Evening star., 1925-02-08

Miss Anderson-PIease do not
shoot. Think of my feelings in the
matter.
Blinn-I insist on turning loose
the firing squad. Art consistency
demands it.
Miss sAnderson-Think of the feel
ings OF all our mutual acquaintance.
Blinn-I still decline to think.
William Norris (who has been
lurking behind a gate post to con-
ceal his struggle with part very
inferior to his abilities s)-Listen to
the plea of sage experience. II you
will not consider the feelings of any
of us up here think OF the feelings
of those out IN the auditorium who
are going to pay for the privilege of
viewing this magnificent creation OF
romance! Think, oh, think. of the
feelings of yonder audience!
Blinn Intensely moved)-You are
right. We must be merciful and
preserve the happiness of a good
audience even at the sacrifice of my
reputation as a bad man!
(Wedding bells sound amid the
clink of champagne glasses as the
man, who struggles alone in silence
while everybody else is hilariously
happy)
This uncompromising demand on
the part of the public for an agree
able elimination of dramatic Incl
dents is not properly to be consid-
cred a reflection on taste so much
as it is a demonstra alton of that un
compromising optimism which keeps
the world moving. The realistic
play may be helpful as a diagnostic
reminder of deplorable circum-
stances and agonies of soul. Knowl-
edge of these things may be neces-
sary as a foundation for the pursuit
of greater idealism; but only the poet
of supreme eminence can express
them in way to earn welcome for
long, intimate thought.
Belasco is strangely modest
man, in spite of the supremacy he
holds in the attention of the play
going world. He is entitled to wear
the ribbon of the Legion of Honor,
but in New York some derisive ref
erences were made to the decora
ton and he removed it from his coat
lapel. 1t was still absent when he
appeared in Washington, city
where, more than any other, he
should have worn it, as its signif-
canoe is respected in diplomatic and
official circles, and where many ad-
mirers might be moved to wonder
| whether he was at heart Indifferent
to the distinction. AS matter of
fact, his face lights with one of
those rare smiles of his, rare pos
| sibly because of his long patience
as teacher and his unrelaxing vigi-
lance as disciplinarian-as he refers
to this unique recognition of Amer
| lean greatness in an art upon which
Europe particularly prides herself.
Belasco was once an actor. He
| even played Uncle Tom, and the ac-
tors love of applause is still strong
| in him. He has the sportsman in
stinct, too, and backs a production
| with all his fortune as well as with
all his brains. Experience has en-
abled him to be calm under attack
and to await the eventuality which
| compels either extinction or ap-
plause when the public has rendered
| a final and uncompromising verdict.
| X x x
His two previous plays, which
were the outstanding points of in
terest of the season in this city. are
acclaimed by two opposite types of
opinion. "The Harem" is lauded by
| those who affect gay, immoral
cynicism, while "The Ladies" (won-
der of wondersD brings him show
ers of commenting letters from peo-
pie interested theologically and So
ciologically in assisting the restora-
ton Of those types of humanity that
have become soul shattered, almost
beyond recognition. In all the fer
rago that has been hurled about him
in the wild rush to push a popular
figure from its pedestal of theatric
eminence-a pedestal for most men
| fragile at best-he has uttered no
word of spiteful retaliation. 1t was
! once remarked that Belasco is .