davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15
,,xc,,,,o~ FOR VISITORS

Mrs, Henry III. Cobb Will have 2 few friends for luncheon at the e,oun- try club Saturday, January 2l, II honor of her mother. Mrs. Mims Jeml- son, and Mrs. E. A. Penick of Tusea- loosa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15
By BETTY BAXTER special Correspondent of The Age Herald


 lcopyright, 1929. by The Age-HeraldD
 Washington January 14.-A good old-fashioned social season--that is what we are having In Washington now. With practically all of the con ference delegates gone. our own lions are holding the center of the social stage and receiving the attention which is their due and which has been accorded them in past seasons, but which have been a bit overshadowed tEis year by the notable visitors from overseas. Then. too. while President and Mrs. Wilson were in the White House many of the official entertain ! ments went by the board. So ih- creased interest is taken in such func- tions now-witness the crowds that attended the New Years reception at the White House.
 And think of the people who p1ead- ed for cards to tue reception given Thursday evening at the executive mansion in compliment to the mem oers of the diplomatic corps. the first of the series of usual official White House entertainments Of this season and in several seasons, in fact. The White House asked that Il statement be published that hefltsts for the reception were closed fully week pVho'o iA cdile OH m Qfuef To StOp the flood of requests for cards.
 Many Invite Selves
 It is more or less a habit in Wash ington to invite ones self to parties that sound attractive. If one fails to receive an invitation one calls up and asks for it-or goes anyway even without an invitation. Nor is the fash ion confined to large public parties of an official nature. Hostesses every where are complaining that they can never be sure how many guests are going to arrive for almost any party but q dinner. Invited guests call up and ask that they may bring dinner parties or house parties without re- gard to number. And uninvited guests have no scruples about asking for an invitation or just going. But of course they would not dare go without a card to a White House function, for they could not get in. Then if one transfers their invitation to a White House entertainment or uses one sent to some other person, | both parties are henceforth removed from the White House lists for all time.
 The White House reception for the diplomatic corps was necessarily lim- ited. There are some A heads of mis- sions in Washington and each is sur rounded by innumerable attaches. secretaries and counsellors and their families and it grows into the hun dreds-though perhaps if is the smallest of the official receptions at the executive mansion and certainly |
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15

Mr. and Mrs Hugh T. Phillips an nounce the arrival of little daugh- ter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15

Miss Mary Elizabeth Caldwell will attend the mid-year dances !at the university.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15

NIr. Mason billiard. Nlr. Leon Wy man, Mir Ed Brandon, Mir Lee Brad ley, Mr C. B. Frierson, Mir. Irwin Me Crossin. Mir. William Moore, Mr. Rowan Oden, Mir. Iancey Goodall and Alr. Marcus Mcclellan are among the Birmingham boys who will attend the dances at the university this week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15

Mrs. R. $. W. Brown of New Or leans who has been the guest of Mrs T. N. Miller at the Ridgely is now the guest of Mrs. Calvin Jones.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-15

The many friends of Mrs. Eugene Brown will regret to learn that she is ill at St. Nincents hospital
 Miss 0dalie Horst left recently fos Colorado Springs to spend several months.
 Mir and Mrs. Benjamin Howard Davis have named their little daugh-
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

after many years and thousands Of miles
from home.
The painters soon found that the
Chauve-Souris was a congenial spot in
which they could collaborate freely with
people who understood them and would
give them a free hand to express them
selves. Various artists took advantage Of
this atmosphere while the Chauve.Souris
remained in Moscow When Balief
reached Paris in December, 1920, in his
flight from his hungry and distracted
native land, he was without a stitch OF
scenery or costumes. New ones had to
be made And they had to be made in the
droll spirit Of the originals II they were
TO assist the Chauve-Souris In perpetual
ing for the western world the reputation
which this diverting theater had gained
In Russia.
Fortunately, Balieff found In Paris as
fellow exiles two Of the foremost OF the
younger Russian artists, Sergei Soudei-
kline and Nicolas Remisoff. To them was
entrusted the commission of designing
anew the settings for the well known
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

few, slightly more curious than the rest,
and more keenly bent upon the acquisition
of knowledge, managed to find ways and
means OF reading the life and works of the
famous satirist. And it may be that this
very curiosity is the keynote to the solu-
tion of the progress made by woman in the
last twenty-five years.
While 1t Is obvious that woman has pro-
gressed enormously in the last decade,
although she has entered boldly into fields
of endeavor. hitherto closed tightly to her.
still in almost every case the particular
woman who has been the leader OF the
various movements has been woman of
mature years; and although woman now
proudly declares her right to appear in
politics, business and artistic circles the
offering of this startling play on Voltaire
written by two girls of twentyfour and
five, and produced under the direction Of
that famous theatrical manager Arthur
Hopkins, has been a matter OF amazement
to the intellectual world in general.
voltaire, the cynical philosopher, skep-
tical and bitter above all things on the
subject Of woman; voltaire whose innu-
merable love affairs, whose life under ille-
of international scandal and amusement;
Voltaire, the satirist, whose biting pen
considered null the sacredness of any sub
ject under the sun, including religion;
Voltaire, the buffoon, the mischievous in
stigator Of intrigue at court-such a char
acter to be chosen as the subject of play
by two normal. healthy, simple and clean
minded American girls!
No wonder the interest of the public
was aroused. And when on the first night
of the performance there assembled at
the fashionable theater a strange group
of people, notably what was perhaps the
most intellectual audience of the year,
and when this audience, after witnessing a
logical skillful portrait of Voltaire,
called enthusiastically for the authors,
and two shy and young girls stepped be-
fore the curtain and smiiingly acknowl-
edged the applause the amazement of the
SPECTATORS knew no bounds.
by what process of mental development
did these two girls arrive at SO great a
distance from Ann Matthews? Even as the
critics applauded, even as the hardened
first night theatergoers sat up and mar
yeled, they wondered at the reason and
their surprise deepened into almost awe.
The two young ladies themselves ex-
plain the reason tersely: to amuse the
tired business man! And when one stops
to remember that twenty-five years ago
the tired business man was a parsonage
absolutely unknown to the young women
Of, the country the contrast in the devel-
opment Of the female element is quite re-
markable.
The story of these two young college
girls. Leila Taylor and Gertrude Purcell,
The New York herald., 1922-04-02
THE NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY APRIL 2 1922
YoungLadiesonoeEavored
Romeo, Now IL; * VOltai1e

both unique again for the fact that they
were born in the city of New York and
have always lived there, has become by
now a matter of wide interest and dis
cussion The story Of their writing the
play, the choice Of their subject, the press
notices telling OF the fashionable and Sc
lect audience who witnessed the premiere
performance with delight, all of this is
known to the reader, and yet great deal
is still unknown.
The romantic figure of Voltaire is one of
the legends of the world OF literature
His biting pen has left an indelible i'm
print on the pages Of the history of France.
His philosophy, his wit, his love OF in
trigue, his escapades at the court OF Du
Barry, have made him a figure OF many
sides and roles but never before has he
been considered as subject of entertain
ment to the tired business man of America.
And yet the wisdom of youth may rival
that of age The two young writer's feel
that the accepted tradition of furnishing
pretty girls, low comedians and tuneful
scores as the sole means of relaxation for
the men who grind all day in an office to
be mere fictive taradiddle Why shouldn't
g man, they ask, credited with being one
OF the leading humorists the world has
ever known, and acknowledged to be one
of the ten greatest French classical writ
ers, provide amusement to the men of the
present generation? Why shouldn't his
witticisms delight them? Why should the
countless plots, the daily intrigues of
philosopher of the seventeenth century fail
to interest a twentieth century spectator?
The figure of voltaire has always been
one of great interest to the youngest of
. the two writers-Miss Taylor. She had
Of course read his books, and the stories
of his life at college. and to her he seemed
a delightful combination of Sin, Satan and
George Bernard Shaw.
Somewhat unlike the girl of twenty-five
years ago who dreamed over her bit OF
silken embroidery, Miss Taylor determined
that some day, when the right oppor-
tunity presented itself, she would write a
play about this romantic figure.
One afternoon, late in November. she
was walking along the forsaken pathway
OF Riverside Drive chatting with her best
girl friend. The two girls, just out OF col
lege. we're discussing the failure of their
previous attempts at writing. Practically
everything they had created had been
promptly returned, and although they we're
just as ambitious as ever success seemed
very far off indeed. Each one acknowl-
edged herself failure, and decided that
as playwrights they might as we'll become
fairly capable shop girls.
Leila" said Gertrude, do you think
we might have better chance If we wrote
a play together on Voltaire?"
''What?" asked the other with wide eyed
amazement.
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

the comic weekly in Petrograd, Nouy
Sotirikon This journal resembled the
German and the French organs of pic
torial satire more than our own.
Late in 1918 Nouy Sdtirikon and it's
bold young editor fell afoul Of the in
creasingly rigorous Bolshevik censorship
and the paper was suppressed along with
all other private enterprises in the field
of publication. Remisoff remained in
Petrograd, however and turned his hand
to the designing Of scenery for private
theatrical performances In various homes
and for various organizations. He had
done occasional work for the Liteiny and
the Troitzky Theaters and for the droll
experimental and radical theater OF
Nilxolai Yevreynoff, proponent OF Mono
drama, which was called Krivoye zerkalo
or The Crooked Looking Glass. After the
suppression of Novy Sdtirikon, he was
connected with a semi-private theater
called The Peacock's Tale. Life in the
Tsars old capital became too difficult
however. and in 1920 he fled to Paris.
And II was thus that Balieff discovered
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

numbers out of the original repertory and
for the new ones which Balieff added
from time to time as he discovered the
tastes OF his new audiences. And the re-
suit has been scenic and costume back
ground for the Chauve-Souris even more
colorful and gay than that which 1t had
In its Moscow celarette.
or these two head designers Of Balieff,
Remisoff has already become the better
known during the visit OF the Chauve-
Souris. His work, by the chance group
ing of the first program, is the more
prominent. And then, too. he has come
in person with Balieff's band.
A tall blond Russian is this M. Remisoff,
taller than any OF his famous compatriots
who have visited us. though not so blond
as the composer pianist, Prokofieff. I'm
like most Russians who look within them
selves rather than without, Remisoff's eye
is singularly penetrating.
Nicolas Remisoff was born in Petrograd
in 1887. His father was we'll known
actor at the state-endowed theater, the
Alexandrinsky. His mother also was on
The New York herald., 1922-04-02
How he"RussianV Vogue" Came 4oAmerica

him and drafted him into the service OF
the Chauve-Souris when The Bat Theater
of Moscow was recreated at the Theater
Femina in December of the same year.
Remisoff has caught on" with amazing
rapidity in New York. His work for the
Chauve-Souris, especially his designs for
The Parade OF the Wooden Soldiers, for
The Death of Horse, for the gypsy num-
Der and for Chastoushki, were singled out
at once for praise.
But much as Nicolas Remisoff Is In evil
dence during the American engagement Of
the Chauve-Souris, his able partner Of
Paris days has not been forgotten by
Balieff's patrons II only for his gay and
brilliant setting for the old Russian polka,
"Katinka," done in the style OF the toy
wooden music boxes made by Russian
peasants, Sergei Soudeikine would be re-
membered by every one who goes to the
Forty-ninth Street Theater.
Soudeikine came to Balieffs aid with a
larger fund OF practical experience as a
designer in the theater than Remisoff. He
is widely and most favorably known as
one of the leaders Of Russia's artistic
younger generation and has frequently ex-
hibited both in his native Petrograd and
in Moscow, while he is a founder Of one
of the most important exhibiting groups
Mir Iskusstva, or The World OF Art. to
which Remisoff also belongs.
No survey of the art and artists Of the
Chauve-Souris is quite complete without
mention of Philip Malyavin, another
leader OF the younger generation. II is
this artists famous painting Of Russian
Babi or peasant women, adorned in their
vividly colored costumes, which is en-
titled The Whirlwind" and which has
hung in the Tretyakovslxy Gallery in Mos
COW ever since its completion in 1906, that
Balieff has chosen as inspiration for one
of the most celebrated numbers of the
Chauve-Souris, to be disclosed in all prob
ability when the second bill is brought
forward. AS a replica of this painting.
group Of peasant women comes upon the
stage and sings the folk songs OF the
rivers and the steppes, gay and rollicking
lyrics in keeping with the brilliant colors
of the clothes they wear.
No one need fear that the art OF the
Chauve-Souris will be incomprehensibly
modern to those who spend two hours In
its pleasant company,
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

There is no doubt there is such a
thing as "the Russian vogue" in
America just now. Why. none can
teH-or dares to venture an opinion,
since no two students of Russia seI-
dom agree upon an explanation; the
subject is too vast in all its phases
even in it's history. But Russia IS
ever present indeed among us. Rus
sian nobIemen and women, some
silent and isolated, some more or less
in the public eye; Russian agents, pro
and CON on the political situation
all abound.
And then came the Chauve-Souris.
Surely the fame of the Chauve-
Souris has reached the innermost re-
cesses of the land! Just group of
vaudeviIIians-but Russian vaude-
Williams and, therefore, masters of ex-
quisite artistry. Perhaps Mr.. Sayier,
one of the most interesting of Rus
sian writer's with the American view
point, helps to explain something of
that indefnabIe spirit and appeal
which surrounds all things Russian
with an atmosphere"
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

thoresses would have chosen for their
first play.
Twenty-Five years ago the young miss
of her day was sent to school-in nearly
every instance a school under the direc-
tion of impoverished gentlewomen. Often
even this was considered as too radical
and the young ladies of the family were
instructed in the gentle arts becoming the
education of lady at home. They were
taught the culture of fancy needlework;
they were instructed in the delicate art
of the pianoforte. and also that Of dancing
Almost unnecessary, and In many cases
considered plebeian, was considered the
elementary education consisting of read
ing and writing. French and other foreign
languages were among the desired accom-
plishments, and young lady was consid-
cred unusually perfected in her education
were she capable of playing one or two
airs on the piano, speaking smattering Of
French or Italian, completing the task Of
making linen motto to be framed and
hung in the parlor and dancing a few
steps then fashionable.
she was finished and cultured, and i'm
mediately proceeded to enter her draw
ing room and to sit there awaiting the cer-
tain arrival of Prince Charming who
would soon appear to carry her of in
marriage.
Literature was an unknown world The
few books which she was allowed to read
were of the most innocent nature, and
thoroughly approved of not only by her
parents but also by the rector of her
church.
Above all, literary character like Vol
taire was not to be mentioned in the pres
ence OF the young lady. The greatness Of
his works meant nothing in comparison to
the fact that his morals were matter OF
more or less Indifferent nature. Perhaps
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

nom de plume "Lucienns Rouget~ -
created 1t was particularly suitAhas In
view Of the fact that it was French. and
therefore natural name for the author ef
Voltaire. Then the two writer's began TO
think of the consequences II by any miracle
the play should be accepted. What would
they do?
Necessity being the mothar Of invention,
"Lucienne" became young French officer,
wounded and poor, who had written the
play while in the hospital, more az mat
ter of amusement than anything else.
Furthermore, 1t was decided that he must
be quite seriously wounded, because IL the
author should be called upon to sign con-
tracts and things he could be quite easily
killed OF and they could step In as his
heirs and assigns. To, avoid scandal, the
two girls had nursed him during the war
over in Europe, and deep gratitude had
resulted in Lucienne for their aid.
However, whep the authors were in
formed that the play had really been ac-
cepted, and that should they stick to their
romance OF Lucienne, 1t might cause some
delay in settling the contracts. he was re.
gretfully disposed Of, for the two girls
had grown to be quite fond of him.
Ann Matthews startled a conservative
world with her play of the innocent,
naughty pranks of the boarding school
girl She was talked about; whispers OF
dsparagement circulated among the dis
approving world OF twenty-five years ago.
Gertrude Purcell and Leila Taylor have
gone many steps further in their produc-
tion OF voltaire, but to the world to-day
the unoanny skill of these two college
girls is matter of commendable amaze
ment, and the discussion and talk con-
cerning their play is almost entirely
praiseworthy and full OF admiration.
The New York herald., 1922-04-02
rateur.

and / though that since he seems to have
escaped the clutches of the other authors
SO far it might as well be u.s. What do
you think? He was a great humorist,
you know, and a perfectly fascinating
character Shall we look him up?"
Within the short space of six weeks they
had completed the play. This in face OF
the statement made by Augustus Thomas,
dean OF the American playwrights, that it
requires ten years at least to write play
Each one of the girls wrote exactly one
and one-half acts. and Joining up in the
center of the play with single line With
just pride, they defy any one who sees the
play to tell which one wrote the act. and
where the dialogue joins.
The technic was one OF the points of
discussion on the opening night among the
fashionable audience. That these two
girls, totally unskilled in the art of play
writing. should produce so smoothly con.
structed piece of work aroused the sin
cere admiration OF every one present The
dialogue was so perfect that only five
words in the entire play we're changed:
this in itself an almost unheard of event
in the theater of to-day when every play is
not only conceived by expert writer's but
rehashed and doctored by number Of
other equally skillful men.
Behind the fairy tale of the production
lies little romance which not only serves
to increase the interest about the authors,
but also offers a distinct contrast to the
sophistication of their mentality as re-
vealed in their choice Of subject.
When they first finished the writing of
their play they decided that no manager
would ever read the manuscript under their
own names-entirely unknown and in adj
dition bearing the curse of femininity-
particularly since the subject was Votaire.
So they decided to have a pen name, and
after considerable argument the joint
The New York herald., 1922-04-02
By OLIVER M. SAYLER.

ss.,. s.', g ',ssse' 1%s'sa hts .sa, aa,''s,
February under the adventuring
direction of Morris Gest the first wave of
enthusiasm for this strange new form Of
dramatic entertainment spent itself in
curiosity concerning the comic and pudgy
proprietor Of this unusual company.
Balieff himself, the moonfaced host
and interlocutor Of this droll Russian
band was the subject OF criticism and
Characterization and interview. His role
as barker and stage autocrat was dis
sected and analyzed. His murderous at
tacks on the English language were re-
corded as highly amusing anecdotes. His
views on the vagaries Of the contempo-
rary American scene were sought out and
spread broadcast.
Now, however in the first sobriety fol-
lowing a generous welcome, Balien's
American audience is beginning to inquire
more deeply into the allurements Of the
Chauve-Souris. to investigate the sources
of It's satisfactions. That audience,
Balieff has admitted, is the most alert
and eager Of any he has encountered since
his flight from Moscow. II enters more
readily than the English or even the
The New York herald., 1922-04-02

and the arts ever since 1t was founded
as an offshoot OF the Moscow Art The
ater nearly decade and a half ago.
And yet 1t has never been pretentiously
or affectedly artistic" The genuine
ness of its artistic qualNies-not only
as an expression of the art of the
theater in general but also of the COM
ponent arts OF design. music and the dance
has been due to the fact that 1t was
born as a private circle or club of the
players and artists of the Moscow theaters.
These people simply got together in a
cozy cellar after their nights work was
over and entertained each other. The pub
lie clamored so insistently for admission
to this guarded circle, however, that its
host and chief entertainer, Nikita Balieff,
made a regular theater out OF 1t to which
admissions could be purchased, at least
by those who stood at the head Of the long
line at the box Office. BY the sheer force OF
his personality, though, Balieff didn't per-
NIT his theater to relax in its standards,
and the early impulses are still preserved