THE ONE AND ONLY SHAW

George Bernard Shaw has perfected the art of spontaneous originality. He finds himself so celebrated that he has arranged to send some of his letters over a code signature called a "mono-mark" as a protection against reporters and salesmen. By this stamp of original genius he has set a precedent for less original celebrities.

Says Shaw with superb candor: "My reason for taking out a private mono-mark is that I am what is called a celebrity. It is sometimes excessively inconvenient to be a celebrity, because of the advertising value of a celebrated name."

Manifestly he does not find his celebrity too inconvenient to have his little joke and bring his name once more before a curious and gossipy public. This is only another indication of his uniqueness. A short time ago his photograph flashed in all the newspapers showing him posed upon a diving board and looking for all the world like a bathing beauty in whiskers. Now he joins the exclusive circle of Wall Street as possessor of his own code signature.

It is claimed for Shaw that he is the only celebrated European who has not succumbed to the lure of a speaking tour in the United States. Deep down in his heart he would probably enjoy nothing so much as a trip to these shores. Such a trip would mean at least a couple of new plays. "But why come to America?" one can imagine Shaw saying to himself. "Columbus did it first."