New-York tribune., 1922-02-27
Books y.... 4s..,...s 4s

Among other good times taat Charley
Chaplin had vtile on mis- outing IN for
eign parts were those n which no e.as
able % dor Tic "prop" smile OF has
comie rouevn aad TO don the real ono
of his intellectually and illumination.
In Ny Tip Abroad ne writes appeal
iugIs Of hisemotiona uhcu. for instance.
at evening fail, Edward Knoblock, the
dramatst. took him back OF The Stran !
Theater in London and spoke 20 him
there Of English history "These
houses writes Mr.. Chaplin. were the
homes of private people durng the
rcign of King Charles and even farther
back They abound in secret passages
leading to the royal palace. History 5
written on every stone; not the history
of the battlefield that is LAID bare for
the historian, but that more intimate
history, that OF the drawing room,
where, after all, the real ashes Of en-
piro are sifted'
Mr.. Chaplin and Mr. Knoblock were
en- route to visit George Bernard Shaw
in Adelpha Terrace, and Mr Chaplin
found the terrace lovely place at $50
p. M, when London. with It's soft light,
s at its best. u can quite understand
Why Whistler was so crazy about i, :.
says Mr. Chaplin. "Perhaps there are
those who complain that it is poorly
lighted and who would install many
modern torches Of electricity to remedy
the defect, but give me London as it is.
"Do not he adds, paint the lily"
The visit to Mr. Shaw was not ac-
complshed, Mr.. Chaplin having be
come embarrassed and shy" he says,
just as Mr.. knoblock was about to lift
the Shaw door knocker But he went
sightseeing with Thomas Burke in
Limehousc, and he discussed Peter
Pan" as film drama with Barrie. who
wishes him to act it. Sir James. it
seems, did not like Mr.. Chaplin *
famous picture, "The Kid" and crit
cized it severely as having too much
mother in it. 1T was sweet of him y
says Mr.. Chaplin. Gerald du Maurier,
Bruce Bairnsfuther. Philip Sassoon. the
threnodist; (. V. Lucas. Dudley Field
Malone, Waldo Frank and II. G. Wells
were other "immortals,' as he calls
them, with whom Mr.. Chaplin engaged
in conversation, particularly Mr. Wells,
Iur !, ,ir
Chaplin was a bit fearful of meeting
MIR. Wells until he received this note
from him:
"Do come over I've just discovered
that you are in town Do you want TO
meet Shaw? He is really very charm
ing out Of the imelight. suppose you
are overwhelmed with invitations, but
it there is a chance to get hold of YOU
for talk I will be charmed. How
about a week end with me at Easton.
free from publicity and with harmless
human people? No phones in the
house,
They talked Of Russia. disarmament.
socialism, education and Of bull
fighting, to which Mr. Wells objected
because it is "too cruel on the horses. y
At midnight they went out on a bal
cony, just off Mr.. Wells's library, and
in the light of full moon got eor-
geous view of London.
"The indecent moon!" Mr.. Chaplin
exclaimed.
Mr. Wells picked him up. That's
good he said "The indecent moon,,
Where did you get that? ?" And Charlie
had to admit that it wasn't his-that
he had heard Knoblock use it.
X = =;
The effect of MIR. Chaplin's associa-
ton with thoughtful folk in London
renamed with him after he had
reached the gaycr capitals. lie had