The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07
A Fair Exchange in
Novels and Plays
By c. BLYTHE SHERWOOD. /.

Major A. T.. w. Mason, who is now
in this country to supervise the re-
hearsals of his play. AT the Villa
Rosa" brings us word that much can
be expected in the near future from
our overseas contemporaries. William
Locke, John Galsworthy, Hugh Wal
pole, Arnold Bennett are all at work
on new novels. Somerset Vaughan
alone rests. and while he rests accu-
mulates His new happy holiday
ground is Java, where he has travelled
for material. Major Mason says that
Vaughan is always running off.
China was his haunt last year.
The British visitor denies the charge
that the American cinema" has
bought up all the English writer's. We
may have Sir James Barrie and Rud-
yard Kipling. but in London the hugest
moving picture company has sole
rights to the works of Phillips Open
helm and Conan Doyle. 1t has just
been arranged that Major Mason him.
self sell ten of his successful books to
the London company for screen adap-
tation. The contract reads, of course,
that radical changes cannot be made
without his censorship.
At present John Drinkwater is busy
writing MARY Queen of Scots" to be
produced here. The theatre in London
was disastrously affected by the coal
strike. the streets at night being as
dark as during the war. Three sue
cesses lost ground the first week, but
when, for an interval. truce with
labor was declared the dividends i'm
mediately mounted again.
An American book that has evoked
short stories, whose authors name he
could not at the moment recall. The
most startling story of the lot has to
do with an American officer who gets
his leave and Is advised by his British
buddy" to spend the furlough at the
latter's home. The British officer can
not accompany him, but he gives him
letters of introduction to his family
and assures him a visit on the estate
will be much more comfortable and
agreeable than wandering alone
around strange London.
The American is benevo'ently re-
ceived. A day after his arrival. how
ever. the attitude of the household sud-
denly changes to a marked reticence
He cannot understand this, especially
rs he is not aware of any misconduct
on his part. When the time comes for
his departure. in gratefully bidding
7dieu, he asks what 1t is that promptec
heir abrupt aloofness. He is told that
= he 1o
the front their son had been killed.
"A big piece" Major Mason ex-
claimed. 1T has certainly aroused
London town. 1t is mastery in its
l don't remember the name
of 1t, or the book. but that to me is
vivid"
So. you see, we are gradually merg-
ing American and English literature
and drama into each other Even to-
day the ocean is no longer a barrier.
We can exchange James Hilton and
Scott Fitzgerald as though they had
pounded neighboring typewrters. AS
It is D, II. Lawrence is as much with
US as w. G. Turner is abroad. And GER
tainly we are as Electrically ac-
nuainted with John Galsworthy, Som
erset Vaughan ard John Drinkwater
rs London is with Edward Knoblock
Augustus Thomas and j. Hartley Man
rers. In fact. think of the English his
lions we have claimed as our own:
William Faversham, Maxine Elliott
George Arliss. William Gillette. Courte-
nay Foote, Lawrence Grossmith, Es-
-e'le WILDWOOD. Conway Tearle, Cyril
Scott. Kenneth Douglas, Fritz Will
Jams. And aren't Isadora Duncan
Julia Marlowe and f. II. Sothern at
home In Piccad!lly?
II should not be necessary to make
distinctions. tabbing this English" and
that American" w. L. George. George
Jean Nathan, Harvey O'Higgins. Adolf
phus Huxley. Bliss Carman and Leon
ard Merrick-let's mix up their ances-
trations the way the clerk does at
Brentano's.
There is one thing: We became
ware Of the presence OF Lord Dun
sany and st. John Ervine in our thea
ire, although Celts they be. not Saxons
Why can't England and Ireland awak-
en- to Eugene O'Neill?
I asked this OF Major Mason. "They
will" he smiled advisedly but he
must bide his time. Good things will
out! They always come to the sur
face. / don't believe we follow a new
school, but we do adhere to the best
example of that new school. II Eu-
gene O'Neill is your most genuine ex-
ponent of American drama we shall
soon recognize him also. I'm not GER
tain but that IL has not been already
a rrapoed that 'Revond tho JJorfzoy,' is