Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-03-12
GILPIN HAS HONOR PLACE AT
DRAMATIC LEAGUE DINNER
White Artist Join in Giving Ovation
to Leader OF Race OH Stage.

Charles +. Gupin, star Of 1.-The
Emperor JONES'" was the guest Of hon
o. nosi highly applauded last Sum
day night at ll.e annual dinner OF
the Drama League at the Hotel Nc
Alpin, despite the fact that bitter DIS
cusslon ragged for time us to wheth
ca he should be invited.
When his turn came to speak he
was greeted with storm OF hand
clapping and some cheering, VIII. ch
quite ,CclpHed that accorded Dudley,
Diggs, Gilda, Veresi, Lionel Anvil
Margaret Severn and others who had
preceded him. And the artists who
had spoken first did cher best to
make It's greeting the MOST heartily.
Although Mr.. G.lpin has express
Ell doubt unat he would be able 10 at.
tend the dinner, owing 20 other en-
;sagcmcntS, he had announced that
he would certainty drop around 10
the dinner 10 thank personally those
who, like David DclasC6 and Jacob
Ben-Ami, had pra scd his work OH
the Sage. He was able, however, 10
reach the McAlpin with tho other
guests and remain during tho eptire
evening, His place was prominent
one, several seats TO the right OF Ken
noth MACEDONIAN, the chairman be
tween Gllda Vercsi, star OF ENTER
Madame" and Mrs. RoA,n Kirby, {.
director OF the League. The others
present OF the ten artiss selected as
those who had done most for the art
Of the theatre during the last ycal
were Dudley Digges, director oil
'HSartbraak House," Miss Veresl,
Lionel Atmfl, star III "Beburnu;"
Lee Simonson, designer OF the SGT.
tings used ,m "Heartbreak House,
Margaret Severn dancer who intro
duced the use OF masks In the Green
w.ch village folMes;" aud Jacob Ben
Ami.
Miss Verost was one of the staunch
est defenders Of Mr.. tsiipin as an
artist entitled to receive recognition.
She had telcgruphei tho League dur
ing the discussion that she would be
proud to st next 70 him and deplor-
cd doing American nrt wrong by eA
Guiding him.
&. III his brief remarks Mr.. Gilpin, in
trodnced by Mr.. MastSowan as "the
greatest artist Of his race" said jok-
!ngly that in the oriental lore the
dead were supposed TO be compelled
to cross u bridge OF red hot iron be
fore emerins Paradise. Speaking to
an audicncd mscparated from him
by footlights was similar expert
encc.
1oSllly l am az nervous as Il
cat he sa;M, Nbut I must here thank
YOU all and the public and press for
the Kind treatment given my efforts
am for calling me artist The word
artist is something I always thought
OF as away Off yonde". bnt not some
thing could over attain. My ambi
ton is to make my work stand out.
Ii have succeeded IN giving any of
You ah evening OF pleasure am
very happy"
The dinner Of the Drama League
oclipsed the expectations OF the din
hcr committees to such an extent that
its emotions were somewhere be-
tween happiness and despair. AL
though about ESQ was the number
1t was thought some days ago would
come fully GOO made their appear
ance and as a result the ballroom of
the McAlpin was damned and many
other guests dined in another room
and came into the ballroom TO the ad
dresses after the tables had been
moved out. Fred Stone, David Bclas
co and Eugene O>Neil the latter au
thor Of "Hhe Emperor JONES'" were
unable to be present to receive the
tribute to their art: