Evening star., 1924-10-26

nonsense rhyme TO Spot of Blood
story, took a hand III the delicate
enterprise of creating a work OF
ethereal fantasy. 1t proved only one
OF those glum, unfunny enterprises
which New York inflicts OH the
provinces but spares itself.
:: :: = ::
Nonsense rhymes are always ap-
preciated. The American style OF
them is direct and characteristic.
We have not the courage to exalt
our peasant ilnaginations, as do the
poets and dramatists OF all other
countries. We are too busy with
bigger things, such as Edison's cleo
trio lights and Ford's flivvers and
Langleys' airplancs.
X x 4 =:
Under the nom de plume Max
Aulcr appeared a series OF satires
on epitaph poetry, of which the fol-
lowing is characteristic:
The death angel smote Alexander
And gave him protracted repose;
He wore a check shirt and a number
nine shoe
And had a pink wart on his nose.
1t has lusty fling. and quite con-
ceals the fact that its author was a
man of scholarly attainments. The
American nonsense rhyme is little
too genuine to be accorded respect
full place in the anthologies. No
Europe cultured musician would set
it to a tune. The temperament of
our own country will not assert it
self ir due influence until we laugh
as courageously and confidently as
we fight.
The Chariot Revue slips back to
the hu1nor of Gilbertian moods-but
in a manner most dif1dent and in
ferential. Its charm in chief rests
on a series of satires; the subjects
of the satircs are by no means so
significant in affairs as those of the
English operettas. Incidents OF
everyday life are treated with
whimsical pleasantly, and the audi
ence is permitted to laugh with
whole hearted enthusiasm, free from
fear that it will have to apologize
to itself next morning.
< x
Every now and then some ex-
traordinary figure of comedy springs
suddenly and overwhelmingly into
American attention, like Harry Lau-
der or Charlie Chaplin. Beatrice
Lille is another such irresistible
revelation.
While the Zukorites have been
marching through the Red Sea, pur-
sued by Pharaoh's hosts, at the Ma
! tional Theater, in the motion picture
financed by the Cecil De Millions, a
good many shows that might have
entertained Washington have been
detouring by way of Baltimore. The
Ziegfeldian drama has been almost
tearfully responsive to the Baltimore
tribute. Zicgfeld is entitled tc
congratulations. His most formid.
able competitor was. Earl Carol
who is now in jail. Dramatic art ex.
perts and the police have been con.
ferring in this city with a view te
purifying the footlights. In the
HlcdHtlIlic NCW OEk jugs IlC gen
tlemanly agent SO active here ii
organizing physical display talent
for the Peggy Hopkins show. Il
looks as if we had neglected an op.
| portunity to show our strict mora
standards and allowed New York te
| grab the white robe and the hale
from under our very noses.
The finn entitled "The Ten Com
mandments" is a cusiosity; wilc
exhibition of the effrontery which
ningles the vapid exhalations of !;
Hollywood hack with the most seri
GUS and sacred themes. The part!
| of the picture which relate to tn,
Bible itself have elements of majesti,
beauty, and for the sake of thi
beauty the ragtime effort to draw /;
modern moral must be tolerated.
X X
J In the adjustment to new condi