Judge — February 15, 1919 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Judge I ditorialy Strtcnen, Secretary Joun A. Steicunn, Pr A. Watpros, dent Revsen P. Peaeiron Maxwetn, Kadir °° J Puncu AS it a punch? That is the question; in fact, that is about all that matters. If it is a play it must have a punch. ‘The touching drama of heart-interest which left not a dry eye in the theatre, the prob- lem play with the inevitable triangle, the bucolic comedy-drama with the farmhand quartet, are all in the discard. The demand now is for rough stuff—the crude, raw slice of life—the stage peopled with white slavers, strong-arm men, couch cooties, vampires, tiger women, spies and secret service slinkers. Even the lovers are cave-men. Where once the lure of the ad. writer, the insurance man and the book-agent was genially insinuating, perhaps politely inviting, even pleasantly persuasive, salesmanship with a punch now holds sway—quick- closing they call it. Like a menacing prosecuting attorney they smash fist against palm, point a finger of scorn at their victim, bury him in such an avalanche of evidence of guilt in being with- out the article they are selling that he quickly shows penitence, hoping the damages will be as light as possible, ; Charity—even sweet charity, as the sentimental folk of a bygone day were wont to refer to it—has changed its tactics. The piteous tale unfolded with harrowing detail and concluded with a touching appeal lacked punch. The approved method dictates imper- atively ‘ome across!”" “Shell out!” Don't be a tightwad!" “Have a heart!” “Be a_ live one “Loosen up!” he meek, pious, be- nevolent dominie, ‘who sadly but resignedly com- mented on the weakness of the flesh, has given place to the militant evan- gelist who flays the sinner generally—or tries to, for he frequently invites Old Nick up for a Drawn by BW. Keanen bout propst) Why not take this al The Socialist (to the Democratic Donkey) Grast E. Hastcros, rt Dire Lawrox Macwatt, Managing Edi Treasurer at catch weights, confident his punch is equal to any emergency. The punch is the thing to catch the favor of mob or king. \ Paravise For Ports HE. Chinese have some habits that might be | adopted hy Occidentals to happy ends. And possibly Occidentals have some habits that the Chinese might well imitate. We are told that a Chinese poet does not assume to judge the worth of his work as to publication in our sense of that process. He reads his verses aloud to friends, and sometimes writes them on walls. If his hearers or wayfarers are pleased with the verses they copy the best liked stanzas in their notebooks for per- sonal pleasure, or to pass on to others. Thus the works of the pocts are diffused. When a new emperor assumes authority, the fugitive verses are assembled and the betger among them may be printed; but this is likely to happen a long time after the poets have e to their other reward. ome things in this method will be recognized as not unlike the custom here. We have poets who insist upon reading their verses to friends or whoever will listen to them. We have speakers at public din- ners and other functions that pass off the verses and wit of others as their own. And some of our publishers do not care for verses until their authors have passed from this vale of tears There are a number of fine poets in America, and happily the work of some of them overcomes the prej- udices of publishers. But we have too many near- poets who worry editors. ‘They must also worry their friends. ‘Their _ efforts would better be subject to the Chinese method, for the good poets and near-poets apparently have equal chance at first in China. You're stealing my comicbooks.com