Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-10

is interesting even though his cigar
smoking friend is very likely himself
or. shall say, his other self. ~ can't
help feeling that Tom himself is in the
main the sophisticated friend and
that the mid Victorian Tom was in
truded to arouse discussions in your
very interesting column on the subject
Of morals or Puritanism in art. 1t
seems to be one important topic of our
modern literature and art ESQ often re-
hashed BY our critics., which has not
received much open discussion by your
fans. True. I have sensed the topic
| in many of the letters. but 1t has kept
In the dim background. often crouched
ready to spring forth into the open upon
provocation.
1T all resolves itself down to this !:
Movies is an art. or makes an at
tempt to be, just as drama is. Art.
as I see 1t, mirrors life. 1t matters
not whether It presents harsh realities,
as does Main Street and Dreiser's
povels, or the 'mud-rubbing' heart ap-
pcals Of the wonderful novels of Dos
toievsky or simply beauty itself. as the
poems of Keats, Shelley, Poe and Oscar
Wilde. 1t need have no aim. no les
son to teach it is in itself an objective.
Its successful achievement depends upon
how we'll mans sorrow and JOY has
been sung either in music or paint
ing, or words or sculptoring, or acting.
or in time to come land when we learn
TO know 1t, for We must be trained to
appreciate our arts) the color organ,
recently exhibited in the city.
The greatest works teach no lesson
of morals. Morals themselves constantly
change. What is perfectly right today
was wrong yesterday. What lessons do
we learn from Hamlet certainly a
recognized masterpiece of art! What
difference can it make what the private
lives of the actors playing Hamlet ar"
or have been? If the excellence of their
art is sufficient for the moment, they
transport us away from the thoughts
Of their lives to the picture they are
painting for us. Do the love affairs OF
Wagner. selfish as they doubtlessly
were, make his music less lovely!
Il could write page after page upon
this interesting subject. but my letter
| has TO come to q close. We are in
terested in the lives of our artists land
an actor is an artist. because it helps
! us to understand our artists and there
! fore their art. Their indiscretions should
not prejudice us.
Your objections to Won Stroheim, a.
l understand them. are not that he
paints immoral pictures as an artist
| but rather he exploits in business
way a phase of life which has an appea
! lin n dangerous way fos society fol
the average man, who cannot see be.
yond il.
This is my first contribution to your
letterbox. II is one of the finest OF il,
kind ! have ever seen. II would. in.
deed. be a pity If it dcgenerates into i
question and answer box
Your letter is one of the kind that
needs no comment, and | am sure vou
expected none. Come again and often
COrinne writes: "Dick Barthelm"sS
can you give me his history: That
is. age, address. etc. ! am one of hi,
good Gin plain English. What think
you? | read your column daily but
rarely find mention of his name. Is he
married? Just as a matter of curiosity
you know, etc. He is the only one of
the male screen stars that I've takcr
fancy to. and I've seen so many
pictures. Saw him not long ago il
Way Down East and was thrilleC
by his acting. And aren't the Gish sis
ters clever when it comes to emotiona
acting? BY the way, IS Way Dowr
East novel? If so, by whom writ
ten. Want TO know just TO settle al
argument. Hope I'm right.
What is Helene Chadwick don.
now? Do you like her? If so, sam,
here. And where on earth is Alice
Brady? | don't know where to look fol
her. And how about our fappered roll
Gladys Walton? Isn't she clever? Ant
cute?'
dick Barthelmess was born in New
later at Trinity College, Hartford. AM
in Herbert Brenon's production o
War Brides" Also played in "Bab'
Diary" "Bab's Burglar '"The Sever
Swans" Rich Man, Poor Man
"Three Men and Girl" "Nearl
Married" "The Hope Chest,
Boots" Broken Blossoms" Scar
let Days" Girl Who STAYED "A
, Home" "The Idol Dancer" THE I.ov
! Flower" Way Down East" "Pep
!. py Polly" "I'll Get Hin Yet" "Ex
perience, ''Tol'able David" 9TH
I Seventh Day" and Sonny" He /
married to pretty Mary Hay.
Now. was just getting ready t
agree with you wholeheartedly whe
you spoiled it all do like Dick i'm
mense'y, but the ladies you mention a
being c'ever In emotional action--well
I'd rather not say. Way Dow
East" was taken from play. not
novel. The author was I.ottie Blai
Parker. Helen Chadwick ia nppearin
in Goldwyn Pictures right along. Alic