The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-04
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Introduc cling George Jean Nathan.

ntrodscinE George Jean Nathan.
NEW YORK. Dec. 3.-George
Jean Nathan is >Manhattan's most
caustic critic of the drama. His
pen drips singing adjectives and
pungent phrases and he cares moth
ing for the producers scorn.
He occupies a niche all his own
In New York's theatrical life, blast
Ing theatrical hopes and bolstering
up dramas that might otherwise go
to the storehouse, for he has an inn
mense following that accepts his
word as gospel.
he has written books. plays and
Travelled Europe extensively and
with II. l.. Mencken, another bonn
bastic critic edits The Smart Set,
that rather daring periodical OF
froth and sparkle
Nathan is confirmed celibant
and has an apartment in the heart
OF New York's night life on West
Forty-fourth street where he is sur
rounded by precious tones and art
gee-gaws from all corners of the
world
He came from the Americas hot
bed of observation-disclosures. His
home town is Fort W1yne and he
received his A. B. degree at Cornell.
While Nathan is well-known and
highly regarded in America it is in
Europe that his writings receive the
greatest reception.
In all parts OF the continent he is
regarded as the American George
Bernard Shaw. London. Paris and
Berlin look to him to keep their
theatrical wicks properly trimmed.
In appearance he reminds one OF
the college senior and in fact he is
only in his mid thirties. He is not,
however, the brash young literary
upstart; rather he is extremely
shy and taciturn. His genius is
expressed in the written word.
When he came to New York he
secured a position on the editorial
staff of Bennet's New York Herald
and later was dramatic critic on
the Bohemian Magazine and Out
ing. And he has written about the
theater for Harper's Weekly,
newspaper syndicate, Puck and the
Burr Mcintosh Monthly.
He was a warm friend of the late
James Huneker and they wrote with
the same verve and charm, each be-
ing able somehow to revivify words
long considered obsolete.
Among his books are: Europe
After Sis: Another Book on the
Theater;' Bottoms Up" Mr..
George Jean Nathan Presents: A
Book without a Title" The Pop
ular Theater;" Comedians An:"
"Heliogabalus" and 1.-The American
Credo."
Because he publishes his own
magazines he is able to say exactly
what he believes and he is unsp ar
ing in his reviews. Not so long
ago be took a violent animadver-
sive fling at New York critic In
his magazine, labelling it The Seid
litz Powder of Times Square" He
disliked the critics pomposity and
punctured II with keen verbal
thrusts.
However, he is rarely personal
His opinions are mostly construc-
tive for he knows the theater as
few men do. Once year he goes
TO the European capitals to see
what is new along their Rialtos.
He believes prohibition is n
breeder Of hypocrisy yet he rarely
takes a drink He smokes a pipe
necessarily and among the few who
are privileged to close companion
ship he is ever keenly sympathetic,
understandable and loyal. He is
utterly devoid Of sham.
He has made himself famous b.
travelling rather obscure literary
pathways. His circulation avenues
are not by far as large as that of
the average critic. yet he is no
doubt the best known and the most
widely quoted in New York.