GEST PREFERS STUDENTS FOR THEIR INTELLIGENCE

"The susceptiveness of their minds to artistic things, their background of training and discipline received in the concentration on objects of beauty and art, and the capacity for giving their very best in the fulfillment of an artistic creation--these are the reasons why we have tried to make up the entire cast of the 'Miracle' from among college men and women."

Morris Gest, harassed by a flood of details requiring his personal attention, tired and drawn after nearly three days of nerve racking work in preparing the ground for his greatest production which opens in the Boston Opera House next week, stopped giving orders and making decisions long enough, to touch briefly on the history and future of the "Miracle," his own work, and upon his ideas of college students.

"I think that practically all, or at least 90 per cent of college people are artistically inclined. Max Reinhardt realized this, I know, for in Berlin, not only the complete cast but even the stage hands and everyone connected with the mechanics as well, were students in the universities. Of course in the Continental cities and especially in Germany, where the Miracle was regarded as a great civic enterprise rather than an individual project for material gain, college and university students were better able to give freely of their time than any one else," continued Mr. Gest.

"In Berlin the students would form at the university and march in a body to the theatre. The musicians in the orchestra, which was also composed of students, received in payment for their services paper marks to the value of about 25 cents a day.

"Naturally I am terribly anxious about the opening of the 'Miracle' in Boston, which will always remain my home town. I am sure it will be well received, for Boston is proud of its reputation as a center of culture and refinement which has always supported beautiful things. There is a fine spiritual movement in the 'Miracle' which can not fail to appeal to a city like Boston."

When questioned on his uncanny ability for accomplishing the generally conceded impossible in general and the 'Miracle" in particular. Mr. Gest made one of his characteristics impatient greater.

"I love beautiful things and the concepts of great beauty are the one every one says are impossible to make live. When I work on a thing of beauty my strength lasts longer and my energy is greater."