New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
By
Heywood Broun

York press comes into existence may be
mentioned the long cut and dried puff
in yesterdays New York Herald of the
Keans' acting in play which accident
ally didn't come off! This is not the
first, nor the second, nor the third awk-
ward blunder of the kind which has
occurred Of late. Most of the
criticisms in the metropolitan press are
written before the plays are played"
1t is interesting to note that it would
be perfectly possible for the same blum
der to occur again. Several New York
newspapers carry in their first editions
review which is written before the
performance, although st is only fair to
say that this is replaced in later edi-
tions by the article Of the critic.
AS we have said, Whitman's frank
ness was i'll received in theatrical cir
cles, for on December %, 1847, we find
him complaining that tickets no longer
come with their accustomed regularity.
he makes no concessions, and indeed
takes the trouble to point out that
tickets will be accepted only with the
clear understanding that no obligation
IS implied. Still, he does feel the neces-
sity of writing, "When The Eagles
presence at given place is wished for
it must be solicited by the polite means
of special invitation, accompanied by
ample cards of admission etc., it not
being In the range of human possibili-
ties or condeseensions for The E. to
explain at the doors or places that it is
The E."
Sometimes there Is a note Of proph-
ecy in Whitman's theatrical articles.
as when, on February 12, 1847, he dis
cusses the potentialities Of the drama
and suggests that somebody ought to
write play in which "Wives and hus
bands may see, perhaps for the first time
IN their lives, long needed lesson Of
the absurdity of contentious tempers.
and Of those small but painful disputes
that embitter domestic life-contrasted
with the pleasant excellence Of a for
bearing, forgiving and affectionate
spirit"
It's pity that Walt didn't live long
enough to attend "The First Year" by
Frank Craven.
There is also evidence that he might
have enjoyed watching an Arthur Hop
kins production, because on August 20.
1886, Whitman wrote an article on
"Dramatics: and the True Secret of
Acting" in which he said: "Now there
are two ways Of exercising such sway
over the passions Of an audience-the
usual way, which is boisterous, stormy
physical and repugnant to truth and
taste, and another way, that actors
rarely condescend to take, which consists
in an invariable adherence to nature
and is entirely mental, and works from
within to the outward, instead of being
altogether outward"
"Ireland-Beautiful, brave but miser-
able land! Source of the sunniest gen.
ius that has been diffused in the civilized
world! Alas, when will we see you with
the burthen and the bond thrown off :?
We don't know when we have realized
the wrongs and destitution of Ireland SO
vividly. as in a hasty glance over Rays
Report on the Irish Coercion Bill, a
copy Of which was this morning kindly
left for us by r. s. Church-and for
which we thank him. What a black and
dreary narrative 1t furnishes Of a ma
tion having the truest and fullest re-
sources, both in the natural talent of its
citizens and in the facilities Of the coun-
try--and yet all crushed for the want
Of judiclous and liberal government"
Walt Whitman also wrote this, on July
80, 1SA6.