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voluptuaries for every one whom the Little Theatre had sent home
thoughtful to a chaste bed after Mr Chesterton's Magic or
Brieux's Les Avaries。 Perhaps that is the real reason why the
Church is lauded and the Theatre reviled。 Whether or no； the fact
remains that the lady to whose public spirit and sense of the
national value of the theatre I owed the first regular public
performance of a play of mine had to conceal her action as if it
had been a crime； whereas if she had given the money to the
Church she would have worn a halo for it。 And I admit； as I have
always done； that this state of things may have been a very
sensible one。 I have asked Londoners again and again why they pay
half a guinea to go to a theatre when they can go to St。 Paul's
or Westminster Abbey for nothing。 Their only possible reply is
that they want to see something new and possibly something
wicked； but the theatres mostly disappoint both hopes。 If ever a
revolution makes me Dictator； I shall establish a heavy charge
for admission to our churches。 But everyone who pays at the
church door shall receive a ticket entitling him or her to free
admission to one performance at any theatre he or she prefers。
Thus shall the sensuous charms of the church service be made to
subsidize the sterner virtue of the drama。
The Next Phase
The present situation will not last。 Although the newspaper I
read at breakfast this morning before writing these words
contains a calculation that no less than twenty…three wars are at
present being waged to confirm the peace； England is no longer in
khaki； and a violent reaction is setting in against the crude
theatrical fare of the four terrible years。 Soon the rents of
theatres will once more be fixed on the assumption that they
cannot always be full； nor even on the average half full week in
and week out。 Prices will change。 The higher drama will be at no
greater disadvantage than it was before the war； and it may
benefit； first； by the fact that many of us have been torn from
the fools' paradise in which the theatre formerly traded； and
thrust upon the sternest realities and necessities until we have
lost both faith in and patience with the theatrical pretences
that had no root either in reality or necessity； second； by the
startling change made by the war in the distribution of income。
It seems only the other day that a millionaire was a man with
？0；000 a year。 To…day； when he has paid his income tax and super
tax； and insured his life for the amount of his death duties； he
is lucky if his net income is 10；000 pounds though his nominal
property remains the same。 And this is the result of a Budget
which is called 〃a respite for the rich。〃 At the other end of the
scale millions of persons have had regular incomes for the first
time in their lives； and their men have been regularly clothed；
fed； lodged； and taught to make up their minds that certain
things have to be done； also for the first time in their lives。
Hundreds of thousands of women have been taken out of their
domestic cages and tasted both discipline and independence。 The
thoughtless and snobbish middle classes have been pulled up short
by the very unpleasant experience of being ruined to an
unprecedented extent。 We have all had a tremendous jolt； and
although the widespread notion that the shock of the war would
automatically make a new heaven and a new earth； and that the dog
would never go back to his vomit nor the sow to her wallowing in
the mire； is already seen to be a delusion； yet we are far more
conscious of our condition than we were； and far less disposed to
submit to it。 Revolution； lately only a sensational chapter in
history or a demagogic claptrap； is now a possibility so imminent
that hardly by trying to suppress it in other countries by arms
and defamation； and calling the process anti…Bolshevism； can our
Government stave it off at home。
Perhaps the most tragic figure of the day is the American
President who was once a historian。 In those days it became his
task to tell us how； after that great war in America which was
more clearly than any other war of our time a war for an idea；
the conquerors； confronted with a heroic task of reconstruction；
turned recreant； and spent fifteen years in abusing their victory
under cover of pretending to accomplish the task they were doing
what they could to make impossible。 Alas！ Hegel was right when he
said that we learn from history that men never learn anything
from history。 With what anguish of mind the President sees that
we； the new conquerors； forgetting everything we professed to
fight for； are sitting down with watering mouths to a good square
meal of ten years revenge upon and humiliation of our prostrate
foe； can only be guessed by those who know； as he does； how
hopeless is remonstrance； and how happy Lincoln was in perishing
from the earth before his inspired messages became scraps of
paper。 He knows well that from the Peace Conference will come； in
spite of his utmost； no edict on which he will be able； like
Lincoln； to invoke 〃the considerate judgment of mankind： and the
gracious favor of Almighty God。〃 He led his people to destroy the
militarism of Zabern； and the army they rescued is busy in
Cologne imprisoning every German who does not salute a British
officer； whilst the government at home； asked whether it
approves； replies that it does not propose even to discontinue
this Zabernism when the Peace is concluded； but in effect looks
forward to making Germans salute British officers until the end
of the world。 That is what war makes of men and women。 It will
wear off； and the worst it threatens is already proving
impracticable； but before the humble and contrite heart ceases to
be despised； the President and I； being of the same age； will be
dotards。 In the meantime there is； for him； another history to
write； for me； another comedy to stage。 Perhaps； after all； that
is what wars are for； and what historians and playwrights are
for。 If men will not learn until their lessons are written in
blood； why； blood they must have； their own for preference。
The Ephemeral Thrones and the Eternal Theatre
To the theatre it will not matter。 Whatever Bastilles fall； the
theatre will stand。 Apostolic Hapsburg has collapsed； All Highest
Hohenzollern languishes in Holland； threatened with trial on a
capital charge of fighting for his country against England；
Imperial Romanoff； said to have perished miserably by a more
summary method of murder； is perhaps alive or perhaps dead：
nobody cares more than if he had been a peasant； the lord of
Hellas is level with his lackeys in republican Switzerland； Prime
Ministers and Commanders…in…Chief have passed from a brief glory
as Solons and Caesars into failure and obscurity as closely on
one another's heels as the descendants of Banquo； but Euripides
and Aristophanes； Shakespeare and Moliere； Goethe and Ibsen
remain fixed in their everlasting seats。
How War muzzles the Dramatic Poet
As for myself； why； it may be asked； did I not write two plays
about the war instead of two pamphlets on it？ The answer is
significant。 You cannot make war on war and on