New-York tribune., 1918-10-20


organizations perform a useful service,
but constitute a d scouragng symptom.
1t is unfortunate that organized effort
should be needed to make America take
an interest in good plays. 1t is q pity
that theatregoers cannot enjoy good
plays first and study them afterward.
But we do not contend for q minute
that there is at the present time any
large following in this country cor the
best that the theatre has to offer. The
theatre remains b ird spot in the
minds of hosts of educated men.
Ever so many people with the most
vital interest in good muse and good
art take the theatre so.ely as a light
recreation. Woodrow Wilson, for in
stance, takes statecraft and politics and
golf and literature seriously, but his
favorite dramatic diversion in Wash
ington is q vaudevi le show. When he
comes to New York his choice has in
variaby hit upon something Light and
popular If we remember correctly, the
last three productions which the Presi-
don't attended here was "The Girl Be
hind the Gun" "Jack Lantern" AMI
Grumpy" H s on.y recent pubic com
mendation of play was bestowed upon
"Friendly Enemies"
There is no political comfort in this
for Republicans, since Theodore Roose-
Welt. who has had time to develop q
certain amount of knowledge and an
unbounded degree OF enthusiasm for
every other subject in the world, from
biological analogies OF history to
heavyweight prizeighters, has never
evinced even passing interest in the
theatre. Only once did he ever furnish
the press agents with a line to quote.
and that was when he recommended
the not overly distinguished Country
Cousin"
This apathy toward the best which
the he 81 h to otfer is not confined
to Presidents, present and ex. There
were on y two performers who could
tempt William James into p'nvhouee
One was Richard Garlic and the other
Eddie Foy. Still another Harvard pro
h, ffacy yo6 ir,}o l.,
the Ii hter form of dramatic entertain
men's w~s coo"ge Kittredge, who used
to lecture six days week on Shake
spc~.e md spend every Saturday night
watching 81 melodramas OF the Grand
Opera House. Now that this particular
form of diversion is denied him. We
haven't a doubt that he has turned 10
movies of the baser sort.
This attitude of Indifference might
be exp aired if there were no good
plays, out every season sees q few
worth while things done. Perhaps one
OF the tn II VIII ch has preiudiccd the
serious minded against the drama is
the hours which it keeps. There seems
to be good deal of d fficulty in doing
any ser Qua Think after 10 y. M, and
it is practically impossible after II.
We know this to be fact, because it is
the the dramatic revi sws OF the daily
newspapers are written.
" hnvc t an idn9 lust whot en- b.
done to bring the intellectuals back 70
The d ANA unless the Dramo Le~rie
wiz take the question up in really
serious way and nominate c~,~ nj -,
ties from pre- ident to aldermen
pledged to legs ate audiences into de-
serving playhouses.
1t is none of our business to make
suggestions to rlanag rs. but we cant
quite understand why no Snowman
has yet advertised his art action with
The inc: During the influenza epi.
demic keep out of crowds and come
and see our play"
4 "rt'r never gets much credit for
q performance unless he does good