The evening world., 1920-01-02
Marguerite Mooers Marshall .
TO Maurice Maeterllnck. author of

that poetic treatise OF science,
that scientific poem, the Life
OF the Bee"--New York Is a beehive,
the biggest. most absorbing beehive
he has ever seen.
There Is the unco;ISing yet ordered
flight of tho wOrkers-swift, intent,
direct motion; there Ia the multitude
of habltations, little cell piled on little
cell; there Is the cherished queen OF
the hivC-the American woman; and
there is the incessant buzz OF motors,
motors, motors, among them, those
that have been rushing about with
Mneterlinck and Mmes Maeterlinck
ever since their arrival in New York
week ago.
Always there have been motor cars
for u.s." the great dramatist assured
me almost plaintively, and one can
not see city from motor cars. | do
not consider that | have seen New
York and hope some day soon that
/ may go for quiet walk through its
streets with my wife. For it il not
only beautiful in n way no one who
had not seen it could imagine, but ii
Is most interesting in its rush, its
movement, it's atmosphere OF the
mighty hive"
We were in the lofty studio apart
ment at Sixth Avenue and 40th Street
where the author Of The Blue Bird"
has found shelter under the wing Of
his friend Henry Russell. II was he
who assured me that I might have
just five minutes with the Mahster"
as head OF tho Boston Opera Com
pany Mr.. Russell. of course, long ago
"mahstered" the Back BAY IA" That,
/ together with the stained-glass at
mosphcrC and the feeling that Mr..
Russell lowered behind the arras with
| n stop watch, combined TO form a
| rather oppressive Introduction TO n
| truly simple. because truly great,
man.
Clear blue eyes. with just hint at
dream in them, tho square, full fac
! ono scCS in the pOrtIaits of good
! burghCrs by Flemish artists, :,
| straight sweep of nearly white hair, n
tall. thick-set figure and an expression
| Of beautiful and impressive serenity
! that>is the man who has been called
the Belgian Shakespeare" and who
is one of the few living writer's will,
= key to Fairylnnd,
TT he has not yet "Sccn" New HorR
he has seen New York women. for
he has been entertained at dinner
by Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt jr., and
some of the most charming debu'
tantes appeared in special Blue Bird
ballots for him.
The women OF America are beau
tiful," he declared gravely, and It IL
n natural beauty. charm Of health
! simplicity, cleannesA Abroad, the
women are more painted, less nat.
ural. Constantly in New York one
meets a woman with a beauty so rare
50 distinguished. that one longs tC
stop her to ask who she Is, e
express the admiration she inspires.
And Nine. Maeterlinck feels exa&
~ the same way" Henry Russell
son assured me He acted as IN
ternroter not for Maeterlinck but fol-
me. because my questions were toC
auick for the dramatist's English ear
I couldn't forget was talking against
a stop-watch!
'sThe atmosphere OF New York,
Maeterlinck summed up, is ike IL
skies-so clear, so clean so inVigorat
ing. There are so many natural way
OF enjoyment. You are n happy city
Here the Blue Bird sings"
And do you still believe in tina
formula for happiness which you pu
into The Blue Bird" | asked
with unhasting decision he bent hi
head.
ITO find happiness" he said, ''yo,
must look within your own home
your own heart"
CGIS the world going TO find an
happiness during the comm
year," I queried. There hav
been so many years OF suffering an
sorrow. Are you optimistic about tn
return of the Blue Bird in the i'm
mediate future?"
, But, yes!" exclaimed Maeterlincl
, a smile lighting the pellucidly blu
+, eyes THE war is over, the agonie
, Of the years OF war are past. Ter
= = is unrest and discomfort and suffer
ing stil, but l believe conditions wi
, grow better gradually and that tn
world will grow happier.
; ION US rests a great responsihllit!
As | have written, We are the manda