The New York herald., 1921-03-06

treats mis- subject not with evident ex-
aggeration but sincerely and as seri-
ously as If this incessant canoodllng
were a part OF the national character?
Surely the battle Of the sexes Of which
the authors are now so fond Of writ
ing is revealed with unerring truthful
ness in this study OF q man and his
too doting wife
The whole thing sounds like the sub
limated and titanic tearing Of a daisy.
He loves mo, he loves me not" on and
on ad nauseam. Finally in a minute OF
exasperated safety the husband hurls
her into the arms OF his friend, only to
realize too late that the satisfaction OF
her wounded vanity has left a scar on
their lives which a lifetime cannot oblit-
crate. But this is the bitter sweet OF
excess. Candy three times day, argued
the beauteous GrosUenor in Patience"
would be too much. This play In well
worth seeing as a specimen Of the best
that the French drama Is sending to
the world nowadays, and, as ever, the
best blooms from the national trait OF
such scientific loving. Estelle Winwood
gives remarkably varied and human
portrayal Of the insistent wife. 1t Is a
genuine tour de force OF histrionlsm
which touches many points OF life to
gain distinction from the portrayal Of
all OF them.
Miss Crothers's New Fairy Tale.
In the first act OF Nice People" at
the Klaw Theatre the lady In mourning
(stockings, however. the most trans
parent possible) bursts into tears over
the younS people, the cocktails and the
cigarettes, and laments loudly that II
was for this sort OF thing that her
l.. I,t 10 &c.
this. &c, &C. that he made the great
sacrifice. &C. What in the world has a
handful OF dissipated youngsters In a
Park avenue apartment got to do with
this country, Its problems and the great
questions brought out by our part In the
war? The relation OF cause and effect
is not very clear here, but there Is n
dramatic contrast In the scene which
doubtless appealed TO the playwright.
1T is all that nterteres with the COM
pletely entertaining quality OF the ju-
venie revelry that dominates the first
act.
But demoralized as she may be by the
manners Of the day. Miss Crothers has
given her heroine trace OF culture.
She quotes Shakespeare. For this re-
lief much thanks" she politely answers
when her father gives her $50 to buy
sandwiches on their motor ride. Whether
she studied this poet at Miss Spence's
or Miss Chapin's or Brearley or any OF
the fashionable schools for young
women. she is able to quote her Shake
speare correctly Maybe Il was a COM
fort to her when she started farming
In the country. Maybe she read the
plays to her husband during long win
ter evenings She was so completely
converted by the country air that any
thing, so long as II was different enough
from existence in the Park avenue
apartment, might have happened.
How familiar Miss Crotherss little
fairy story is. in spite OF all It's affecta-
tion OF revealing the most modern phase
of youths delinquencies There never
has been period In the theatre which
did not have It's little princess who was
more or less demoralized by court life
although she was pure and bright In
heart. And she always would run away
from the courtiers when she saw Il was
her lofty position and not herself they
we're seeking. And she used always to
marry the honest young stranger who
loved her for herself. and having lived
In peace, they used TO die In grease and