New-York tribune., 1920-02-28
Between $40 and $50.

ANVoCoo 4 cdCOCk 10 eleSlACS Oh lCb aU-
thor, J. Cheever Goodwin, the librettist
of wang" ut has occurred to me
more than once" writes Mr. Peacock,
"that Goodwin was easily the best
writer Of lyrics for light musical pro-
ductions this country ever has pro-
duced, and that he never received any
think like the credit due him for his
skill at versifcation. AS see 1t, he
suffered by following W. s. Gilbert too
closely in point Of time and style. But
| think Goodwin was able to stand
comparison with even the great Eng
ishman. For example, can you think
of any production by Wallace Irwin,
Berton Braley or any of our present
writer's of lifting verse who can match
the facility of an entrance song Good
win wrote for jefferson De Angels in
if mistake not-'Fleur de Lis?
Oh, that am Count 1t /. easy to be seen
My nobility is patent in my features and
my men,
In my walk and my talk I ingeniously COM
bine
Affabity and dignity that both are super
fine
When 1 battle with foeman I display q
courage Roman,
In my lexicon of middle age there's no such
word as fear:
And my friends Of whom I've legions, say
you couldn't in these regions
With a microscope discover in urbanity my
peer.
Of poiteness I'm the pink--theres a charm
about my wink
That makes every fcmale heart who sees
it flutter;
I've of elouuence such knack I can prove
that white is black
BY ingeniously employing verbal butter.
cHosUs:
In short, I'm paragon with record pure
as newly fallen snow
In CASTLE or Aragon a bluer- -blooded noble
don't grow
If requested I could give a pedigree that
dates from Noah.
On no bar the slightest sinister you'll
blunder;
And when more of me you see, you'll be
able to agree
With the universal verdict-Im q wonder
Yes, Mr.. Peacock, we can think of
dozens of verses by Wallace Irwin and
Berton Braley that can match Good
wins songs for "facility." Certainly
there is nothing in the song you quote
that is not ordinary. Read Wallace
1rwin's Song for a Cracked Voice."
for one; read any of Berton Braley's
books. For rhyming ingenuity "a much
overpraised quality) the best lyrics of
Harry B. Smith. Henry NJ. Blossom,
and William LIE Baron are far better
than Goodwin's. And Guy Wetmore
Carryl, who would have been the white
hope of American light opera if he
had lived, was better than any Of them.
BY the way, will the borrower
of our "Fables for the Frivolous"
Grimm Tales Made Gay" and Mother
Goose for Grownups" tell us where
those precious volumes are?
I'm spite of the quality of some of
the incoming plays" MIR. james Light.
director Of the Provincetown plavers
says, I'VE have worked hard enouph to
remain loyal to American drama dur
ing the six seasons Of our existence.
but next year. unless there is a speedv
change In the caliber Of the MANN
scripts, we will produce European
dramas rather than American bur-
lesques. in the form of tragedies.
comedies and phantas sizes" Let this be
warning to all American playwrights
who can afford TO write without none
tary compensation.
At the risk Of recommending hool
written not only by an American. but
also by an author who never has an
peared on the lecture platform. this
Obelisk of Omniscience hereby meca-
phones for Hand Made Fablesn hv
George Ade.
1t is recommended to those who saw
He Amt as Good as He Used To Be.
and to those who know he is at least
that.
A young woman of twenty Is wor-
rled because her Fairy Prince uses
slang. "He is bright, energetic, and
ambitious" she writes Beatrice Fair
fax, "but I cannot make him under.
stand that in order to climb the ladder
to success he will have to eliminate
the use of slang in his speech. I have
tried every means to break him Of this
haolt' but have been unsuccessful, and
my inability to do SO has discouraged
me-" Miss Fairfax advises the young
woman to lay off the uplift; but we
should like to whisper a word Of warn
ing IN the young mans ear, to the
effect that the Wedding Must Not Be.
All can remember" Miss Fannie
Brice said, ais songs and telephone
numbers"
Ihere's some advantage In remem-
bering songs.
y. P. A.