THE CORNERSTONES OF MODERN DRAMA 725 



comfort. Especially foster and honor this supreme art of Shakes- 

 peare's, so much neglected and misunderstood in both countries; en- 

 dow it in all your cities; build handsome, spacious theatres; train 

 your actors ; reward your dramatists, sparingly with fees, but lavishly 

 with laurels, bid them dare to paint American life sanely, truthfully, 

 searchingly, for you. Dare to see your life thus painted. Dare to 

 let your Drama ridicule and reprove your follies, and vices, and de- 

 formities. Dare to let it mock and whip, as well as amuse you. 

 Dare to let it be a faithful mirror. Make it one of your chief coun- 

 selors. Set it on the summit of your national esteem, for it will 

 draw upward all your national life and character; upward to higher 

 and more worthy levels, to starry heights of wisdom and beauty and 

 resolve and aspiration." 



