Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-07

II was an atrocious Aim. In which
the novel OF q great French master had
been butchered beyond recognition. The
intent OF the story was hopelessly lost,
while the heroine--or chief female char
aeter perhaps--no more resembled the
girl In the book than q rabbit.
Yet we came ont of that theater
with the superiority OF the printed word
to the impressions produced by shadows
on an illuminated screen.
Even had the polarization been ade-
duate. it could not have had the life
like quality of the book the keen inter-
est produced In an active mind by the
reading Of q story Of q master novelist.
A book has an advantage which no
film can have, and that is TO make the
mind work. When one Is reading his
brain Is active. whereas the eater OF
emotions through the eyes merely sits
and stares.
This requirement which a book makes
OF reader Ia the fundamental differ
ence between a novel and a dramAtiza-
ton. 1t may be questioned whether a
legitimate drama on the boards IL much
different from a motion picture, but
that Ia not the question under discus
sion here and now.
The present idea is TO point out the
it Is always so. and must remain so In
the very nature OF things. This Is q
large world, with something in It to
suit every one. Let no Aim addict think
we are attacking a favorite indoor sport.
We are upholding our own. that is
all Book-lovers feel this supremacy.
but not always do they realize lust what
II Is which makes their own preference
20 much worth while. 1t Ia only now
and then when they see a good book
mangled 70 make a Aim that the thing
comes home to them.
Often the book lover feels that II pro-
ducers did not 60 to such evident
lengths 10 change the novel around So
the resulting Aim would he different.
Often u seems as II directors and others
take keen delight in distorting an au-
thor's atory. The exieercies Of Aim
work make II necessary. II Is said, to
twist and turn the plot until even the
author would not recognize it,
Sometimes sheer perversitv seems IN
have dictated the production cf the
scenario from which the several thou
sand feet Of Aim has heen made. else
how can ore explain the telescoping Of
two or three characters to one. the ab-
solute AND unnecessary change made In
the ending. the inclusion Of scenes not
In the novel;
These are matters which every reader
resents. because ne has been brought up
with a reverence for great writers. Their
hooks are jewels Of the mind. Once
created. they stand Arm for all time.
Ever an "expurgated" edition strikes
them as literary sacrilege.
And uhat shall they say now to the
irreverent nend. with his rap turned
backward. who dares 70 rutilats the
work Of the nnaster2 Surely there Is
only one thing they zen say. and that
g that he is all wrong. He NAV know
his public but the book lcver knows
his author. He knows that no sum in
the cash register can mitigate the Of
Tense. II stinks before high heaven.
The reader of books after seeing his
fevcrite butchered to make an Aneri-
can holiday, returns 70 the library with
greater appreciation than aver OF his
beloved volumes He knows that they
hold something which few Aims get
ana that La a grand effect which comes
not only through the hcw Of emotion.
but also because he. the yeader. !. made
TO do something, TOO.
n is a curious commentary on human
nature that only IN so far as one enters
into a thing himself and does some
actual work does matter take on real
itv. become interesting. amusing and
full Of honest value. The average 'cor,-