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SUNDAY MAGAZINE
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1922
Mr. Untermeyer Talks--Some
os Eliseth Whitcomb) - --An aristocrat of radicals. Accord-
at's not for publication," Mr. ing to his fourteen-year-old son Mr.
Rer conclud hastily. Now Untermeyer, is, however, merely a mild
me a few questions. 'Do you liberal. There was much to be said
a American poetry?' 'Yes' of son Richard (the "Dick" whom
U ntermeyer." readers of "These Times" will re-
iled quizzically. He has a member as co-author of six verses in
rly delightful smile, swift and that volume).
with an extra upward lift of For one thing, Dick, cherished as a
corner of his mouth thatII promising young BolsheVik, recently
, curious twisted charm, half gave his parents a 'hock of surprise
and half whimsical, wholy (by writing a play in blank verse, with
Napoleon for hero!
do I think of the free verse , When questioned,as to his own in-
t?" he went on. "Very much terest in drama Mr. Untermeyer said
thing that I think of the that he was greatly interested in that
:vement. The medium doesn't, field, and had himself attempted some
It's what you do with it. dramatic writing.
y I prefer to use rime and "None of it has even been sent to
st as I would prefer to work She publishers, )'m proud to say,"
rather than in butter. It is he added, with a flashing smile.
resistant medium that nost (It is a brave man who has "the
I me.The othhe is t f courage of the waste-paper basket.")
form offers. clg hMr. Untermeyer spoke admiringly of
iat does not mean that I do the work of Eugene O'Neill, especially
free verse," he continued praising "Emperor Jones." In discuss-
Some beauiti ul things have - ing various American poets he said
e in it. And my wife writes that Robert Frost was his favorite,
e, you know, Nearly all of and that he considered E. A. Robinson
volume was free verse. But as next to Frost. It is interesting to
rse years after its publica-mnote that Mr. Untermeyer's opinion
de dscovery-I don't know exactly coincides in this regard with
she likes it or not-that at Padriac Colum's.
ally free verse at all but In answer to a question as to nis
se arranged. differently. I'm j;estimate of Edgar Lee Masters, Mr.
that she agrees with me, but Untermeyer said frankly:
ter new book, "Dreams Out 2 "He has the mind of a country
s,' Is only about n per doctor who has read analytical psych-
wayste, fit and epest ology too late in life to do him any
sheshasdnes- n blankt good. He is a diagnostician rather
t she has done--is- in blank ta nats.Te"po ie
than an artist. The Spoon River
Anthology" is a great book, but his
later work is, like the first volumes
. nhe publised, far below that level."
Are you ever going to write It was at this point that Mrs. Unter-
fiction?" meyer came into the room. She is a
So, I haven't any genius for gracious, friendly, youthful woman,
afraid I shall go on writing with a great deal of quiet fascination
And poetry. Of course in interesting contrast to her lus-
what I really enjoy doing band's sparkling, rather nervous,
s that Mr. Untermeyer is a charm. She seems cool, gentle, assur-
'satile person. His earlyed; he is quick, imperative, impatient,
was to become a composer, LOUIS UNTER EYER and has a crackling humor that is a
teen he appeared as a pian~ Drawn by Bethany Lovell from a photograph danger and a delight. One feels in
ni-professional circles. The both of them a sensitive intelligence
r, however, he entered his and a discriminating sympathy that is
swelry manufacturing estab- work only forty-four hours a week. meyer is a radical, but Mr. Frost had good to meet. It is easy to understand
where he is now factory He commented that the plan worked this to say of him. how from such flint and steel two
and designer. He is quite well apparently, for the last time "He's this kind of a radical-he'll such fires of poetry have been kindled.
to talk jewelry 'shop' as there was a strike, his men did not let other people walk all over his Each is to some degree an explana
id spoke with enthusiasm of go out. property but he won't take anybody tion of the other's high poetical
igement whereby his men It has been said that Mr. Unter- else's." achievement.
"The Yellow Jacket"-A Chinese Play
Note: "The Yellow Jacket" "the sun-hued garment" of author- Enchantment and the rature of a very nearly the manner of the Eng-
resented by Masques Satur- ity to which the hero, Wu Hoo Git, child. lish stage as it was in'Shakespeare's
ag, April 29, in Hill auditor- finally succeeds. The play was pre- To which I will add only the prose time. So that to the delight.which the
r the direction of Prof. J. sented by The Coburns at the Whit- comment that I have never seen, and play should give to every uncritical
elson, ney Theatre, Ann Arbor, about five expect never to see, the play over- observer, there is added an interest for
years ago. praised. ' the student of English as well as of
Since its first presentation ten Something, however, needs to be Chinese drama.
r by Prof. W. R. Humphreys) years ago, "The Yellow Jacket" has said to prepare a modern English As in Shakespeare's theatre, so in
ellow Jacket" is a Chinese received many tributes of praise, both speaking, and English reading audi- the modern Chinese theatre, there is an
in the Chinese manner by in prose and verse. Here follow the ence for seeing the play to best ad- almost total absence of scenery; or, in
Hazelton and Benrimo-or, lines by Percy Mackaye, himself a vantage. It should be understood the words of Hazelton and Benrimo,
ers not to sign himself, J. H. dramatist and poet, called "To the first of all that "The Yellow Jacket" "the scenery is as big as your imagi-
The latter, drawing upon an Poets": is not merely a play that presents nation." In neither case is the imag-
%cquaintance with the Chin- To these you have restored your heri- Chinese characters in a Chinese set- ination left quite wthout guidance, for
e, planned the story of the tage: ting, as several others have done. signs usually indicate the scene that
its action and stage busi- To humor-loveliness; to undefiled "The Ylow Jacket" is "done in the is to be imagined. The authors of
Hazelton wrote the lines. Passion-its splendor; to our native Chinese manner." Now it happens "The Yellow Jacket," however, sub-
w Jacket of the title pis stage that the present Chinese manner is- (Continued on Page 7)