes a gentleman 20 write
-ent'eman's play just IS certainly as
II takes a gentleman 10 foy-hunt. read
Max Beerbohm or drink light wines.
Some things one must be born for"
We wonder IL this would be Mr..
MitchelPs own definition OF a gentle /
man. We suspect it might be his def
ni'ion Of a snob.
Throughout the book Mr.. Nathan /
GIVES notice that his artistic stand /
ards and those of Broadway do not /
gree. Perhaps they do not, yet the /
1nression no less remains that the |
rid Of Broadway is the world best /
uitcd TO the soul OF Mr.. Nathan. His I
thriHeS pest lheFe, the JhERou ol
- Broadway cafes Is his. and his
-hilosophy and manner Of thought
~ cutie entirely Of boulevard New
T9rk. Despite some excellent bits Of
sql criticism, "Mr. George Jean Ma /
n Presents" is interesting chiefly I
.s a human document. II reveals
~ GEORGE Jear Nathan, aud with /
him a part Of America which is
either American, English nor Con- /
rental. Broadway has had no past; 4
20 US hope it will have no future. /
Bet Il has a very genuine. very in /
testing ard most discorcert'ng /
,-csent. Mr.. Nathan 4. Broadway's
literary Petronius.