The New York herald., 1921-04-10

on about the ideas of Bernard Shaw
and others as to the status or woman,
but she is the sawdust lady of the trf-
angle nevertheless, and she ought to
be following the example OF all her
predecessors in devoting herself to
deeds and not talk. In other words,
she should keep step with the gait OF
melodrama. which Is going to move
rapidly if it is to be of any value at
all.
The Authors Discoveries.
Nothing is more refreshing. however.
in the development of the play than Mr..
Thomas's naive delight in the study of
psychoanalysis. When little Jack Hor-
ner put in his thumb and pulled out the
plum he never thought that there had
been others who In their day and age
had also pulled out plums. possibly just
the same plum. Mr.. Thomas has no
more doubt on that point than dear
little Jack.
lie pulls his psychoanalysls plums
with as little thought OF the past. The
wife is guilty Her lover is an artist.
She cannot, therefore, say studio" or
sculptor" without suffering. Husbands
looks grow blacker. The specialist In
this new mental science loves an eman-
cipated designer of book covers She Is
rich. She is therefore independent OF en-
viroument. But art Is the result Of some
kind of repression. She had therefore
severe and unsympathetic parents. And
so the game goes on.
"Come on in, Mickey" cries the small
boy, "the waters finer Mr.. Thomas
sputters around to the same degree. hav-
ing a great time as he splaahes his newly
discovered Freud on his characters and
his public But there Is nevertheless
only melodrama in Nemesis" in spite
Of its dry polish OF the most modern cul-
ture There there Is not figure dis
cussing all these characters but talks
the language OF the author. None Of
their words sound like their own.
The Fine Court Scene.
The finely natural and lively court
scene, which brought the first sense OF
advancing action TO the story. is q COM
pete refutation OF the latest managerial
theory that the day of the trial scene has
past. Not little OF the success of the
final act in "Nemesis'' is due to the
spirited acting OF John Craig and 10 the
generally lifelike dialogue in which the
playwright for some reason ceases to
make the characters all talk like him
self and allows them to discourse hui
manly Mr.. Thomas Is expert In de-
signing little melodramatic tricks. One
Of these is the plan of copying the thumb
prints of an enemy On rubber glove
and smearing up the decorations in
crlminatingly.
OF course such a scsne would be for
ever banned In the censored movies since
such gratuitous education for second
story man in posse would be altogether
inadmisslble nor should prospective
yeggmen receive in their youth such ef-
fective first aid Yet the idea Is i'm
genious. SO is the sudden sinking Of the
electric light. which indicates that the
rower has heen drawn on to supply the
electric chair. Not word In explana-
tion OF this sudden lowering OF the
ls-hts is spoken or is II needed. The
expedient tells Its story more impress
slvely and more dramatically than any
OF the other incidents In Nemesis"
New View of Musical Comedy.
Just as the world was beginning 10
get a little fun UP on musical comedy
and wonder half wistfully If 1t really
was SO bad as IL seems or II the times
were changing there comes a new In
terpretation OF this form Of entertain