The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17

the old Twenty-third Street Theatre
David Belasco and Henry de Mile put
into Men and Women the figure of
a liberal and broadminded Jew who,
in the meeting Of the directors of the
bank, counselled on his part charity
and forbearance toward the evildoer.
Frederic de Belleville, by the way.
who is now in the company of William
Hodge, played this role of Israel
Cohen.
MonstrousIy False To-day.
The European stage. from the folk
plays of LArronge and his colleagues,
such as "Mein Leopold down to Erck-
man-Chatrian in "L'Ami Fritz" has
presented one noble type OF jew after
another. What Mr.. Mann said about
the stage representation Of the type
here may have had some truth, say
thirty years ago. but 1t Is monstrously
false as applied to the American thea
tire to-day. 1t Is probable that the Jew
who goes to the theatre finds the old
burlesque exaggeration no less agree
able to his taste than the style of racial
glorification that Mr.. Shipman has at
tempted at the Astor Theatre. In the
scene that closes the second act Mr..
Mann has a long speech to prove that
every important figure In the discovery
Of America was Jew. Evidently this
climax was expected to produce great
enthusiasm among the listeners. But
the note of warm approval was missing
when the curtain fell.
Probably Jews In the theatre seek no
such adulation, nor do they search In
the playhouse for apology. Nobody has
set out to write plays TO demonstrate.
for instance, the innate nobility of
Quakers or the piety and generosity Of
Episcopalians or the good qualities OF
any other set of religionists. Nor has
s-y persuasion expressed desire to
see the drama converted into means
OF establishing its merits. Probably the
Jews are satisfied 10 find In tho theatre
Just what the rest of the world takes
pleasure in. They do not demand that
the drama be made an instrument OF
propaganda for them and their faith.
Ignorance Of the English language,
plentiful lack OF taste ana the desire to
make a little small change out OF the
exploitation OF racial characteristics by
A. playwright cannot possibly be con-
strued as demand on the part Of the
Jews for plays about their own people.
Human Traits the WORLD over.
The treasure, WHICH tne AHtaue
Guild Is playing with somewhat less OF
it's usual technical perfection, emphasizes
the cathoiicity OF human traits the world
over Goodness on the one hand and evil
on the other are not the exclusive pos
session OF any race. We all have our
share In the good qualities and the bad.
This truth Is shown by Pinski when the
traits OF mankind confronted with tho
opportunities OF wealth are shown 10 be
about the same in us all Pinsds play
however, is not Russian Neither In
character nor background Is its theme
anything but Jewish. It does not fol-
low that the story Is slaylc merely be-
cause the scene Is laid in Russia ans
more than Toscha, sascha or Mischa
converts n Jewish vrtuoso into q Rus
sian merely because he adopts such a
name.
Lady Gregory has IN Spreading the
News" dealt with the same theme. but
in characteristically Irish manner There
Is a gaiety in the oagnefness OF tht
Irish peasants 60 learn the news thai
leads 10 none of the bitterness and ran
cour that result from the discovery OF
the treasure In the Russian village. II
IN unfortunate for the author or 9TH,
Treasure that he could not adopt The