The New York herald., 1920-12-05

pushed a man out OF her compartment
10 his death because he had opened the
window OH her little girl there was
nearly revolt OF reason. Even al the
risk of being harshly judged, from an
intellectual standard. the large public
kept away from both plays as it never
had from any performances which were
fortunate enough to enlist the services
Of Miss Adams. who was then at the
height OF her popularity.
Power of the Barrie Name.
But the Barrie name is power in the
drama, both here and abroad. II is, OF
course. true that no writer for the stage
to-day imparts greater literary finish to
bis work than the Scotch iiumorist does.
nor Is there such distinction of style TO
he found In the plays Of any other dra-
dramatst at the service or the English
speaking theatre. But all the Barrie
humor and all the Barrie fantasy are not
as faultless as his most relentless ad-
nirere would have the world believe. Did
not the suspicion that Mr.. Barrie might
have been the author of the widely dis
cussed book by Miss Daisy Ashford,
aged 9, have more to do with the popular
success OF that work than any intrinsic
merit it possessed? Without Mr.. Barrie
would 1t ever have found such a far
reaching acceptance? Was il all so In
tensely amusing as the recommendation
Of Mr.. Barrie made II appear? II is pos-
sble. now that the shouting is over, to
wonder.
ssThe Young vtsft~rs- Arrive.
1t IL not only possible but fair to ask
rho question, since the stage version Of
Tho Young Visitors seen at the Thirty
ninth Street Theatre. Is so much moro
amusing than anybody with only Miss
Ashfords work in mind would ever have
supposed. William A. Brady and the
English producers have extraillustrated
the original amazingly. From the seem
cry, which might have come out OF a
childs paint box. to the Prince OF
wsies's infantile manner OF eating sher-
bert at levee in Buckingham Palace
the suggestions OF the book are empha-
siSed into readily comprehensive and ef-
fsctive fun. Much of IL is certain to
arouse the n1irth of many who could but
smile family at Miss Ashford's book
and regret that they were not OF the
intellectually elect They knew they
were not OF this inner circle because
they were not able to roar with laughter
az every word in the childish story. That
Is the mood in which one should ap-
proach every classic Of Barrie and all
other classics which the author COM
mends. II happens. however. that the
actors. the scenery. the dresses and the
music make Of THE Young visiters" on
the stage something more generally
amusing than n was between covers.
And what fine time the old boys
Will be able to have merely by listening
10 the music which accompanies almost
every scene OF the three ideas" OF
course. there is "See Me Dance the
Polka" which will always be associated
In their minds with the piouant song
and sprightly dance Of Miss Rosina
vckes. How many IN the audience on
Monday had heard her sing IL on the
spring nights at Dsly's THEATRE Then
there was the "stephanle Gavotte." a
ravorite Of the days In which Miss Ash
ford was entering her ninth year. There
was "Amaryllis." speaking OF gavottes,
which the orchestra played al some
what more dramatic stage Of the drama
But the gay life must have been at its
height when the famous pas de ouatre."
which was brought here first from the
Gsiety Theatre. was the music employed
10 express the spirit Of the scene or
course. the lively old tgse must have
bsen familiar TO many m the theatre
who did not know what II was. -Four
skirt dancers, when that agreeable form
Of gestic diversion was novel TO our
stage. did a quadrille TO that music In
Faust UP to Date at the old Broad
way Theatre. And Florence st. John.
me ruling favorite OF the London mu-
sicsi stage, made in that production her
only American appearance, without. II
win be remembered gaining any or the
popularity she enjoyed so long abroad
But II must be said In her favor thnt
she began rather late over here.
Some singular aspects OF New York's
domestic life occasionally reach the
neaee. Representation OF fashionable
existssce has acquired steadily year