The New York herald., 1922-05-08

quire only some favoring impulses to
bring this tendency to full fruition.
Merely to round out the idea. let me
call attention also to the truly notable
achievements of our novelists. our play
wrights. our poets and our actors. all
handicapped more or less by lack Of
competent. systematic, comprehensive
and easily accessible training and guild
ance In their earlioryears.
America Is much misunderstood and
consequently maligned. To use graphic
French expression, its foibes, its i'm
perfections. Jump at the eye.' It's really
controlling qualities-and they are beau
tiful and lofty and full of promise-lie
deep and are not apparent to the casual
beholder.
Moreover. the world is reluctant to
reconsider opinions once formed about
us. such as that we seek only the al
mighty dollar. But our faults. however
grievous, are the faults of youth, cura-
BILE and In process of being cured, and
our virtues are positive. cumulative and
progressive. I have an abiding faith
that the people know a good thing when
they see It, and am convinced that this
perceptiveness is strengthening the
country over.
ut is constant source OF wonder
ment to me how the people are msun-
derstood and underestimated by most OF
those who seek their votes or patronage.
Just as the average politician thinks
that the people want to be coddled and
flattered and soft soaped,' when expert
ence has shown that the royal road to
popular success is to show courage and
independence and to stand up. man
fashion, for ones convictions, so the
average theatrical manager thinks that
he must play down to an assumed lever
of shallowness, when experience has
shown that the greatest probability OF
scoring hit Is in aiming high.
For the sTfrcd Business Man,
~ have never believed in the necessity
or advantage of gauging theatrical Of
ferings according TO the alleged stand
ards or requirements of the tired busi-
ness man. or. for that matter, woman
| (for women are usually just as busy. and
just as tired after the days work as
are the men, only as rule they carry
their tiredness off better and make less
fuss about it). Silly, inane shows arc
no antidote to that tired feeling
What both mon and women, tired or
| idle. do want is to be genuinely moved
and stirred. either to laughter or tears
or stimulated 70 new thought; In short
| to be lifted out of the rut and routine
Of their daily lives and mental atmos-
phere. The conditions of existence OF
the great ma jority OF the people are. un-
| fortunately, hard and wearing. but in art
we have the spiritual means at hand to
make them less SO.
"And the people are ready to welcome
art. They are hungry for nourishment
for their souls, eager for outlets for their
emotions. The poor man in a crowded
tenement who feels moved and stirred
by fine book will be far richer than
the man sitting in dullness in gorgeous
library, and he who pays 25 cents for a
seat at a popular concert will be richer
too, than the man or woman from F'iftl
avenue yawning in a box at the Met
ropolitan Opera House. Wealth Ia not
all matter of dollars and cents.
Real Education I'm Art.
1T Is very far from being appreciated
| by our wealthy men that art can be
as educational as universities. that ii
can be made a strong element for civic
betterment. that 1t has power OF ex-
horting and stimulating and revealing
of soothing and healing. The oppor-
tunity is boundless and the need Is
very great for men who will put some
of their wealth. their time and their
ability in the service of this cause
Maecenases are needed for the dramatic
| stage. the operate stage. the concert
stage; for conservatories and art acad-
cmies; for the encouragement and sup
port of American writer's, painters
sculptors and decorators.
'The mere ownership OF wealth nc
longer confers honor. Contrary to ira
ditional opinion, l believe that money
| counts for rather more In Europe ir
the way of comforting power and dis
| tinction than II does here. The rich
man In the United States who aspires
to honor and influence must prove his
| title to them apart from his wealth.
IF he has aspirations apart from
mere monetary success he must gair
his spurs in service to the community
| and the great and promising field oi
art still awaits the adequate attention
of men of wealth. Money cannot Great,
art but IL rightly used it can be 1t,
helpmate and should be.
''The late Booker r. Washington tolc
a story of colorcd woman, who re.
piled. when asked where she was 60
ing. Use goin' nowhere. Mr.. Washing
| ton. Use been where / am goin''
This country hasn't been where a
| Is going. There Is a vast stirring ane
moving going on in the land. II /.
a movement full of promise: a nlenac,
only II ignored. repressed or selfishl,
led. Most of It will find expression il
politics. Some of 1t will find expression
in art for we have reached n stag,
after more than century's stupendou.
effort and Observation-Disclosures to,
rapid-economic advance where w,
must occupy ourselves increasinel,
with questions affecting the mental
moral and physical well being anc
progress OF the race"