THE CABINET: Gracious

Monday, Sep. 01, 1924

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America and Americans are not noted for their success in turning graceful compliments. In 1920, the French Government officially invited James K. Hackett, U. S. actor, to appear in Macbeth and Othello at the Theatre Odéon in Paris under the auspices of the Ministry of Fine Arts. It was a gracious compliment.

The United States has not reached the stage of civilization in which its Government may possess a Ministry of Fine Arts. Nevertheless, there are Americans possessed of both the will and the means to aid the fine arts. A committee of patrons was formed; an invitation was written to Firmin Gémier,* actor, manager of the Odéon, to bring his company to the U. S. This invitation is to be conveyed by the State Department through the usual diplomatic channels, in order to return as far as possible the gracious compliment of France to the American stage. Incidentally, the committee of patrons which makes possible this courtesy carries a roster of names, great in almost every field of endeavor — Art, Finance, Law, Education, Politics. Otto H. Kahn is Honorary President. James K. Hackett is Honorary Executive Secretary. Others include W. Vincent Astor, George F. Baker Jr., James M. Beck, David Belasco, Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, Paul D. Cravath, John W. Davis, Robert W. De Forest, John Emerson (President of the Actors' Equity Association), Charles Dana Gibson, Robert Underwood Johnson, Thomas W. Lament, Clarence H. Mackay, Frederick William MacMonnies, Frank L. Polk, E. T. Stotesbury, Augustus Thomas, Harry Payne Whitney, George W. Wickersham, Owen D. Young.

^{*Firmin Gemier was born in Paris in 1865. The records
reveal that fact
quite plainly but they do not give the whole truth, which is
that Gemier was born an actor.
Most of M. Gemier's successes have been
scored in the Théātre de l'Odéon, Frances second national theatre,
although, from an artistic viewpoint, it might well deserve to be
ranked first. In 1921 M. Gemier arrived at the summit of his ambition
when he was appointed Manager of the Odéon, the theatre where he has
created some 30 roles, many of which were in the plays of Moliere and
Shakespeare.}