The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-15
Art for Arts Sake
BY MARIE B. MAC DONALD
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"The worst Of the theatrical profess
Sion" said Herr Won Drueben, as he
graciously accepted the. proffered
cigar, lis That it has but two paths,
with no breathing places where peo-
pie may stop and rest. Both are steep.
Up one Of them people are forced to
climb painfully. 1t Is slow work and
the suffering is great. The otherpath
I tends downward. The descent is swift.
People put their feet on it
swis-s-sh-"
He made a dramatic gesture indl-
eating crashing fall and then added:
'"They then come to this"
"This" was the wild Stag Impe-
rial Concert Hall and Ladies' and
Gents Dining Room"
Herr Won Drueben had recently been
imported as manager for dramatic
organization, and as there were grave
doubts about his continuance In his
present position he looked upon the
artistic condition Of this Country as
hopeless
He naturally felt supreme con-
tempt for the Wild Stag.
The manager OF the Wild Stag re-
scented the slight his companions
words implied, and his carefully
trimmed beard seemed to stand out in
aggressive denial as he leaned across
the table and said impressively
"This? Come to this? What then?
Is not this something? Our people are
good. To Illustrate: look at the wom-
an who is on now"
"That woman was once the best
emotional with the City theater She
was for five years in leads with the
very company you direct That is
Kaethe Hide"
"Kaethe HildeW echoed the other.
"She had all Europe at her feet. And
Kaethe Hide has come TO thisl"
On the stage a worn woman was
smiling bravely through her lavish
makeup, singing love ballad.
Out of the glare of the footlights,
Kaethe gained in appearance. AS
the two managers watched her, man
entered the place and took seat at
a side table. His glance rested on
Kaethe. and he half rose, hesltated,
and then sat down. But his hesita-
ton was only mOmeptary. He paid
the waiter hurriedly and went over to
her
"Kaethe--"
az saw you when You came In" she
said without looking up.
II was the first time he, Paul Hau-
hermann. her husband, had seen her
since their child was born over three
years before
He, too, had won fame as an actor
Increasing years had brought to him
an increasing tendency to quarrel, and
finally he had broken down and was
forced to accept such work as came
TO him.
lie had been enormously proud OF
J HIS wife at first, and then insanely
Jealous of the fame that came to her
First he worried her, and then he in.
volyed her in quarrels. When she
could no longer contribute to his sup
port, and there was little likelihood
that she would recover her place
again, he deserted her. He felt that
he generously forgave her for some
enormity.
"What are you doing now?" she
\ asked sharply.
"Well," he answered reluctantly, 81
! have a few pupils, and reclte al
clubs. Then shall have benefit If
can get hall free"
"Still getting up benefits for your
4 self-at the earnest solicitation Of your
many influential friends"
She laughed mirthlessly as She
quoted from the notices she knew h,
would send out.
Does anyone attend them nowf"
"Not many" he answered gloomily
"Kaethe Hide" he began in n low
menacing tone that caught and hell
the startled attention of all in thC
room, and caused even the orchestra t
stop rasping.
"Kaethe Hide, now Is the time t.
speak. You are my wife Before al
the world you are my wife, and befor,
\ NIL the world I would and viii rescue
\ and protect you. find you here-play
ing in cheap music hall-you, whit
4 once swayed thousands Now, I, You
husband. speak nay, command Com,
x with mew
n capital, capital Wen acted
4 Bravo" she cried, adding in a lowe
voice that he alone could catch; "Nov
sit down."