SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1921
hued with the messianic spirit of be-
ing called "to save England" and there
is nothing to relieve a tension which
should be there, but which really does
not exist. It lacks a sense of action
which not even the enthusiastic wel-
come of Cromwell riding up to head
the advance at Naseby with his "Iron-
sides" can give it-it lacks characters
which are interesting-it has no
quality of suspense-and finally, there
is not a sufficient inspiration in the
writing of it to make it anything above
the average as literature.
But "Dulcy." "Dulcy" is not great
drama, either, but it is a mighty fun-
ny play and even with a third act
which falls considerably below the
high standard set by the first two, it
should have an exceptionally long run
on Broadway. For "Dulcy" (Put-
nam) is human, and if we don't know
her, we know about her, we know her
type, and she amuses ,us. Booth
,Tarkington, in an introduction which
takes up considerable space in telling
anecdotes which the author very in-
geniously twists about until they have
some little bearing upon the play in
hand, describes it as a "clever little
play." And his use of "little" is most
fortunate. "Dulcy" is not a great play
to be sure, but when one says that it
is a "clever little play" one knows that
he enjoys it. He fondles rather lov-
ingly the word "little"-mouthes it
slowly, carefully, that he may thor-
oughly partake of the retrospective
joy which it echoes. One would al-
ways use "little" of "Dulcy."
George S. Kaufman and Marc Con-
nelly captured Dulcy from The Con-
ning Tower of the New York Tribune
where she was conceived as Dulcinea
by F. P. A. Together they placed her
in her Dulcyesque home, possessed
her of a husband, a brother and a
houseful of week-end guests, whom
she has selected, each for a very
specialized and Dulcyesque reason, and
allowed her to flit breezily through
three acts of as amusing comedy as
has been written for some little time.
The last act, it must be admitted, is
not quite up to the standard of the first
two and the authors become a bit in-
consistent with the conversaion of a
character who only becomes apparent-
ly insane in that act and is quite
normal during the preceding action,
but one forgets such little things in
the enjoyment which the play as a
whole brings.
"Dulcy" is one of these little things
which mean an evening of recreation.
There is no thought required. Dulcy
thinks for all, and her ideas are usual-
ly wrong. But she "does want so to
help." Yes, we all like her. Feather-
brained, flighty, unconscious of every-
thing save the enthusiasm which she
has in her suddenly conceived ideas,
she is just one side of the eternal fem-
inine.

THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE


i

A DISCUSSION OF THE { A CRITICISM OF THE
LIMITATIONS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER WHIMSIES
(Continued from page 5) (Continued from page 1)
cance of the remaining questions to he shows the unreasonable persecu-
be solved. There is no reason why tion of a negro well past middle age,
the Conference should drag on, be- a harmless old fellow, an "uncle" as
cause it has definite questions to they term them in the south. Bab-
answer and a set purpose to follow. cock fails to realize that such men are
As soon as their great work is com- not persecuted blindly. The "uncles"
pleted, the delegates will leave Wash- are treated with a genial tolerance,
ington, and the results of their work even with downright affection. When
will be left for their posterity to carry inter-race crimes bob up, they are
out." -"never even suspected.:, I know the
His final plea, going back to what South and I know that this sort of a
he said at first, was, "I hope the Am- negro would be given every chance.
erican people will consider the Wash- I do not deny that injustice is done
ington Conference seriously. It is of to the negroes in the south, that many
vital concern to all the world and die innocently, but it is the young fel-
every 'American should be interested lows, or the surly fellows, or the un-
in what is going on ,and should be known blacks who suffer.
ready and willing to back up to the Babcock could have made his play
limit the decisions rpached." a very good one indeed if he had
EXCELSIdRr--HIGHER shown the victim a morose young
black; if he had shown tlge prayers
(E. R. 1.) and psalms of the negro and his moth-
The shades of night were falling fast er with a touch of irony. His play
As through Ann Arbor village passed would have then, unjust persecution
A youth, who bore mid snow and slop and all, been the truth, instead of so
A box containing to the top much indignation and consequent lack
Excelsior. of truth. Propaganda belongs with
advertising men rather than with ar-
The youth sped on to do his work tists. If the DoDo Society (whatever
When from above, through snowy it is) gives this play, as Whimsies an-
murk, nounces, I hope the whole cast falls
A bed-room window shadeless burned. through the trap door. Won't some-
With wondermept his eyes lie turned one write a parody of "Two Thou-
Excelsior. sand Years After?" It offers an ex-
0 carelessness of League House maids, cellent chance for a satiric burlesque.
Why pull ye not your upstairs shades? I rather like "Pretty Things," by
Ye little reck what mighty wrecks Rosalie Dunlap. The last two lines of
Your acts make of the other sex, the first and second stanzas are not
Excelsior. good, and the whole third stanza
would be better left out.
This youth so blinded by a blind "Dad,",by E. C. is an imitation.of
Which was not drawn, lost from his Edgar Guest at his worst.
mind "Sanskrit Salutation to the Dawn,"
All thought of action, and instead, by N. Ermentrude Martin, has an epic
He fixed his eye, and bent his head swing. The first stanza is good; it
Excelsior. could well end there for one goes
We know not what the poor lad saw, through the rest wondering what it is
Conclusions we aret free to draw about. What is the "World's Desire?"
The bliozard blew, but he remaining, The last stanza is also good but the
Forgot about the box containing fifty some lines in between are hardly
Excelsior. worth reading. And where, may I ask,
does the Sanskrit come from? I can
The shades of night had lifted when see nothing in the poem suggestive of
The youth marched down to work the title.
again; "As Peter Thinks," by Frances
He feared the boss's wrath- severe, Swain, is exceedingly trivial.
That box held something more than "The Prodigal," by Lois Whitcomb,
mere is decidedly third rate. She is capable
Excelsior. of much better stuff.
Now I am ready for the gyves.
Said boss, "Young man, where have NwIamrayohegvs
you been?
Just see the shape this tea set's in!" B. W. Huebsch has published a book
"I saw a shape that's better far," which should prove interesting to
Said youth, and fallen was his star, those who are thinking n the relig-
Salen sir, ions question. It is "A Religion for
the New Day" by Charles - H. Dole.
His job had flown on fleeting wings, The author has attacked the entire
Because he gazed at higher things; system of the Church as it stands to-
With rage he dashed into the fire day. Nevertheless, the book has been
That motto "Higher-ever higher," praised by various denominational
Excelsior. publications.

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