THE MICHIGAN DAILY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1922 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1922
THE MICHIGAN DAILY-
PAGE FIV
. .. . ., . .. , i.
Review of Campus Dramatics
(Roberi Bartron)
Dramatics at the University of
ichigan is becoming .increasingly im-
>rtant. The fact that we are still
r behind Harvard, North Carolina,
id California in this field does not
ssen its significance. Indeed, the
y of the Campus Theatre is not far
stant, and with it must come, of
>urse, a Department of Dramatics.
Of all the various campus organiza-
ons working toward this end prob-1
)ly Masques and Comedy Club are
e most important. I place the two
gether because both are directed by
rofcsscr Nelson, in fact, are Profes-
r Nelson. It is hardly a matter for
spute that his productions are quite
e most finished and ambitious. For-3
lately, he is interested
more
quality, and only presents two plays aI
year. One still remembers his exquis-I
ite "Quality Street" of five or six
years ago. His "Bunty Pulls the
Strings," while as a play, hardlyI
worth the vast amount of work put
on it, was almost faultless in its act-
ing and scenery. Shaw's "Pygmal-
lion," the Comedy Club's offering lastM
year, despite the terrible overcasting
of Professor Higgins, was even moreI
perfect. Even though I had seen the
original production of the play with
Mrs. Patrick Campbell in London, and
Sam Hume's presentation in Orches-
tra Hall last autumn, I can truly say
that it stood flattering comparison. The
performance of Eliza Doolittle and her
father, Henry Doolittle were quite the
mostrperfect amateur characteriza-
tions I have ever seen. Then, in "The'
Yellow Jacket" Professor Nelson took
another step forward by proving that
Hill Auditorium is quite adequate for
the performance of drama. He is go-
ing to use this building again in his
forthcoming "Knight of the Burning
Pestle," an old Elizabethan farce.
From all reports I understand that
this production has great possibilities'
of being his most successful under-
taking.
In direct contrast-to these two or-
ganizations is the Player's Club, which
believes in quantity production and
absolute student control. While this
possibly is a great benefit to the act-
ors, it is often lamentably hard on the
long-suffering audience. There is no
way of escaping the fact that the Play-
er's Club is very amateurish. I have
3t to see'one of its programs that
asnot marred in some way. Now
~not misunderstand me; often they
obtain some remarkable results, as
in their production of "The Glittering
Gate" and "Catherine Parr." On the
other hand, their failures are many
more in number, as shown by "Cooks
and Cardinals," "The Lost Silk Hat,"
and "Free Speech." But, most unfor-
tunate of all is the fact that their
standard has perceptibly fallen since
the resignation of Professor Hollister.
And this conveniently brings one toI
the work of Professor Hollister. It is'
pleasant to recall his very successful
performances of "The Great Galeoto"
and "The Servant in the House." Just
recently he remodelled the auditorium
of University Hall into a theatre. His
scantily attended programs there last
AMONG THE MAGAZINES
(Continued from Page Three)
able parts, a thin veneer of "cultural"
decorations and a slogan of "be mod-
era, follow the herd!" sums up Cline's
estimate of civilization in the Wolver-
ine state. In Detroit, he tells us, all,
homes are built after a certain pat-
tern; modes of living follow a set:
standard; and the public thinking
runs : along a narrow groove. We
who know Michigan, may well judge{
the truth of Cline's contentions.
Towards Ann Arbor, Cline still
seems to retain some warm senti-{
ments. Many will _appreeiate his.:pic-
ture of "the little city" where "Michi-
gan plays its sweetest charms." Here.
is to be found an exquisite "delicacy,I
and intimacy,and loveliness that one
returns to always with a gentle exalt-
ation and thrill of release." On the
faculty of the University, Cline ad-
mits, are to be:foundsome "big men."
"'But," he continues, "the- liberal
mindsof Michigan are subject to
nightmares." While of the student
body he speaks in less complimentary.
terms as having "no traditions at all
of literature, or art, or idealism, or
anything but salesmanship and busi-
ness ability.",
It is athought stimulating article
which those on the campus who
occasionally do think will do well to
read. They will find it quite . well
worth taking seriously, even should
they disagree with Leonard Cline's
estimate. The Nation may always bej
depended upon to present' the view
that is different, usually correct and,
to some; quite provoking. It has done
jso again in this issue.
c r. I
year were remarkable mainly for the
great promise they gave of better
things. ProfessorHollister has al-
ways been ambitious, and one looks,
forward to his coming production of
"Much Ado About Nothing."
'There is left the Union Opera and
the Junior and Senior Girls' Plays.
The former, especially since it has
been under the control of Mr. Shuter,
has descended into little more than an
elaborate vaudeville, incorporating
many of the features of Broadway
commercialism. Of course, one must
remember that he is hampered by the
necessity of earning from ten to
twenty thousand dollars for the Michi-
gan Union. This is proved by his re-
markable production of Vahaeren's
"The Cloister," which is easily the{
most advanced play ever presented at
Michigan. Thus, the activities of the
Mimes are a curious mixture of gooda
and bad.
The Junior Girls' Play is rapidly
becoming an imitation of the Union
Opera, though its campus satire is in-
finitely better. The Senior Girls' Play
is negligible. Their morality revue
presented two years ago was a silly
h.odge-podge. Its only excuse was
that it shocked the authorities. "Po-l
mander Walk" was much better, main-
ly because of a remarkable leadingj
lady.1
And so, we have this perplexing
mixture here at Michigan. We find
six or more dramatic societies, all ap-.
parently going in opposite directionsj
and opposing each other. Yet this, af-
ter all, is merely a superficial view.
The important fact is that there are
so many people on the campus inter-
ested in the theatre, and this cannot
help ultimately resulting in something
big and fine in University dramatics.
The great souvenir volume of the
International Exhibition of Theatre
Art held lately in Amsterdam, Holland,
and published by H. Th. Wydeveld, has
just arrived in America. It is superb-
ly- illustrated with, designs by Godron
Craig, Adophe Appia, Emil Pirchan,
J. R. B. De Roos, Leon Bakst, and'
others. The leading articles- are by
Gordon Craig, representing England,
Firmin Gemier, representing France,
George Jean Nathan, representing
America, Adolphe Appia, representing
Switzerland and Oskar Fischel, repre-
senting Germany.
Thomas Seltzer, Inc., announce a
popular edition of D. H. Lawrence's
"Women in Love," first published in
this country in a limited edition for
private subscription only.
DU YOU HA YE
A REGULAR.
OPTOMETRISTP
One who is acquainted
with your eyes and your
peculiar eye troubles-one
k to whom you feel at liberty
to go for any little adjust-
ment of your glasses, or ad-
vice, and one who will take
a real personal interest in
your eye welfare because:
you are his patient?
If you have not,. but instead,
( are in the habit of dropping in- c
to any store to be servedby any
Iemployee, we urge you to start _
the other system now and to
start with us.
You may be assured of a thor-
ough, conscientious eye exam-
i ination. We grind our own,
I lenses.
H. W. BECKWITH
Optometrist
A
HALLER'S
JEWELER
STATE STREET
(Preston Slosson)
"The Things That Are Caesar's," by
Guy Morrison Walker, is hailed on the
back ccver as "the book of the cen-
tury" "the greatest book on wealth ever
written" and "the answer to all Red,
Socialistic propaganda.' As a matter
of fact is simply a bold and lucid de-
fense of capitalism which puts clearly
a good many arguments familiar to
every student who has taken a course
in economics in any modern univer-
sity. Certainly it is a sufficient an-
swer to many of the cruder forms of
Marxian, Socialist, Single Tax, and
labor unionist propaganda, but it con-
tains nothing that is new to the pro-
fessional econonist, and even those
who would accept its conclusions must
regret the weakness of some of its
arguments.
The thesis is: that wealth is the re-
sult of intelligence, foresight and
thrift, not the result of mere labor;'
that "this element of brain is more im-
portant in the creation of wealth than
is either labor or capital"; that sur-.
plus capital is not the result of the
robbery of the poor, since "The poor
never produce as much as they con-
sume. That is the reason they are
poor and have nothing of which to be
robbed"; that the incomes of "big
business" are but a fair return for the
invention, industry, organizing skill
and creative imagination of the suc-.
cessful business man ("the so-called
fortune that Mr. Morgan left at his
death was really only a small com-
mission paid by the people to Mr. Mor-
gan for his lifelong services in their
behalf"); and that the present assault
on the owners of capital is an assault
on the civilization which they alone{
have made possible. In short that thef
inequality of brain power will forever,
make impossible equality of wealth.
Well, to those who thing that man-
ual labor is the source of all value,
that capital is surplus value squeezed
out of the. laborer, that nobody can
honestly be worth a million dollars to
society, and that there is always
wealth enough "to go 'round" if only
properly distributed-to all such this
book is commended. It is quite true
that the enormous difference in the
prosperity of the average American
and the average Chinaman can be
traced rather to the mind-power of a
few score inventors and organizers
than to the muscle-power of the mil-
lions of industrious workmen in both
countries. It is not at all improbable
that Carnegie, Rockefeller, Edison and
Ford have contributed far more to the
dinner pail of the. laborerp than the
latter have contributed to the profits
of these millionaires. Grant all this.
Is Mr. Walker's defense of capitalism
invulnerable? ,
The first unfavorable comment that
l occurs to the reader is that Mr. Walk-
er deals only with one type of wealth,
the rewards of legitimate and socially
useful business. He fails to consider
fraud-wealth, derived from successful
swindling; gambling-wealth, derived
from successful speculation; accident-
wealth, derived from inheritance or
the over-flow of unearned increment
in a "boom town." All these taken to-
gether may make up a bigger sum
than the earned-wealth which alone
receives full treatment. Even so-call-
ed earned-wealth may be a detriment
to the community. The moonshiner is
selling a commodity in popular de-
mand, but does the "exchange value"
of his product make him a useful citi-
zen?
Again, Mr. Walker is rather wilfully
blind to the realities of commerce
while expounding his abstract theor-
ies. It is an ideal rather than a real
capitalism which he defends. For
example, he declares that "There is
not and never has been such a thing
as watering stock." The reason for
this amazing statement is that stock is
sold at its real value, not at its nomin-
al or face value. True, if the public
knows the facts! But has it never hap-
pened that false reports deceived the
small investor to the profit of some
inside ring? Once more; Mr. Walker
Caesar Gets The Lion's Share
declares "there is no such thing as
'unearned increment,'" because "any
change for the better in the condition
of a community adds to the value of
whatever any inhabitant of the com-
znunity has to sell, whether it be land
or trade or labor." True, again, as
against the untenable Single 'Tax the-
ory that only the landowner profits
from the growth of a community. But
is it possible to deny that a great
landlord may receive a much greater
share of the wealth of a growing town
than a landless, rent-paying laborer?
To take a third example, one of Mr.
Walker's main arguments for the
present system is that invention is en-
couraged by patent laws holding out
hopes of profit to the inventor.' But
has it never happened that the invent-
or was forced to sell his idea for a
trifling sum while an exploiter of the
invention made millions from it? Are
all or even most of our scientists and
inventors millionaires? Brains may
create wealth, as Mr. Walker says;
but other brains often get their share
of it!
But our real quarrel with Mr. Walk-
er's thesis is much more fundamental.
Granting, for the sake of argument,
that the capitalist system gives to ev-
ery man just as much as he produces
does it follow that the system is per-
fect? So the old-fashioned Marxian
Socialist would say, agreeing with Mr.I
Walker to "render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesar's," and only dif-
fering as to whether "Caesar" be Mr.
Carnegie or John Doe Hunyak of the
steel mill. Have either Marx or Mr.
Walker figured out the consequences
of literally giving to every man the
value of what he produces?
The first consequence would be that,
all the inhabitants of prisons, work-
houses, almshouses, asylums, homes
for the aged, homes for the blind or
crippled, all who are in any way de-
pendent on social charity, would be
starved to death, for it is obvious that
they produce little or nothing. The
myriads of incompetent and inefficient
laborers would be permitted to live on
air, or at best on a crust of bread a
day. On the other hand, some research
chemist, now living and workix
cheerfully at $4,000 a year, would fin
himself suddenly rewarded by an i
come of $4,000 an hour. The Duk
of Watt, with an income equal to a
the values created by the steam e:
gine, would by this time own Englan
General Foch, having saved Fran
from German conquest, would dra
an annual rent from all the lands
France; or at the very least be paid
sum equal to the cost of carrying a
the Great War for six months, it b
ing assumed that under an ordina
general of "marginal" ability the wa
would have lasted six months longe
As a matter of fact, the honest citize
and patriot is quite content to do hi
best work without demanding an
thing like the equivalent return, pr
vided that he has enough to live cor
fortably and to encourage his furth
efforts.
The whole attempt to justify the di
tribution of income from the stan
point of the producer alone brea:
down. Income must be distribute
with some regard to the right of tb
consumer to "life, liberty and the pu
suit of happiness." In a humane an
Christian civilization the strong mu
help the weak and the competent th
incompetent. Should income then
exactly equal for all, on the commu
istic principle of "from each accordin
to his ability, to each according to b
necessity"? Ideally, yes. But we mu
reckon with the fact that some e
couragement, even some financial e
couragement, is necessary as a stim
lus to production. We can well affo:
to let the good workman or able bm
ness manager be paid as well ;
praised, since he increases the weal
of us all. Production must be mai
tained, as Walker justly insists,
there will be no wealth to divide eith
equally or unequally. The 'corre
formula for the distribution of weal
should take both production and co
sumption into account. We ventu
to formulate as the best economic pc
icy, whether under a capitalist or S
cialist regime, "the greatest possib
equality of wealth which is consiste
with efficient production."
4. N
Have You Leverything You Want ?
KODAK
He insists on plucking
discords and borrowing
your clothes-yet you.
wouldn't trade him for
any other room-mate or
part with the Kodak
pictures you make of
him.
Kodak pictures-time
exposures, snap shots-
are clean-cut stories. that
grow priceless- in value
as- the years speed by.
And -they are easy. to
make.
Our, Kodak counter is
complete. Come in and
look it over.
dutographic Kodaks
$6.-o up
CALKINS-FLETNCHER DRUGCO.&
324 So. State St.
E. & S. Univeruity Aves.
State & Packard Sts.
ARE you satisfied with what you
have, or is there something
lacking? Let us help you secure it.
No matter where your taste carries
you, the only way to make your
dreams come true- is by saving.
Small amounts, regularly deposit-
ed -- will surprise you with their
results. What you desire is within
your reach if you but save.
The easiest; quiecest wav
DRIE the. hair- completely- in
a few brief moments, with
a steady current of cool or well.
warmed air. -.Should be a aper-
maneat fixture:.in every- sorority
house.
Good for lifetime service
- I
The Ann Arbor Savings Bank
"The ank of Friendly erpis"
Resources
)0,000
TWO OFFICES
-I