The New York Times from New York, New York • Page 105

1 Section DRAMA MUSIC FASHIONS! mm SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1922. THE THEATRE IN MARCH FEWER NEW OFFERINGS a 1 1 Section DRAMA MUSIC is SECOND THOUGHTS First Nights 9f DEB WOOIXCOTT. ULN ALEXANDER MILNE the A young A. A. M.

of the days when be was writing for Punch A- is represented In New York by two; silken comedies have had the good lack to fall feto expert hands on their arrival at tv port. These are "The Dover fuvi" and "The Truth About BUyds," the latter an adult entertainment which was suavely presented on Tuesday night 'at the Booth Theatre, got are hereby recommended to all playgoers who are mentally over the agof 12. The Blayds piece has enlisted an admirable cast and is given in New York pretty much as Milne must have beamed It pretty much as he wrote tt, certainly, except for one little Jeer at Longfellow, which has been deleted bow, apparently on the theory that at any disrespect to Mr. Longfellow, any lnnIred-per audience would burst Into tears and leave the theatre, And now let take a look at an-itfcfr llilne play which New York has yst to see a charming, prattling. Irresponsible, featherweight comedy called "The Romantic Age." It was acted London In the Autumn of 1020 and few weeks ago it was adroitly staged behind closed doors by the members our own Comedy Club.

Any day aowyou may expect to find a note in the paper announcing that some local Impresario, has his hands on It. It is heritable. The' Romantic- Age deals- with the state of mind and heart enjoyed If Miss Mellsande Knowle of Hedge-ting in some 'English countryside. She goffers under the sneaking conviction tint Hedgeling Is not so very far from uaieiot. bhe is beset by many a Wealthy golf-mad.

tweed-clad suitor. aC seemingly disinclined for deeds of erring-do. Her dreams, on the other land, deal exclusively with plumed ksignts who come riding through the noonlit forest to claim her with de-ttfitful insistence. How one healthy, tweed-clad youth, motoring to a costume ball in blue -gold doublet and sqm, is ditched in her own woods and sow twain meet in the maddening' siooBttjit all this was in Milne's iin4 when he sat down to write. la kit rather minatory, chip-on-sbocider preface to this second volume sf lis which Knopf is to kere in the Fall.

Milne has this to ay about Mellsande: Many of the critics said that nobody behaved like that nowadays. I aa terrified at the thought of arguing with than, for they can always re-'- dues me to blushes with a scornful. My dear man. you can't do that In plat', Aad when they tell me to -lemember what Strindberg said In 'M if be wers alive then I really don't now) or what Aristotle wrote in i au. auaa i crni guess Ar isioiie.

efl. then. I want to burst Into tears, sir 'ignorance is ao profound. So. very humbly.

1 Just say now that, wsea Mellsande talks and behaves In a certain way. I do not mean that a particular girl exists (Miss Jones of Bedford Park) who talks and be-i hsnm like this, bat I do mean that P1 a type of who. in her tart, secretly lAmfcs like If. roar great knowledge of the I Jok secret places of a young girl's wart, yon tell me that there is no type, then I shall only smile. But you inform me sternly that a aruiatiat has no business to express aaaukade-tn terms of an actress.

yoa reduce me to blushes again, wally know nothing about play-1. and I am only sustained by ktirfa The first is that rules are for other people; the 225." tht Pu by me is not TuIJ eUf- thn Obviously) basiness to write jt. ---wy or me. and as obviously ebaracterisUc flavor of "The Romantic Age can best be savored the opening scene of the second act toeia the Twentieth Century Ger-nss Maflory Is found by the morning on a-Btron in doublet and hose in a not far from Axden. It runs like tkis: Cctmx Mallory, mtill in hit fancy dremm.

The Week's Plays. night at the p2Il'Ul Theatre. frtrude M. nll and Leila M. Taylor, to the theatre and ta years, are the krrs of this newest Arthur Hop-production.

Arnold Daly is JWsUr and the caet will also in-c-rlotta Monterey. Jane f-T' Marguerite Forrest, ljZT.rif Truesdell. Leslie AusU-n. lir'Horth. Gwrgf IeOuerre.

Brin. Marcel Rousseau. od Horace Braham. night at the 44th fyt Theatre. Returning for a weem engagement.

rf night 'st the Oarrick Theatre. flwopX two Part" of Uie Cnfr Tuesday night at the Theatre. Walker Whitest to Tork as the tk? melodrama, announced ('h itork pf '-Jordon Kean and The ene is laid in )wrinrt. ere in a good deal ioien bn-. Mr.

Whlte- will include pntinn, Ian Ilarlaren. 0U arrtw Grant Sherman. Wednesday night 0cal comedy by Anna Wynne nd Helen S. Woodruff. A lby Madelyn Sheppard.

including Frank Mu-" brtd. Howland. CharleM Trow-j- 5iar Jane Rich- weenie Smith, ami others. Village Theatre. Mau- boin repertoire wh- revival of bhaw Oaude King and A.

P. Kaye Methutelah," i tut rith Kim cloak o. mmrs in. I round aim and xy. By Joc.

how oily!" He take off At cloak, tttrov it dom. Mtretchea hiyitelf. turns around, and. rt-ina the virv behind him, ooea to look at it.f While he ia lookimg he hearw an unme-lodioua tchimtHna. He turnm around frit a ttart, the -whistling Qot on.

Ht toy: Good Lord! and trie to fftt to hie cloak. It is too late. Em, a very small boy, cornea through the trees into the glade. OtrraH pice a sigh of; resignation and stands there. i BRX stops in the middle of hia tune and QtUe at Sim.

i. ERN Oo er! Oo! (Be circlet tlovly orwiad OERVASU.) 1 i GKRVASE3 I quite agree with you. ERN Oo Look GERVASB-Tea. it Is a bit dressy. Isn't it? Come round to the back take a good look at It while you can.

That's right Been all round? Good! ERX-fo! GERVASB You keep: saying Oo." It makes conversation very Do you mind if I sit ER.V Oo! I. GERVASE (sitting taw on a log) I gather that 1 1 have your consent. I thank you. i ERN" Oo! Look! (He points at Oer-vuse'a legs.) i 1 GERVASE What Is It now? My legs? Oh, but surely you've noticed them before? ERN (sitting down in front of Cer-vasef Oot GERVASE Really. I don't understand you.

I came up here for a walk in a perfectlr ordinary blue suit, and you do nothing but say Oo." What does your father wear when he's plowing? I suppose you don't walk all around him and say Oo 1 What does your Uncle George wear when he's reaping? I suppose you don't- By the way, 1 wish yoii'd tell me your name. (ERN gate at him dumbly.) Oh. come They must have told you your name when you got up this morning. ERN famiiina sheepishly Era. GERVASE (bowing How do you do? I am very glad to meet you.

Mr. Hearne. My name is Mallory (ERS grins Thank i ERS (tapping himse If) I'm Era. GERVASE Tea. I'm Mallory.

ERN Ern. GERVASE Mallory. I We Can't keep on saying this to each other, you know, because then we never get any further. Once an Introduction is over, Mr. Hearne, we are .3 ERN Em.

5 GERVASE Tea. I know. I was glad to hear It. But now Oh. I see what you mean.1 Ern short! for Ernest? ERN (nodding) They call me Ern.

GERVASE That's very, friendly of them. Beinff more of a-stranser I shall call you Ernest. Well. -Ernest (getting up). Just excuse me a mo mem.

win you? very penetrating' oara mis tree has. It must be a Pomeranian. (Be laid hi cloak vpon it and aits down aoain.t That's Now we can talk comfortably together. I don't know if there'a anvthlnar VOU partlcu In rl want to discuss nothlnr? well. then.

I wiU suggest the subject of break- last. KRV frrrinnino Ad BIT breakfast. GERVASE You've yours? You selfish brute Of course, you re wondering why I haven had mine. -ERN Bacon fat. (tie make reminxs cent nnises.

I GERVASE Don't keep on going throueh all the courses. Well, what hannMiivl mrnm thin. car broke down. I suppose you never had a motor car of your own. ERN Don't like moty cars.

GERVASE Well, really, after last night I'm Inclined to sgree with you. Well. no. 1 oughtn't to say that, be- SSve?" hav know If 'that sort. If I hadn broken down.

1 tnouia ve seen Her. I-rnest. I don ou're married' or anything or but I think even your rough stern heart would have, been moved by that vision of loveliness which I saw last nfght. He i silent for if little. thinkwQ of her.

wen. men i lost my way. There I was ten miles from anywhere in the middle of. what was supposed to be a short cut hue at night-Midsummer Night what would you have done. Ernest? ERN Gone 'ome.

GERVASE Don't be silly. How could I go home when I didn't know where home was. and it was a hundred miles away. und lM Just seen the Princess? No, I did what your father or Uncle George or any wise man would have done. I sat In the car and thought of Her.

ERN Oo GERVASE You are aurprlsed? Ah. but if you'd seen her i Have you ever been alone in the moonlight on Midsummer don't mean Just for a minute or two. but all through the night until the dawn came? You aren't really alone, you All round you there are little whisperings going on, little breathings, little rustlings. Somebody is out hunting somebody stirs In his sleep as he dreams again the hunt of yesterday somebody in the treetops pipes suddenly to the dawn, and then, finding that the dawn has not come, puts his silly little head back under his wing and goes to sleep again. And the fairies are.

out. Do you believe In fairies, Ernest? You would have believed in them last night. I heard them whimpering. ERN-Oo! GERVASE (coming out of hi thought urith a little laugh Well, of course. I can't expect you to believe me.

But don't go about thinking that there's nothing in the world but bacon fat and bull's-eyes. Well. th-n. I sutipose I went to Ficep, for i woTe up nundeniy anu 11 was morning, the most wonderful sparkling magical morning but. of course, you were Just settling down to business then.

ERN Oo! (He mnkes more reminiscent noixen. GERVASE Yes. that's Just what I said. I said to myself, breakfast. ERN 'Ad my breakfast.

GERVASE Yes. but I 'adn't. I said to mvseif. fcurely my old friend. Ernest, whom loused to shoot bison with In the Himalayas, has got an estate somewhere In these parts.

I will go and share his simple mtal with him." So I got out of the car. and I did what you didn do. young man. 1 had a bathe in the river, and then a drv on a pocket handkerchief one of my sister unfortunately and then I came out to look for breakfast. And suddenly, whom should I meet but my old friend.

Ernest, tho same hearty fellow, the same inveterate talker as when we shot dragon-flies together In flip in the Asquilh-Lloy George Scene from Which Starla la Again Tomorrow Night at the swsmps of (Shaking hi hand.) Ernest, old boy, pleased to meet you. What about It? ERN 'Ad my GERVASE S'sh. (He get up.) Now then to business. Do you mind looking the other way while I find my purse? (Feehng for Every morning when you get up. you should say, Thank God.

I'm getting a big boy now and I've got pockets In my trousers." And you should feel very sorry for the- poor people who lived fn fairy books and had no trousers to put pockets in. Ah. here we are. Now then. Ernest, attend very carefully.

Where do you live? ERXt-'Ome. GERVASE You mean, you haven't got a flat of you own yet? Well, how far away la your home? (Em grin and ays nothing.) A. (Km continue to grin.) Half a mile? (Em grin.) Six inches? ERN (pointing) Down there. GERVASE Good. Now then.

I want you to take this (giving him half-a-croum). i ERN Oo GERVASE Yes. I thought that would move you and I want you to ask your mother if you can bring me up some breakfast here. Now, listen very carefully, because we are. coming to the Important part.

Hard-boiled eggs, bread, butter and a bottle of milk and anything else she likes. Tel, her that it's most Important, because your old friend Mallory whom you shot white mice with In Egypt Is starving by the roadside. And If you come back here with a basket quickly I'll give you as many bulls' -eyes as you can eat In a week. (Very cor-neatly) Now, Ernest, with all the passion and emotion of which I am capable of before bvoakfast, I ask you: have you got that? ERN ftuwidiapj Coing 'ome (He look, at the half crown O0ot. GERVASE Going 'ome.

Tea. But-returning with breakfast. Starving man lost In forest return with basket save life. (To himself) I believe I could explain it better to a Chinaman. (To Em) Now then, off you go.

ERN (a he goes) 'Ad my breakfast. GERVASE Yes. and i I wonder if I shall get mine. i i Wandering vaguely across the background of The Romantic Age Is a delightful character, first cousin to the muddle-headed Mrs. Blayds-Conway In the piece at the Booth and a lineal descendant of Elizabeth Bennett's mother and of Mrs.

Nickleby. The part was' played in London by that capital comedienne, Lottie Venne. Mrs. Knowle ia the mother of Mell sande, who never would have consented to any such absurd name had she heard it distinctly. She had thought they meant Millicent after Jame uu ton.

Being as Russian as Possible in The Rose of Stmmboul" at the Century. Aunt Milly. She takes refuge in calling he'r daughter Sandy, which is a pretty name. Mellsande had never ste'med quite respectable. Not for a nicely; brought-up young girl in a Christian home.

It makes me think," says Mrs. Knowle, of the sort of person who meets a strange young man to whom she has never been introduced and talks to him in as forest with her hair coming down. They find her afterward floating in a pool. Not at all the thing: one wants for one's daughter. If I can save my only child from floating in a pool by calling her andy.

certainly think it Is my duty to do so. And talking about floating in pool naturally brings up the subjer-t -f the Mrs. Knowle, who is ft naively trans- ui ivi ff feim the First Round of the Carrick. 'Back to parent matchmaker, is a little worried by Melisande's lack of interest in dietetics, Says she in ber wisdom: You will find that, after you have been married some years and told each other everything you did and saw before you met, there isn't really anything to talk about at meals except food. And you must talk.

Nothing breaks up the home so quickly as client meals. 'Of course, breakfast doesn't matter, because he has his paper then: and after you have said: "Is there anything in the paper, dear? and he has said then he doesn't expect anything more. I wonder sometimes why they go on printing the newspapers. I've been married twenty and there has never been anything in the paper yet." Mrs. Knowle' very first utterance in the play is a Joy.

Coffee! she cries, waking with a start. Oh yes, coffee. Jane, put the milk in for me. And no sugar. Dr.

Anderson is very firm about that. No sugar. Mrs. I-he said. 'Oh, Dr.

Anderson! I said." Indeed, the prattle of Mrs. Knowle. rather takes the curae off The Romantic Age the curse of being too darned charming. There it must be admitted, i several scenes in this comedy whereof the charm Is just a thought too conscious, even deliberate. There are several moments 1 when you almost seem to hear Mr.

Milne murmuring from the wings: Dear, dear, what a whimsical fellow I am to be sure! Egad. I'm quite by way of being a second Earrie." WHAT NEWS ON THE EORGE M. COHAN, mindful of fv the fact that it is not always 1 March, is already laying plans -rl for next season. At all events, he has been sufficiently forehanded to ensnare the Hudson Theatre for the year. He is paying, runs the rumor, a rental of S50.000.

and guaranteeing another $30,000 In profits. Probably, bow-ever, the profits will be considerably more than that, for Mr. Cohan has a handy knack of producing successes. A small group headed by Sam H. Harris had control of the Hudson Theatre during the present season, or most of it, and as luck would have it the theatre went through the, season without housing a real success.

So tome one. probably Mr. Harris, was required to spend a good deal of money. There Is now some talk of moving The Hairy Ape up to the- Hudson next month, although The Rubicon is at present doing a profitable if not exciting trade at that house. Gregory Kelly and Ruth Gordon (Mrs.

Kelly) are to be seen sooner or later In a touring company of," The First Year." A melodrama by Dorothy Donnelly (on which, it Is reported. Edward Sheldon has collaborated) is about to be produced. It ia entitled "The Lucky Ones." and may have Emily Ste-ens in Its leading role. That depends a little on what they are going to do about St. Ursula." Broken Branches." now at the Thirty-ninth Street Theatre, is the play that was acted on the road earlier in the season under the title of Open the Book." or something approximating that.

On that occasion Evelyn Nesblt was the star and the tour vwaa exceedingly brief, even though the press representative refers to it as successful. Mr. Cohan's entrance Into the cast of Madeleine and the Movies does not mark the only cast change In that play. James Oleason. It turns out.

is acting the role that was Harry Mestayer's. Going back to Broken Branches." Raymond Hackctt writes that he was not In the cast on the opening night, although the review praised him. Mr. Hackett was ill. and the actor was Wallace Ford.

Louis Bouwmeester. a highly esteemed Dutch actor, is coming here in the Foil to play Shakespeare. He appeared in London some time ago. playing in Dutch while his company acted in English. Presumably he will do the same here.

As set forth in Thi Times during the week, the Guitrys are also coming. They will play a season of eight weeks in New York, beginning in October, and will offer two new programs weekly. Several of the town's oldest hits have been considerably affected by the recent drop in business, i Last night's departures were Madame Pierre." Bavu." "The White Peacock," and "Up In tho tlouils." Anna Chrlntie will depart in another week. and it is understood that "For Good- neaa Sake will then be transferred In The Saf ferine AaUtr. the Dramatic Editor: There has Just been called to my attention an Instance of the behavior of a theatrical manager to an author so typical that I cannot help wishing to bring it tc the notice of the Authors'.

League. The author in question, rather desperately hard-up. had worked for months, an average of ten hours a day, studying Jests with a most tragical countenance." Having already turned out one successful comedy, as well pa a popular novel and any number of widely read poems. It might have been thought that he would have little difficulty In getting his new work produced. Such, however, was not the case.

Within the first few weeks of his hawking he met so many discouragements that, though accustomed to rebuffs, distrust of his own abilities and that painful sensitiveness characteristic of finer temperaments brought him to despair. Attempting to make some-of the many changes tuggested. he at last wrote a friend: My genius, if ever I had any. has totally deserted me." In the course of time he sent his manuscript to the manager who hail produced his first play, and who now allowed weeks and months of the theatrical season 1 to pass without a decisive answer. Deeply in debt and hard pressed for payment, suffering from an Illness that Increased his txpenses and prevented his attempting rcw work, the' author finally wrote I sntnrat you to relieve me from the state of suspense in which I have been kept a long time.

Whatever objections you have made or shall make to my play. I will endeavor remove and not argue about them. To bring In any new Judges, cither of Its merits or faults, I can never submit to. Ihave. as you know, a large sum of money to make up shortly: by accepting my play I can readily satisfy my creditor that way; at any rate, I must look about to some certainty to be prepared.

For 'God's sake, tak) the play and let us make the nest of it, sn-1 let me have the same meawire. at least, which you have given as bad plays as mine." In answer to this, the manuscript was returned, with critic Urns and remarks scribbled over its pages. Accompanying the comedy was a note, laying that, notwithstanding the manager's fears for Its success, he would produce it, but no date was given as to when this promise should be kept, and no apology was made 'for the scribbled suggestions and Feeling bitterly the hardship and humiliation of such treatment, the author posted his piece to another manager a personal friend of long standing but, in this quarter. suffered so niucaj new discourtesy and lack of consideration. that again the play was Strong influence" a kind of force eventually persuaded the first manager to put the comedy In rehearsal, but this step.

Instead of ending the author's mortifications, only increased them. Taking their cue from the Impresario, the actors treated him with unconcealed from the Lyric to the Vanderbilt. There continue to be plenty of theatres and a shortage of plays. Reverting again to Madeleine and Harry Mes-tayer. the latter probably will head" a company in "The Tavern" that Mr.

Cohan proposes to send "TheJ Meanest Man In the World." iC is said, will also soon go on tour, probably with James Rennle heading the An Item from London says that Gilda Varesl has written a new play dealing with an Italian family of immigrants. Marjorie Kambeau'a new play from the French is now called "Jenny Jones." It will be along in about a week. John Cumberland win start farcing again In a play entitled Lady Bug." by Frances Nordstrom. The Hippodrome announces the "last weeks of Get Together "a somewhat earlier closing than usual, and fully attesting If any further attestation be needed to the temper of the times. For the final weeks several Items are being added.

Including Joe Jackson. Madge Kennedy, they do say, will be seen next sesson In a comedy by a new writer. Bertram Bloch by name. Mr. Bloch has been offering exceedingly good plays up and down the avenue for a number of seasons about two.

to be exact but Adolph Klauber. who will produce the play for Miss Kennedy, is the first manager to take one of them seriously. The present title of the work Is Cecily Ann." but there Is some talk of changing It to The Amoeba." The present revue at the Music Box. It Is figured, will easily endure into the Fall, and along about that time there will be another one. Probably not even its producers know a great deal about it as yet.

although it seems to be certain that Bobby Clark, a burlesque comedian who scored a great hit in the past season, will be one of the entertainers. There has been an offer, also, to Elsie Janls. Louis Wolheim's role In "The Hairy Ape marks only his sixth stage sp-pearance, although he has played a few parts on the screen. He has something of an academic background. He picked up a degree In mechanical engineering at Cornell and was subsequently professor of mathematics' in a school In Ithaca.

Then he went to Mexico, engineering, and then a chance meeting with Lionel Barrymore started him acting In the films. His successive stage appearances have been In The Jest," The Letter of the Law," The Broken Wing." The Fair Circassian and The Idle Inn." Out in Chicago, where Walker White-hide has Just been playing in The Hindu." they have been Insisting that the play is his own. though it is credited to one Gordon Kean. In The Chicago Journal, some time ago, O. the Mail Bag contempt.

The chief actress, daughter or a shoemaker and herself formerly a maid-servant, threw up her part as unworthy of her powers an example fol lowed by two male performers, who said. quite frankly, that the play would never each Its second performance. A fore boding of failure which he did in ma power to have realised filled the manager with gloom, and also with re sentment at having been compelled to accept such a play, for which he refused to have new scenes painted or new cos tumes made. When the author had i written parts of his piece four, times to please various performers, no wonder he swore to a correspondent that he had done with the theatre! By the first night, indeed, this poor fellow a man of kindly. charitable.

generous and simple nature "was so unnerved that he broke away from his friends, and "with no notion of where he was ended by 'spending the whole evening In the park. He returned to the playhouse in time to see the final curtain fall and to wince at a final taunt from the source of all his an noyances. It is tod late, I fear, to do anything about this case, the victim of which was Oliver Goldsmith, and the play "She Stoops to But it Is not too late to do something about continuance of these conditions so well known that lt has been possible to read the foregoing In unsurprised confidence that lt happened the day before yes terday. CHANNING POLLOCK. New Tork, March 8, 1X2.

A Uttle Saggestlea. To the Dramatic Editor: Queer how theatrical managers and publishers are so dense that they can' not take a hint from the movies. Of course, business for all three la not what It might be. but the motion pic ture industry has suffered the least. And why? Surely no one need ask that.

The answer is simple. Life in the world of the theatre and 'among pub lishers and authors is too all-fired dull and respectable. Yet -the remedy lies ready at hand. Just a murder or two. gory, and linked with scandal and the trick is.

turned. Imagine the Increase in public Interest If one could some morning read in the daily hews OEORGE COHASCO MURDERED The eminent manager was found In his library with a bullet through his heart. The police, are busily checking up the missing cluea Minnie Maddcrn Fiske, who called on him an hour before his death to borrow a pound of raisins and a yeast cake, professes 'complete ignorance of the affair. But ber letters to Cohasco are still missing. She seems more thsrt usually nervous and has shut herself up on hereountry E.

H. floth-r: ern Is being shadowed-by -detect! res. William Gillette is resjsrted to have sailed to South America to. avoid testifying. Ethel BaaTrjrasaM denies that she was ever engaged to Cohasco: says they were Just friends." It is hinted that Margaret Anglln will have astounding revelations to mako about Cohasco's parties at Bergen Beach.

John Drew said to have been seen in Times Square with cap pulled RIALTO? Hall produced a bit of rather convinc ing circumstantial evidence. Some years ago, it Mr. Whiteside appeared in a play entitled "We Are King." of which the same Gordon Kean was the author. But when We Are King was acted In London the playwright was announced as Walker Whiteside. So there, for what It's worth, you are.

THE SUBWAY CIRCUIT SHL'BERT RIVIERA The Skin Game." BRONX OPERA HOUSE Fay Balnter in East Is West." MONT AUK (Brooklyn)" The Broadway Whirl." MAJESTIC (Brooklyn) Margaret An-glln In The Woman of Bronse." TELLER'S (Brooklyn) Getting Gertie's Garter." ar 1 -V. 'V-'K A Pauline Lord ia "Anna Christie." Which Ih4 Vaaderbilt Ml over eyes ort night of murder, but claims he can establish complete alibi. A few Utile affairs like this would Lring the theatre back again to the peak of popularity. And publishers would have no need to worry If the public could only hear: WEI JKNOWN PUBLISHER MEETS WITH FOUL PLAY. Charles Scribbleday found with throat cut from ear to ear.

Letter on his desk from Edith -Wharton, but she maintains silence -about affair: is to be grilled by policed Chesterton hurries back to England before detectives can reach blm; his ship may be stopped by wireless. Margaret Deland sends half-million roses to funeral, but maintains that Is merely mark of respect. H. G. Wells expresses confidence In Scribble-day's character.

Shaw cables word or sympathy, but adds that throat-cutting it too good for many Americans those who do not like all his plays should be boiled in oil. i Amy, Lowell denies that Interlocked hearts on publisher's bathing suit were embroidered by her. Saturday Evening Poet offers million dollar reward denies that refusal to print any more ef levin Cobb's stories has anything to do wdh aTiair. Fannie Hurst says she can prove she was at breakfast with husband at hour of murder. Kathleen N'orris denies showing Jealousy at one of Scribbleday's parties." and flinging glass of home brew Into Edna Ferber's face.

Doings of other publishers and authors to given thorough airing. Editor of Atlantic Monthly Issues statement denying that pink lingerie has been f-xlnd In their composing room, A few Items like that are all that are needed to put the drama and the publishing business back into the running with the movies once more. 'LEONARD HATCIL Trenton. N. J-.

March 14. 1922. i. First. Thaughts a Second Ktght.

To the Dramatic Editor: What has been the most interesting theatrical performance of the London Winter season? A question not so difficult to answer, that, as It might seem. At least to my mind, as I was fortunate in seeing this superlative performance. And incidentally I was about the only American who did see It. The playwright was neither Milne, nor Gilda; Varesi. nor Shaw, nor Gilbert and Sullivan.

The play is from the pen of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton. Bart. It was announced on May 10. 1831. as a new comedy, and the title is "Not So Bad As We Seem," Curiously, the run was for one night only.

In fact I believe I am correct in saying that the play itself has been given only twice, once In 1S3I and once on Nov. 30 last. The clever little comedy, much pruned by Nigel Playf air. was presented at Devonshire House. the palatial London residence of Duke of Devonshire.

by a group of distinguished amateurs for the benefit, of, the new David Copperfield Children's Library, which is being fash loned In a bouse were once lived Charles Dickens, a house now Immersed In the London slums of Somen Town. Charles Dickens himself was In the original cast when the play was first presented, on the Identical stage in the ballroom of Devon shire House, seventy-one years ago. In the modern cast were Henry C. Dickens and such distinguished personages as Ivor Novello. A.

A. Milne, W. George. Sir William Orpen. Sir Gil bert -Parker.

W. H. Davles, Compton Mackenzie, E. Temple Thurston, Maxwell, Rebecca West. Alfred Noyes and Mrs.

Asqulth. Mrs. Asqulth. by the way. had a silent part (strange to think of Asqulth Officially on the program she appeared as the "Silent Lady of Dead Man's Lane.

Tightly laced into a black costume of the period of George the former Premier's wife appeared at the back of the stage, seen through French windows. past which she walked up and down mysteriously. Asqulth himself, and a super-distinguished audience of perhaps 150 lords and ladies and the like, was on the other side of the footlights. And the silent Asqulth received by all odds the best hand and the loudest although I am uncertain whether the: approbation was for the wordless excellence of her acting or because of the rather caustic remarks made by an other member of the cast concerning this strange apparition of Dead Man's Lane. Begins Its Twenty-first and Las! Week Tomorrow Nigh TO BE CONTINUED FLAT.

The rEZTfnB. Aag. as, se The First Tear Oct. gaily SI Jost i. 51 Snaffle Alaag tt Taagerfse Aag.

-S 8lx-CyUader Aag. tS Get Together Sep. SZasle Bex tt Blessem Time. tt Tbaak Tea Bomb a The Deml-Vlrgia Jg Od Meralag, Dearie. Aaaa The Perfect Feel 7 Zlegfeld Midnight 17 Xlki Nev.

tt The Meaatala Man Dee. lt The Dover tt Bulldog Dnnmtad Dee. tt Captain Applejack Dee. Lawful Larceny. 2S Be Wks Oeta Slapped.

an. The Bine Kitten. lt The National AnttaarM. Jan. 3 Marjelalae Xt The Cxartaa tl TIM Nest .1 1 The rigeek Feb.

1 Ckaeve-Searis 4 The Law The Blsshlag Feb. The Cat aad the Feb. 1 Meatasartre IS Te the Ladles I to The French Dell. tt Fer Geedness Bake. eb.

It The Rableea 1 1 Tear We at a a and Mine. Feb. tl The First Man Mar. 4 the Ladder Broke Bra aches Hu. Madeleine sad tbe Maviea.

Mar. The Rose ef 7 The Hairy The First Fifty Yenrs. IS The Hotel Mum. IS Tbe Trnth A boat Blayds. Mar.

14 The program of that evening Is in itself a notable creation. one of Its articles Henry F. Dickens, describing what books meant in his father's life, writes: In this dreary state of drudgery Into which he had been ailowed to sink, however, Charles Dickens had one un--failing and ever-growing consolation his small collection of books. At this time there Were no libraries to which be could go, no society or body of persons who could help him. and, except for the books which he "was lucky enough to possess, no opportunity woul.l have been afforded him of acquiring mental Improvement or moral 'disclptin-.

How he came to treasure these boo! Is best told in -hla -own ss described In David Copperfield 1 My father had left a small collection vt books In a Mttle room itoataira. From rhj" Messed little room Roderick Rsi.oom.' "Peregrine Pickle." Humphrev Clinker." Tom Jonas," The Vcar of Wakefield." Don Qulxot Oil Biaa and Robm- km Crum cams out. a gloriou host. a nvy Krpi Klin fancy and my hope of something bayond that place and time they aad th Arabian Nights and tbe Tales of Its llet.ll and did sie Do hsrm: for whatever harm was laaom of them' was not tner for me: 1 know nothing of it. it Is astep-tshlng to now how I found time la tfc midst of my port oca and blundering ever heavier themes to read those book a I did.

It Is curious to ma bow I could ever have eonaolad myself under my small troubles by Impersonating my favorite characters In them. While' many distinguished literary names are associated with the cast of this last performance, some others were unable to be jtbere. though their re-' grets. or whatever, were printed In in the program. Says George Bernard Shaw, for Instance If 1 were uncon-' nected with the theatrical profession.

I could afford to expose myself to the' merited contempt of the actors who work for me by taking part in this de plorable tomfoolery." And then Shaw, because the purpose of the whole undertaking la to raise funds for a Children's Library. contributes this delicious I Shavian comment: I am obliged to make an Iron rule not to give my name to bodies that I do not actually work on. But I am good for a couple of guineas if the committee will' assure me that the library will not consist of what are called children's books. Dick ens took care to point out that he read Smollett and Fielding and all the other grown-up books he could lay his hands on (as I did myself), and that any harm that was In them' did not "exist for him. If the library is to be in the hands of people who ban The Arabian Nights as Immoral and "Roderick Random' as improper.

lt will be fraud to use tbe name of Dickens to get money for it- I should say that the first condition of a children's library Is that there should be no children's books in it." GEO RGB PALMER PUTNAM. Xew Tork, March 8, 1022. The Awfnl Andieae. To the Dramatic I am sorry that Mr. Klein's evening at The Kest wss ruined for blm by the Saturday-nlghters.

I would like to lnrite him to our play any other performance he would desire to attend. only I'm afraid he would find much tbe same cheerful restlessness and healthy sense of humor among the audiences at every performance. "To the players this American shyness of mysteries snd heartaches and intimacies Is not disconcerting; It is understood and sympathised with. When real pathos appears In The Kent they sniffle and sob and gasp and cough and behave like the dear youngsters they are When we are passionate, they giggle, embarrassed. When we score off each other In anger or satire, they roar with delight.

When we are tender and plaintive, thf -y "Oh!" and and we are vastly complimented by this Interest; I love tbe strange ladits who dash back stsga and clasp me to their hearts and we over my widow's weeds To ten the" truth," there is only one type of agitated auditor who gets our goat, and that is the chocolate eater of the front row! He has been much In evidence lately! We expect, some day, he wilt make pellets of the paper wrappings of his collection and chuck them at us on the stage I LUCILU Kw Tork March 6,123. I.