The Washington times., 1932-03-24
The Real Issue
Tho doop dixyi

The deep division between them
this The legislator thinks of the heater as business
in which the public has rights the critics think of
the theater public enterprise which happens to be
connected with art DR.. Sirovich sees in a play the
equivalent of can of beans; he is often right The
critics think of it something closer to medicine which
should not be aduterated He feels for the producer
who has invested fifty thousand dollars; they
think of the public, who may invest three dollars per
person until the sum reaches hundred thousand and
may get second-rate goods for their money.
Critics Know Law
The critics. who ought to know something about law
aware of the restraints placed on adulterers of
food and drugs the Congressman, who ought to know
all about it, doesn't to know that enterprises dam
gerous to the public continually checked by the Gov
ernment He who he is defending the theater has
small conception of its Importance they who are sup
posed to be running the theater to think it i'm
portant enough to be made great and noble.
Big Coffee Show
Several weeks before DR.. Sirovch drew the theater
from the bankruptcy notices onto the first page of the
newspapers noted the apparent absurdiy of submitting
plays books, musical compositions paintings and movies
to the verdict of the critics The absurdty that u.s. in
comparison with the freedom of manufacturers of Coffee
mems suits, shoeaces cold cream newspapers, stepad
ders and other articles of Coffeetasters
lst they work for the manufacturers But manufac
turer invites them to make public their findings he does
not give special kaffee klatsch, from which, after
nounce under he Headline wet Grounds that shuban
gers coffee is the most watery dish offered to the
public, but the cups are adequate.
All for Art
In highly materiastc civilization only the arts
considered worthy of such treatment The heaer used
to advertise freely the motor but both
cred to criticize the lines of motor We must be
really an artistic people, At least have been. Con-
sumers Research and other progressive groups fight
ing for such change in the law will permit open
criticism of commercial products.
The FooIcrack
AS for the wisecrack, burn my fingers every time
touch it: I nearly burned off my whole arm, like
Scaevola, that antique Roman. All like to remember
about is the defense made to woman of considerable
perception I said: "After all, Bernard Shaw is wise
cracker Her is the memorable part of the con-
versation. She said: eyes, but his really wise. 1t
is the crack without wisdom that annoys.
WooIIcott's Exhibit
AS if prove that Dr. Sirovich is not utterly without
sense Mr.. Alexander Woolcott has written in the New
Yorker note of dissent Mourning Becomes Electra.
One gathers from the opening that Mr. Woocott is not
without friends who lunch at the Colony Club and from
the of the piece that he has great admiration for
Eugene ONe Neither of these bits of news is action
able. Coming down to criticism he holds the opinion not
unique that the first two sections of the trogy bet
ter than the third. It desirable that in the general
and excessive audaon of the play Influential critic
should join the few who have noted its serious defects