New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

the subject both lends itself to clever
writing and proves an inspiration as
we'll. For proof one is referred to
George Bernard Shaw.
Along in the middle of the winter
came Jesse Lynch Williams, an Ameri-
can, Princeton man and not unknown
as novelist. He had written play
called "Why Marry?"
Mr.. Williams comedies the subject to
be quite as serious a one as does Mr..
Shaw, but he refuses to take it as
seriously. And the result is dialogue
and situations which have kept Broad
! way in good humor.
In the first act Of the play Uncle
Everett (played by Nat Goodwin
startles his family by telling them their
Aunt Julia, his wife, has gone 10 Reno
for divorce after twenty years of
supposedly happy married life The
family's comments and the judges fol-
low:
Theodorc-But, Uncle Everett, hasn't
Aunt Julia always been good wife to
you?
Judge-Quitc so, Theodore, quite so,
a good wife, good wife.
Lucy-And a devoted mother to your
children?
Judge-Dcvoted, Lucy, devoted
John-Hasn't she always obeyed you,
Uncle Everett?
Judge-Ycs, John-a true old-fash-
ioned woman.
Theodore-She has been a great help
in the parish work, Uncle Everett
Judge-An earnest worker in The
vineyard, The odore-in fact, might
say, a model female
All three-Then why, why do you
want divorce?
Judge-Because damn it, don't like
her
Lucy-But think of poor Aunt Julia.
Judge-But, damn IT, she doesn't like
me.
A little later, Helen, the daughter
whose ideas on marriage have so upset
the usual calm of the family that they
are in turmoil, is confronted by all
her we'll meaning relatives and forced
to defend her positic,., which she does
in the following words
Helen (aftcr Il slight shrug) Think
what would happen to an eager con-
structive intellect like Ernest Hamil-
tons if he had to come back to q
narrow minded apartment or a dreary
suburb every evening and eat morbid
meals opposite a housewife regaling
him with the social ambitions of the
other commuters. Ugh! It has ruined
| enough brilliant men already.
(Judge restrains Theodore and others
who want to interrupt)
Now at the club he dines-at SLIGHT
cAFeHse compared Win keeping up
home-upon the best food in the city
with some of the best scientists in the
country! Marriage would divorce him
from all that, would transplant him
from an atmosphere of ideals into an at
mosphcre of worries. We should be
forced into the same deadly ruts as the
rest of you, uncle. Do you want me to
destroy useful career, Theodore?
Theodore-Do you want to be a blot
upon that career?
Helen-1'd rather be blot than a
blight and that's what I'd be if l be-
came his bride. If you don't believe
me, ask John.
John-Do you want to be disgraced?
Lucy Ostracizcd!
Helen (smiles morc)-A choice of
evils, dear of course, none of
those costly, we'll kept wives on your
visiting list will call upon me. But
so much the better! Instead of one
day at home like a lady, instead of
making a tired husband work for me-
I'll have all my days free to work with
him, like the true oldfashioned
woman you all admire. Won't you
see? Instead of being an expense, /
can really be help to him.
John (bursts out)-Oh, this is all
damned nonsense Look here, you've
got to marry this fellow now or else
90 away and never see him again.
Helen-Do you know, that's just
what thought, John. l intended
never to see him again. That was why
| let you send me abroad. (To Lucy.
smiling like an engaged girD 1t was
perfectly dreadful. Ernest couldn't get
along without me at all, poor dear.
And I nearly died.
John--Then you'll have to be mar
ried. that's all.