New-York tribune., 1921-02-21
CilpiinArnong 9
10 Invited To.
League Feast
Letters Will Be Sent Out
To-day, but Whether
Negro Actor Will Accept
Is Doubtful Question

The Drama League yesterday an
nounced officially the names of ten per-
sons to be invited to dinner at the
McAlpin Hotel on March s, as honor
guests, because, according to a vote
by the league, they have contributed
most to the art Of the theater during
the last year.
The list included Charles Gilpin, ne
gro star in The Emperor Jones'" and
Walter Hartwig, in charge of arrange
ments for the dinner, said that Gilpin
positively would be invited In say
ing this he directly contradicted last
Tuesdays statement that Gilpin would
not be invited, no matter how high
vote he received.
The earlier decision, understood as
the action of parity quorum of a
league board, was reversed apparently
because of the sentiment aroused
through the publicity which it received.
Ten Names Announced
The ten names were announced in
the Plymouth Theater, prior to lee
of Harvard University, who advised
playwrights to remember that it was
important to know what to omit writ
ing, and that time would not spare
the work of one who spared time in
doing the work
Mr.. Hartwig gave out the names as
follows: Dudley Digges, selected for
his acting in "Heartbreak House;
Gilda Varesi, for her acting in Enter
Madame"; David Belasco, for putting
on "Deburau''; Eugene O'Neill, as au-
nf
Ami, for his acting in Samson and
Delilah"; Charles Gilpin, for his act
ing in "The Emperor Jones'; Lionel
Atwill. for his acting in "Deburau";
Lee Simonson, as scenic artist in
staging "Heartbreak House; Margaret
Severn, for her use of masks in dances
in "The Greenwich Village Follies";
Fred Stone, as foremost comic artist.
The audience, which filled the
though the Times Square district was
almost deserted and it was possible to
get seat in a subway train, applauded
as the names were read, but there was
no particular demonstration for Gilpin
as members of the league frankly said
was anticipated
Invitations Out To-day
Letters of invitation are to be issued
by the Drama League to-day. Last
night it was impossible to find Gilpin
to learn whether he would accept, but
members of the Provincetown Players,
associated with him, were sure that he
would not commit himself until his
letter had arrived.
He has been absolutely mum about
this" Jasper Deeter, player in "The
Emperor Jones' said last night, "and
we do not know how he feels.
orb Of
that the Drama League had been dis
cussing what to do about him, it took
Gilpn twenty-one minutes longer than
usual to play bis part, and he seemed
to have something on his mind. Since
then he has been as usual"
Gilpin's friends said they would not
be surprised if he accepted the invita-
tion of the Drama League, but that he
was less likely to accept than if the
dispute as to his bidding had not be-
come known to him. They said he ap-
preciated such honors, and apparently
was less hurt by discovery that some
persons were opposed to inviting him
than he was pleased to learn how
strongly many more were supporting
him.
Gilpin's home address has never been
known to the Provincetown Players, it
was said yesterday. He always ap-
peared in time at rehearsals and at
performances. When the management
wanted him they called up theater in
the negro section of Harlem, where, it
is understood, Cilpin is paid Difference
as the leading player of his race in
the world.
Eugene O'Neill, author of "The En-
peror JONES' who had said that he
would not attend the Drama League
dinner if Gilpin was not invited, de-
clined to say yesterday whether he
would try to persuade Gilpin to attend
the dinner. 1t had been rumored that
u group of Gilpin's friends might urge
him to go.