Nor has he thereby falsified his problem, for his characters belong to that class of society in which, as Mr. Dooley points out, the multiplication of automobiles is preferred to that of progeny. But he has not omitted to hint at the problem of the children, and, as it were, confess his deliberate avoidance of it. He does so in a touch of exquisite irony. _John_ and _Cynthia Karslake_ are a couple devoted, not to automobiles, but to horses. Even their common passion for racing cannot keep them together; but their divorce is so "premature," and leaves _John_ so restless and dissatisfied, that he actually neglects the cares of the stable. His favourite mare, Cynthia K, falls ill, and when his trainer brings him the news he receives it with shocking callousness. Then the trainer meets _Cynthia_ and complains to her of her ex-husband's indifference. "Ah, ma'am," he says, "when husband and wife splits, it's the horses that suffers." I know not where to look for a speech of profounder ironic implication. More superficial, but still a good specimen of Mr. Mitchell's wit, is _William Sudley's_ remark as to _John Karslake_: "Oh, yes, he comes of a very respectable family, though I remember his father served a term in the Senate." Altogether "The New York Idea" is, from the intellectual point of view, the most remarkable piece of work I have encountered in America. It is probably too true to the details of American life to have much success in England; but the situation at the end of the third act could not fail to bring down the house even here. It would take too long to describe it in detail. Suffice it to say that just at the point where _Cynthia Karslake_ dismisses her second bridegroom, to return to her first, the choir assembled for the marriage ceremony, mistaking a signal, bursts forth with irresistibly ludicrous effect into "The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden."[B] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote A: At the Kammerspiel Theatre, Berlin, under the direction of Max Reinhardt, October 7, 1916. There are translations in Danish, Swedish and Hungarian.] [Footnote B: _The Editor takes the occasion to express his thanks to Mr. William Archer for his kind permission to quote this analysis of the play._] LYRIC THEATRE REGINALD DeKOVEN, Proprietor SAM S. and LEE SHUBERT (Inc.), Lessees and Managers NINTH AND LAST WEEK. BEGINNING MONDAY EVENING. JANUARY 14, 1907. Matinee Saturday. Under the Direction of HARRISON GREY FISKE MRS. FISKE --AND-- THE MANHATTAN COMPANY Presenting a Play in Four Acts, Entitled THE NEW YORK IDEA BY LANGDON MITCHELL Cast of Characters.