to the journalists, then took on the task of interpret-ing between the men of the press and the great man of the theater. He thanked the journalists for answering the invitation and explained the mission for which Mr. Benthall had come. After Mr. Benthall had spent a full day at Baalbek conferring with the responsible officials, his choice fell on the Temple of Bacchus for the performance of the two Shakespeare plays: "The Merchant of Venice" and "Antony and Cleopatra."

He was asked about his impressions of what he had seen at Baalbek, and he replied: "I was moved to the utmost by the beauty and grandeur of these temples, which still preserve the stamp of legendary splendor!"

When he was asked, "Why did you choose these

two plays for performance at Baalbek?" he answered: "The character of these plays is an Eastern character, which accords with the vistas of the Temple of Bacchus; and the second reason is the fame each of the two plays has won in London."

Mr. Benthall was asked: "Do you think the citadel should be left as it now stands, or must some improvements be introduced into it?"

He said the citadel must remain as it is now, because this ancient patina constitutes the element of beauty and splendor in it. But he explained that it was necessary for the masses of rock to be removed, whereupon the Temple of Bacchus would become an ideal place for the performance of plays.