Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-16

became inapropos. Aladdin and the
wonderful lamp whispered. for we
had come out of the peelinS paint and
smelly halls into an enchanting room.
Why should | catalogue it? re-
member only that there were books to
the ceiling on all sides. the soft lamp
light furnishing up the gold letters
on their backs and blending cloth and
velum and old leather into more
charming blur of cOlors than any
tapestry could have been; that a huge
oakcn table was strewn with more
books and litter OF lovely things
porcciains ana brOnZcs and little fig
urcs of ceramic or ivory: that a silky.
dcep-colored rug covered a wide, very
low divan, and that a, broad writ
ing table covered with tapestry and
set out with cognac glasses sat a pink
bland-faccd man. who got up Il little
tentatively as we entered.
Short and Thick Set.
So this was Molnar. At that time
hadn't read the description OF him
with which Benjamin Chaser. his
| Translator. prefaccs the English edi-
ton of "Liliom" and he wasn't in
the least what l had expected. We
make the broadcast deductions from
| the smallest evidcnce-and from no
| evidence at all. l was looking for
lank. notwithstanding person. with
! lock of black hair hanging in his
eyes. and untidy clothes. Molnar is
short and thick set: compact, as II
| his body had been pushed together
| He has a fattish. smooth face. and
| the evenly gravcd hair and snub
| nose give it blonde and babyish
| look. in spite OF the black eyes under
heavy brows. He wells their express
sion in a CLASSY monacle. For the
| rest noticed that he was i'm
| pcccably drcSsed--thcre was even the
! hint of the dandy. Somehow the en-
| chanting room in the dirty house
made me think Of "I.iliom" itself
lyric beauty spun from sordid mate
rial. | Grinncd to catch myself re-
| pcatinE fatuously-not out loud, OF
| coursc--''in the mud and scum Of
things. always. always something
| sings
| liked Molnar. 7 liked him be-
cause behind that impassivc count
cnance caught Immediately n
| twinkle of humor. Il CLEAN OF curios-
| iiy, and because ! felt instinctivcly
| that Tor all his suavity and even.
| perhaps. vanity he was tentative
soul. not at all sure Of himself Not
that analysed him. in that moment.
only ] felt that we should talk to-
gether pleasantly-about Molnar.
And so | asked right off. why do
YOU stay in Budapest? Docs il give
you all you want from lifc?"
was thinking at the moment of
Melchior Lengucl. another Hum
garian playwright, the author of
THE Typhoon.' who may be found
anywhere except in his native city
of Budapest. Molnar smiled-appre-
ciatively I thought-glad that we
weren't observing the formalities
which usually prohibit the asking of
leading personal questions upon in
PRODUCTION. Molnar said quietly. BE
cause | love Budapest. and ask very
little OF life. What like is a small
fiat, a little tavern. a good pen, a
nice stove. good black coffee and a
strong cognac. II good light lamp
and the stiffness Of the night. And
| like to direct the rchcarsals of my
plays. The last like best of all.
Yes. of coursc-sometimcs l think
| should like to go to America, where
You tell me that people like my plays
But hate travel. One sees so much
and one sees nothing. Also hate
being uncomfortable. That most
amiablc of Americans. Mr.. Morris
Guest. once asked me to go Ia
America. When must he ready?
j asked. In two days he replied
For such a, trip I should get ready In
1.-TWO days? In two months, perhapsi