The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-14
,Bl|AA KEEPS FAITH
WITH HIS OWN IDEALS

In his appearance as the star OF
the Selwyns' production of The Chal-
lenge. the new play of Eugene Walter
which opened the new dramatic
season of the Selwyn theater, New
York, on August 9Th, Holbrook Blinn
is but keeping faith with presidents
he has set himself.
There Is no name on the entire
theatrical roster which is more closely
associated with important movements
in the theater and plays of big and
definite purpose than that of Mr..
Blinn.,. He has long since proven
himself a man of deep and abiding
convictions and an artist who is not
afraid to express them. Beginning
with his sponsorship of the Princess
Players he has aimed at the better
ment OF the theater in every direction,
sacrificing personal gain in many in
stances for the sake of the big idea
Conscious of the stupendou5 interests
the reading public evinces in the short
story as a form of literal ure and
kr owing that the successful presenta-
ton of the short story in dramatic
form has. been accomplished in
France, Mr.. Blinn spent COM
siderable amount of time, money
and talent In establishing n re-
pertory OF short plays in an American
theater. when years ago he took
over the Princess theater in New
York for that purpose. Speaking to
the writer of the financial sailure of
the venture, Mr.. Blinn expressed his
faith that the success is yet possible
II am positive that the short and
unusual play il of great value" he
said 81 am equally sure that my
sponsorship of such an idea for the
American stage would have met with
greater apprecia ton had We had
larger theater than me Princess
That little playhouse Is too small for
the proletariat, and it is the man who
goes to the theater because ne loves
1.-THE man who pays do3ar Tor
a seat and isn't concerned about
whether he is wearing a soft collar
or evening clothes. who is the sup
porter OF the unusual In the thea:er.
That was the object of the Princess
ideas and their
artistic xpression.-and I still feel
very confident that my adventure in
this direction would have had mig
success had / had playhouse with
plenty of dollar seats. ~
Correct or innocent as Mr.. Blinn.
may be In this supposition, ther-s Is
no doubt that he sponsored big pur-
pose in his direction of the Princess
Players. a purpose which has not d.
minished in his more recent affiliations
with the drama, for in practically
every play in which Mr.. Blian has
since appeared IL has been with note
worthy aim.
Following his guidance of the
Princess Players came "Moloch. the
great preachment against war which
was written by Beuiah Dix. and et
which Mr.. Blinn was the dominat
ing feature. Because the pro-
duction Of this important piece
OF literature came - in -13l
when America had@already be
gun her preparedness 1t was short
lived. but none the less an example
of the actors serious and purposeful
career. Following this two years
later. when America entrance into
the war became inevitable. Mr.. Rifnn
produced a play called r. which
was aimed to AWAKEN the American
mind to the consequences should we
fail TO crush the Hun Although
he did not personally appear In Il
IT, was the expression of the fur
Their helpful aim OF its sponsor ana
soon after this he gave a great ser
vice TO the British and Canadian
mission by the arrangement OF Get
ting Together" OF which he wrote
the most part and in which he APP
peared with Blanche Bates both in
New York and throughout America
Through II more than n million dol
lars OF liberty bonds were sold: thous-
ands OF recruits were gained, AMI
thousands OF dollars raised for tha
m ission.
A slight diversion from the play OF
great purpose occurred in the expert
ence of Hoibrook Biinn when he ap
peared with Henry Miller last season
in "Moliere,' but row again he takes
up the play with q message In The
Challenge" a play which tells
beautiful love-story in the pursuance
OF sts sarieGs purpose. '.''