New-York tribune., 1920-02-22

W. York's theater public are here
described ana each has been
induced to tell something of himself
and his work. They are very different.
Rupert Hughes, author Of "The Cat
Bird" IN which John Drew is welcomed
back to the stage after an absence of
two years, and Eugene G. ONeil, who
wrote BEYOND the Horizon" unani-
mously acclaimed by the critics-these
are the men.
Major Hughes, described by himself
as "ths healthiest happiest man in the
world" and looking the part, stocky,
robust and pink cheeked-soldier, stu
dent, novelist, composer and always
worker for the love of the congenial
tasks he sets for himself; Mr.. ONeil,
fred from college through lack of in
terest in his studies, who ran away to
ship before the mast and tried his best
TO be waster, but was brought up
with Jolt at the brink of the final
precipsce, tall, sad eyed and delicate
these are the men.
Ltke most military men and many
busy brainworkers, Major Hughes
shaves himself. He didn't say so, but
it was evident, for though the visitor
was late to his appointment the major
was even later, and when he relieved
his tiny Pekingese princess, the artsto-
cratic Mira. Koo (named after the wife
Of the Chinese Ambassador, who had
presented her priceless N other to the
Hugheses) from the task of entertain
Ing HIS guest there were two fresh
cuts on his lip, tender from having
long worn warlike mustache, and the
hastily applied talcum had not been
successfully dusted from his finely
chiseleed nose. No hireling barber nor
yet his valet could have committed
the act and left the major In such
genial mood; the seriousness Of such
crimo depends largely on the identity
OF the perpetrator.
Major Hughes entered his tastefully
arranged drawing room, showing teeth
Of which any man Of forty seven has a
perfect right to be proud, and between
them ne gripped with evident enjoy
ment cigar OF generous proportions
and delicious favor. Its duplicate was
soon receiving the expert testimony Of
the interviewer. During the talk which
ensued the major consumed two Of
these, SO did his vis-A-vis.
A glance at the dancing brown eyes
showed that the major had been ap-
propriately assigned when the army
saw fit to disregard his plea for service
at the front and placed him in the In
telligence Department. Those eyes are
fearless, TO be sure, but SO are many
others which have not the alert per-
sepsion IN them, the gray matter be-
hind them.
He was brimming over with vitality
and cordial good humor, and so inter-
esting did he prove that the promised
nalf hours chat spun Itself into two
hours 30 easily that watches and clocks
and other engagements were basely ig-
nored.
yes, like to write for the stage,
although my books and short stories
nave been far more successful than my
plays, despite Excuse Me- which I'm
seid has made more money than any
other farce. 1t is difficult work, but
The thrill 10 great. You actually see
shs people for whom you write amused.
touched or shocked by the characters
and Incidents you created for the pur-
pose. That's great satisfaction to an
author, or at least 1t is to me.
My next plays! We'll. when Whats
Wrong With the World?' 10 finished In
serial form IN May and published as :