New-York tribune., 1921-02-13

~ one way traffic regulations
l. during the theater hour an
Nw noying would do well to re-
member that there is we'll established
precedent for the rules. In 1768, when
David Douglas was managing theater
IT. John Street, the crush of.traffic be-
came SO great that he inserted the fol-
lowing notice in the newspapers:
TO prevent accidents by carriages
meeting, it is requested that those COM
ing to the House may enter John Street
from the Broadway, and returning,
drive from thence down John Street,
Into Nassau Street, or forward to that
knovn by the name of Cart and Horse
Ssreet, as may be most convenient"
The recent production of Shakespeare
"A Winters Tale" at special "chil~
tren's matinee" suggests that soon we
nay have children's matinees of "Dif-
Trent" and of Ghosts" We have never
seen able to discover just what principle
aetuates the selection of plays for chill
drens matlnees. Not one which we have
attended afforded the slightest amuse-
mens TO the youngsters. We rather fear
'has amusement is not the quality de-
hrsd by parents, but rather education.
VI course, everybody knows that Charlie
1aaplin never fails to throw children
mo transports OF delight, but there is
: feeling IN some quarters that his is
s's the best of influences for the grow
ing mind.
With this point Of view we have
'sans sympathy. After all, the most
Important thing to consider In intro
selns the next generation to the the
1ef is to make sure that they will
.a' shs performance. If the child is
s''od In the process of being educated
"s likely to grow up with a deep
''ased distrust Of anything called "art"
.na stay away from all shows except
aese which are frankly scaled down
- >%oeb t5SGSs 4 AS LGCL SndI
SHapan Is not only an artist but al
@Vss the best fun in the world, ought
'0lss every difficulty, but the very
'ssamstancs that enjoyment of his
ArAcs Is SO easy fills not few with
'picion. We still labor under the
'ins that any art which Is good for
~' young ought to be little hard to
swallow.
another person In the theater who
never had quite his full share
eeognftion as force toward the
ss''on OF better art is Florenz Zieg-
90 Here too the Puritan complex
,asess In Mr.. ziegfeld has no articu-
- message to deliver and has never
s*ea any purpose to uplift the stage,
.ss0fdingly, he receives scant credit
sae fact that he has made musical
and revue a form far more
Astiui than it ever was before. The
Snstion of Urban and Ziegfeld has
more to bring visual beauty into
j 'osater than any other association
m generation with the exception
,,s'aus Hopkins and Robert Edmond
The present o'clock Frclic
4. me Midnight Frolic are amonc
a.. nasst things which ziegfeld has
H.. gas get to appreciate, however,
so.s striking things may be done with
Nv. S as well as with lights and silk.
=. ae passing Of Will Rogers there
wen no very liberal display of quips
I, o. the roof shows. Phil Baker.
,.a ae Midnight Frolic, comes nearer to
,.,. ing this reproach than any per
v, nsreabouts In several seasons.
,s.a 'sser knows where TO look for
s,l,s JOKES and is quite evidently
Rs.. Rsai reader Of The Coming Tower.
s,sr' ss.s az far as we are concerned.
'0sss second hand are much to