davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

else. Ladies, if you will give me your dis
coveries / will give you mine
Par example. In Beyond the Horizon
(that tragedy with the splendid actress in
the chair) we meet three people who did
not follow their natural destines. destinies
that were plainly enough outlined had pas
sion not stood binding them with the beat
ing wings of hate and desire. And not only
they but those around them suffered from
the twisting of the threads. Never say:
"I must marry Tom although | love Dick.
az this will be better for Uncle Harry" 1t
won't be better for any of you. Ruthless
though it may seem. we must all pick our
own course. Young Mr.. ONeill may put
down the baby and write a letter from Prov
incetown to the effect that this was not
his idea at all. But don't let IL disturb you.
A play is for just what you, personally, can
get out OF II. An author sometimes writes
better than he knows. And sometimes he
knows q hope) better than he writes But
that has naught to do with the Drama Su-
perative.
After this homely tragedy Of farm life
comes the cleaning drama "Declassee."
And the Drama Club might stop TO muse on
the woman author from Missouri who. with
out being shown, knows the psychological
processes of the English arstocracy when
she may not he able to define n mountain
peak In her own Ozarlls. They say poets
have imagination. aud as Zoe Atkins was
first writer Of verse. It might not be a bad
preparation for the novice to work on "a
few sonnets. Certainly he would learn
form. and that is more than every play
wright has a knowledge of. The club might
also comment on the new angle she has
brought to the business of construction. In
"Declassee" the dramatic incidents take
place off the stage; the two games of cards
are in the wings. and tho scene when the let
ters are produced evidently occurs when the
stage hands are striking the set. We do
not see them but we get the reactions the
stage of these three ugly happenings-and
the vast sweeping consequences to very
beautiful Lady Helen.
There is good writing in this play. but it
is the ease OF expression of st. John Irvines
Jane Clegg" which makes one twist with
JOY. Look for the description of the char
acters in italics if you would learn of an
authors quality; the style Of the characters
dialogue is limited to their own mental ca
pacities. | don't know st. John Irvine
/ should like to (they tell me he commented
very favorably on the old woman i'm the
wheeled chair) for l want to ask him If
his book of Mrs. Martins Man" was in his
mind when lie wrote Jane Clegg"--if Mrs
Martin YEAS trying to make him put her on
the stage. Perhaps the idea plaques me
(notice I refuse to say intrigue) because
they were both great creatures from a new
world of thought. It's lovely--isn't it,
the way the great men stick Up for the
really great womenl
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Wyeth illustrates the Classics
This Painter Recreates in Color the Scenery
of Great FiCtion-Drama

thicket of enormous flags; now through
bamboos forty feet high; now they are
stumbling over boulders waist deep in
cushions of club moss; now they are strug-
Cling through strawberries OF heaths and
rhododendrons and woony incense trees
where every leaf as they brush past dashes
some fresh scent into their faces"
Like Westward Ho!" In the strangeness
of Its setting but sharply contrasted In the
unique situation of its lone central figure.
is Robinson Crusoe. Here is the famous
episode of the footprint illustrated by
Wyeth:
ut happened one day, about noon. going
towards my boat, 1 was exceedingly sur
prised with the print of mans naked foot
on the shore, which was very plain to be seen
in the sand | stood like one thunderstruck
or as if had seen an apparition. / listened,
L looked around me- | could hear nothing
nor see anything. L went up to a rising
ground, to look farther. went up the shore
and down the shore but IL was all one: i
could see no other impression but that one
II went to 1t again to see If there were
any more and to observe If 1t might not be
my fancy; but there was no room for that,
for there was exactly the very print of q
foot-toes, heel and every part of foot.
How ii came thther I knew not nor could
in the least imagine But after innumerable
futtering thoughts like a man perfectly con-
fused and out Of myself, came home to my
fortifcation, not feeling, as we say. the
ground ! went on, but terrified to the last
degree, looking behind me at every two or
three steps, mistaking every bush and tree.
and fancying every stump at distance to
be man; nor is it possible to describe how
many various shapes afrighted imagination
represented things to me. how many wild
ideas were found every moment in my fancy.
and what strange. unaccountable whimsies
came into my Thoughts by the way"
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

sinking of heart of the adventurers as the
last link connecting them with the land OF
their birth faded in the distance.
whether Mr.. Wyeth's conception of Pris-
ella as piquant girl of French descent, with
black hair and sparkling eyes, coincided with
the demure Puritan maiden that was in my
fathers mind cannot say On the historic
grounds of her French-Huguenot ancestry,
however Mr.. Wyeth is entitled to his con-
cepton, and no one can dispute the 'attrac-
tiveness of his Priscilla"
No doubt the subjecs of Kingsleys book
made n strong appeal to the artist. There
is no end of suggestion in the England OF
Elizabeth. the sea where floated the Spanish
Armada and the forests of the new world.
Of which the author of Westward Ho."
had less material for making his word
pictures than has the American artist OF
to-day Here is bit Of the text:
Upward and southwark ever; but
whittier who can tell? They hardly think
Of the whittier, but go like sleep walkers.
shaken out OF one land of dreams only to
find themselves in another and stranger
one. All around is fantastic and unearthly;
now each man starts as he sees the figures
of his fellows, clothed from head to foot
in golden flagree; looks up and sees the
yellow moonlight through the fronds of the
huge tree ferns overhead as through
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

DRIES OF HIM AND OF HIS ART. Col
ected by Max Beerbohm. E. p. Dutton & Co.
The actors art. carven in the moving
marble Of his own person, has no immortality
save that of memory. But something Of
the pathos yields to a volume Of such MEM
ories as these recorded of Tree. Bernard
Shaw. Max Beerbohm. the actors brother;
Edmund Gosse, Louis n. Parker Haddon
Chambers. and the subjects wife and daugh-
ters are among the authors.
They have really made book of it. Ma
turally the view is colored by affection. but
the pages are not wasted in mere compli-
ment. Nobody would expect that of Shaw
in any case. Here is part of his experience
as author with actor-manager.
You really could not lodge an Indifferent
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

because his own Imagination is not limited
to any thea trical arrangement Of figures.
All nature is about his people. In the in
PRODUCTION to the great story by Defoe he
writes:
"The outstanding appeal of this fascinat-
ing romance to me personally Is the re-
markably sustained sensation one enjoys of
Crusoe's contact with the elements-the sea
and the sun, the night ana the storms. the
sand, rocks. vegetation and animal life. In
few books can the reader breathe, live and
move with his hero so intensely so easily
and so consistently throughout the narra-
tive. In Robinson Crusoe we have 1t; here
is a story that becomes history, history liv-
ing and moving. carrying with il irresis-
tibly the compelling motive of lone mans
conquest over what seems to be inexorabe
fate.
do my pictures add little to the vivid
ness of this story? Do I aid a little in the
clearer INSTALLATION of Robinson Crusoe as
he moves about on his sunny island? That
is the most can hope fos."
Ernest W. Longfellow, son of the beloved
author of the American classic for which
new pictures have been made, writes the
introduction:
II am very glad. as a direct descendant of
Priscilla and John Alden, to welcome this
new and beautiful edition of the 'Courtship
of Miles Standish especially timely in this
tercentenary year of the Landing OF the Pill
grim Fathers.
Mr.. Wyeths illustrations seem to me
and doubt not that they would have seemed
10 my father-admrable all through in their
richness Of color and their unconventional
treatment, coupled with their many evidences
Of the closest study of the period.
"One has but to look at such a picture as
the Sailing Away of the Mayflower, with the
Pilgrims gathered on thS shore. to feel the
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
The Lincoln Play Across the Water:
The Book Ends With Statistic

There is left The Jest" II is the only
play that ever blotted out before the first
act was over the high price | paid for my
seat And yet l was not there. / had left
the scum of Broadway and was again travel
ling narrow way between the high walls
Of palaces. I was singing from the heights
of F1esole, following the torches of the
masked brothers who pushed their way
through Elorentine streets with the dead
carried high. The women's faces in the
audience looked funny. Whitley following
John Barrymore as he elongated himself
about the stage--but he did not hold me
He merely sent me on to Italy.
At times in Italy, ! was with the young
aGapter Of the Italian play who knows it's
richness through all his fine mind and senses
with Edward Sheldon. who made the trans
lation as a labor Of love-our wonder boy
who gave us salvation Nell' at nineteen.
then s"The Nigger." and Romance His
work, | am sure. would have been among
these best plays did not the gods give with
one hand as they take away wthathc other.
But when the vigor of health comes back
to him. what will there not be for us eager
ones? Really. I should hate TO pay storage
on the plots which Edward must have skill
fully camouQagcd by that nicely brushed
black hair Of his.
Toward the end of the book comes The
Great Exposure--although Mr.. Mantle doe.
not call IL that. He calls il Where and
when They Were Born aud he gives the
ages OF some OF US who have appeared In
the plays Of The year IL is our Reward Of
Merit The page ls one that an actress will
lustinctively turn to. and then! Already
have heard mutterings when chance play
crs have picked up my copy. What is
1876 from 1902" a woman asks garinE at
her name. I do a little arithmetic here
What" Exclamation from her. Well it's
false" or, looking at mine, Are you, dear
reoiiyP" or. more cruelty: II thought you
saw the Chicago fret" It's nothing TO me.
Ny age and my salary arc the only things
I've ever told tho truth about in my whole
life. but 7 did not see the Chicago fire.
What gets me Is the penchant my women
friends who used TO be as old as have for
being born IN 1880 It's so concerted some
how!
Following this is another page-the page
of our dead within the year--or little over
Will you ali read it, please; give II a gentle
moment7 Some OF you will be surprised. I
was and wondered why had not known
before, or why he had not been missed. Are
we 40 soon forgotten. then?' asked Rip Van
Wrinkle We are like old newspapers, read
and cast asde--as this little critique will be.
| am not so sure that it makes much differ
once so long as We have served YOU. ladies
and gentlemen with Ten Best Plays
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
By LOUISE CLOSER HALE.

Burns Mantle what STAYED your soft
pencil?
On those occasions when you sought fit
tingly to describe my Interpretation of
role which--in your capacity as dramatic
critic-you were obliged to witness, what
little fellow down in your subconscious eel
lar Il always feel it is located in the
stomach) substituted patient praise for
fierce e&ecration?
Did you know that, in the whrligg of
time. you should be compiling a book and
should be criticising it--or did you really
like me? Don't answer-it makes no df-
ference. In this excellent volume of THE
Best Plays of 1919-20'' (Small, Maynard &
Coz you have forestalled invective by in
sidiously embodying among those plays one
which permitted your critic of this column
to repaint her bedroom furniture. buy five
parchment lamp shades and pay an income
tax.
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

book A more popular view is that the
illustrator helps the readers imagination in
the effort to recreate the chief characters,
The great moments of work of the imagi
nation. He is an actor who plays on the
stage of paper and prints the great roles
of literature.
In the three books which he has deco
rated for this seasons delight Wyeth justi-
fies both views. Certainly the picture of
Priscilla asking that famous question of
John Alden, and that of Crusoe finding the
footprint, are something more than stage
scenery. Yet If one looks through these
impressive volumes he will find that the
backgrounds. the accessories are so treated
as to leave the readers exploring mind free
to introduce its own conception. There is
room i'm Wyeth's world of color. This is
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH.
BY Henry Wadsworth Longfeow. With an
introduction by Ernest w. Longfellow. and
with pictures by ~ c. Wyeth. Houghton
Miffin Company.
WESTWARD HO, BY Charles Kingsley.
Pictures by y. c. Wyeth. Charles Scribner's
Sons.
ROBINSON CRUaOE. BY Daner Defoe Pict-
ures by n. C. Wyeth Cosmopolitan Book
Corporation
w YYETH himself once defined the role
w of illustrator as accompanist to
the authors melody, decorative
frame maker to the authors word pictures
creator of a mood in which the reader might
best receive the dominant impression of the
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Some Plays Make One Laugh
Even With Solemn People Present

We must all know that what may make
good reading doesn't always make a good
play.
Inversely Ito get away from me for a
moment) what is very funny on the stage
is not funny on the printed page. The
Drama Club fancy will not find much to
laugh over when they take up Mammals
Affair" The laughter which greets the
plav when lt is seen on the stage comes
from the relation OF the lines TO tho situa-
tions Am plain? NOT Well II wouldn't
be funny TO you IL told you l met a woman
with a smut on her nose. but Il I told you Of
woman trying to get UP a Irritation while
she had a smut on her nose you might be
induced TO smile. There. that's the best
can do for you
On the other hand Wedding Bells" made
me laugh out loud when reading IL i'm "a
bus with solemn people looking at me.
think authors whose plays both read and act
well would have been writer's had the drama
never been invented. After this statement
II Is painful TO admit that laughed also ~
adam and Eva" although Mr. Middleton
has stubbornlv expressed himself through
the medium OF plays ever since he began
moving from a hail bedroom 20 second floor
hack 70 first floor front. and on till he
had the whole house. And II wasn't so
many years ago when. at his collaborator's
table (Which is the collaboration and which
the laborator, 7 wonder?) the host being a
nice young architect, Mr.. Guy Bolton.
registered with mo satisfaction and relief
over the moderate rent Of the apartment
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

TACT in his mind. This disability of his was
carried to such a degree that he could not
remember the passages in O play which did
not belong to or bear directly upon his own
conception of his own part; even the longest
run did not mitigate his surprises when they
occurred. Thus he never fell into that COM
monest fault of the actor: the betrayal to
the audience that he knows what his inter-
locutor s going to say. and Is waiting wearily
for his cue instead Of conversing with him.
Tree always seemed to have heard the lines
of the other performers for the first time. and
even to be little taken aback by them.
Let me give an extreme instance of this.
In 'Pygmalion' the heroine. in a rage. throws
the hero's slippers i'm his face. When we
hearsed this for the first time. l had taken
care TO have a very soft pair of velvet slip
pors provided; for knew that Mrs. Patrick
Campbell was very dexterous, very strong
and dead shot. And. sure enough, when we
reached this passage. Tree got the slippers
we'll and truly delivered with unerring aim
bang in his face. The effect was appalling.
lie had totally forgotten that there was any
such incident in the play; and IL seemed
TO him that Mrs. Campbell suddenly giving
way to AN impulse Of dabolical wrath and
hatred. had committed an unprovoked and
brutal assault on him. The physical impact
was nothing; but the wound TO his feelings
was terrible He collapsed on the nearest
chair, and left me staring IN snazement,
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Thoughts for the Drama Club
Sonnets as Preparatory Exercise

Not that I wrote it-Oh Lord no. / re-
member sending one of my novels to James
Forbes, who as author Of "'rhe Famous Mrs.
Fair" is one of the ten best playwright
for the year. Jimmy and l have one attri-
butte in common: we suffer from insomnia.
He is rather proud when he has spent
sleepless night. so not at all sorry for
him when he wrote: Darn you. Louise,
was awake all night reading that book and
got breakfast out OF the ice chest at $50
cold brussels sprouts" Then he went on
kindly but firmly TO say. IL l really wanted
to know how the book would lend itself 10
pldD--and in a short time there was very
little of me left But that little went on
making the dramatization just the same.
And for Mr.. Forbes's edifcation / will now
divulge the letter sent me by the gentleman
who was anxious to have the drama for
little dancing favorte:
ITO be honest with you. Mrs. Hale" (he
scrawled) 'it IL fierce. 1t has not got
nothing to recommend 1t, and It is hard to
believe that any lady who could write such
n nice book could write such silly play as
the play what you have written.
Hoping that we will remain friends"
Still bore no malice when I saw '"The
Famous Mrs Fair" and was not annoyed
over being kept awake. My great fear was
that we might not be allowed to remain
through the performance. as the odors Of
the restaurant next door began making
themselves felt and we all knew that IL they
became intoerable Henry Miller would give
us our money back and tell us to go home.
For IL is Henry's theatre, and as he claims
he would not subject his guests in his own
big country place to kitchen odors. he GER
The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Westward Ho T.
A Playful Work. for Drama Fans

house where we both dwelt. How do you
suppose that architect got into the theatre
anyway--through the scenery room? And
if so. why did I foolishly begin in the dress
ing rooms?
Clarence" / refuse to discuss. am going
to do whole article on Booth Harrington.
and it is really too trying anyway to have
him do plays and books equally well. but
could not have said that If Clarence
had not been written. For the Drama
Clubs recommend Clarence" as master
piece of construction. Don't say that IS
out of the province of a body of student
meeting to decide upon what play they had
better go see next week. The public will
not support play II the construction is
faulty.
Abraham Lincoln" I still dare to say is-
not a play. But In London took out my
handkerchief when Lincoln entered the
scene, although he was a little fellow with
an Irish brogue. and took it out again and
never stopped dabbing when saw the more
complete impersonation over here. Lincoln
himself is our nations great tragedy. His
life plays itself. It needs little form. only
beauty of expression, as BELTS high souls.
To the English he Is at present cult but
I think 1t eXemplfles most delicately the
real worth Of these sophiscated people when
they make their way TO a London suburban
theatre as to a little shrine, TO pay their
homage TO a hero not Of their own country.
| wish an American could have dono the
first Lincoln play to be 40 generally ac-
cepted. But there Is vision in John Drink
waters eyes, music in his heart. and we
fall i'm line and march to the swing of his
fine prose.
The New York herald., 1920-12-05

tainly VIII not Otenu tnOSe
who visit him in Forty-third
street.
We got through safely and
I went back to talk to Henry
Miller and kiss Blanche Bates
lit might have been the other
way round, but no matter. I
am old enough to do as I
please--so's Henry. for that
matter. He was no longer n
multi-millionaire. which was a
relief. as rich people are en-
durable only on the stage; nor
was the heavy air of stardom
hanging about. If YOU want
to eet the essence OF Henry
Mlller's character don't watch
him when he is dominating a
situation on the stage. but
when some one else Is. Then
vou win see his real talent i'm
the complete effacement of
himself for the sake of the
lesser light whose scene II is.
To the student OF the drama
this book is valuable. II gives
him a knowledge of the kind
Of modern dialogue that can
best be crystallized into dol
lars. Students do so like to
make money. / met one re-
Gently who for years had
snorted at popular successes.
But at last a play of his had
scored hit and he was bel
lowing about the indecency Of
the luxury tax. Clubs around
the country. those intent upon
doing something or other to
the drama. will find. as have.
qualities in these plays that
may have impressed no one
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-11
Extension Clause i'm
Rent Law Upheld
By Supreme Court
Appellate Division Rules
Evicted Tenants Can Be
Granted Time by Judges
to Find New Quarters

The Appellate Division Of the SUI
preme Court in Brooklyn has decided,
in the case of Amelia Kuenzli, land
lord, against William Stone, tenant,
that the rent laws passed last spring
at Albany are valid so far as they au-
thorlze the court to grant further
extension of time to a tenant unable
to find other quarters.
Mrs. Kuenzli appealed from such a
stay granted to Mr.. Stone last April
by the Municipal Court She alleged
that the contract between landlord and
tenant was impaired by it. In dismiss
ing the appeal Justice Kelby said:
"Charter 1877 of the laws Of 1920 (at-
tackled as unconstitutionaD was clearly
enacted in the exercise of the police
power Of the state. Its purpose was
to promote the welfare of the more
thickly populated sections of the state
by reason of shortage in the supply
of housing facilities The prohibition
in the Federal constitution that no
state legislature shall pass any law
impairing the obligation Of contracts
does not restrict the power of the
+ state to protect the public health, pub
lie morals or public safety in SO far
as the one or the other may be in
tracts.
"The Legislative act under review
having been passed under the circum-
stances above noted, it must be held
to have been valid exercise of power
and, for that reason it cannot be said
that the law is void by reason of i'm
pairing the obligation of contracts"
Justice Clark Of the Appellate Di
vision has made another ruling on a
point in the rent law which may re-
suit in the reversal of a large number
of landlord-tenant cases decided in
favor Of the tenant. He reversed the
decision in the case of Edward Eek
hardt, who resisted eviction from 90
New Jersey Avenue, Brooklyn, on the
ground that his rent had been raised
AZ per cent within a year. The in
crease in rent took place two months
before Eckhardt's refusal to pay and
the Appellate Division held that the
landlord was within the law if he
could prove that the disputed rent was
not more than what had been paid the
preceding month.