4
EVENING LISBaBR-paiLADELPHlA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1014.
i
-JMiWMW"
SOME IMPRESSIONS OF "THE CRITIC"
JOHN ERLEIGH
SCHOOLMASTER A -.GRIPPING STORY OF LOVE. MYSTERr ANO KIDNAPPING
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( By titAVUft MOIURIS
' Author of "John Drtdon, Solicitor."
ciuiiacturs In tiiu aronr
Tltll HA RCM0N11S3 Of vrlUBUnLBV
(Anne), She hot tiecrt a uidow for seien
ieart. The present ... -
UAItQVBVS OF WDIBEflLKV, her Ion any,
ntrtd it, tcho M about to so to a puollo
tchool . . , .,
ronw AttTiiVn memkt, hit ncte, i rft-
cwlit0 Ifte Important molfer uftn IMdv
vrtmocrlf. tie li the tiounger orofner pf
the late peer and nelr-nrcsumpllte to the
file
lMdu Wmoerto fs most , anxious or Ovv
to oo (Q 'nrplree, which o smaller nrnt
vovnprf tchool nulfo clot to the lFhnWr'
leuf home Slonktilier, The headmatter,
Oftf r.nt.tttait, M, a great friend of hen
Brtelgh hat practically made Ilarptrec.
;orrt rthAr Jfertel visits Brleigh and, In
pile df hit prefudlct against llarnlree, t$
preathi Impressed teltn UrMoh't character,
lie tells the headmaster that It It necetsaru
after at he suspects that tchemri are afoot
that Dy sno-ilil bo ten corrniiy iveti
or MiJiirtPpliip Ihe 6oj. "II jeouM e icorln
rs tonne jo pet ru ,.n,, our-.
One olfetnpf has already een mart unsue-
r "Tit S TUfl.lO U ! . " """'i'" --
eetttullv ot SI1 rancrae Station, The head
footman al Jloiifcfltur I n detective Kho
hat been ennaocj o toatei . Guy, Ifcouph
Xxuly Wlmoerlew Is lanorant or wis nci.
Krlelci promises- to look after Guy, "at
If he were his ou,n ton "
.4 lrar atcr, Ouy fins .been, at Itarptree,
rrtelgh. on n 1 fsft (o .ady lflmoerley, con.
fesset that he lovtt het. . . .
Ha It frightened after he ha spoken. De
rmis of the toelal difference belief en them:
tmt Anne Interrupts film, and declare that
he. too. loves him deeply. ... . .. .
.trrdltifl at the school fie Is Informed that
Ull VEKTMAX It nalllMtr lo see Mm. The
post of chemtttru mailer at Wnrptree is
tacaiit. and VfrllH"" hat come In answer
to adicrtltementt, Krleigh haling found hit
" testimonial's tullr sollsaclon. . . .
It transpires that Ycrttpan had F.nou.11
Krlelgh tome to titart ago, and icilnessen
the falter strike and Mil a man named
Jloehord. Talbot, an Innocent man, tea
arretted for lite crime, sent to prison, ana
died there. . , . , .
Vcrtttmn hat never Muen JJrleloh an.au.
but the tchoolmanler feart Mm. Erlelph
rnmiot. fioiorter. urge th
! hoiorter. urge that Vertloaii Is not
be a matter at llarptrce, for he him-
fit to be a masl
lie promltet to think oter the matter of
Vcrltgan't appointment, but he fcnoios tn his
heart that he mutt accept the, man.
UMI TltAVCKS, lirltlghlt slsler, -ulstts Ladu
IHmberlev. i.ord Arthur alio meets her,
Denham, the ootman-rfetectlts at Monk-
ttlver, teltt Irtrd Arthur that he hat
recognized Mrt. Trat-ert at a friend of
Dick lleriet't, the man who It suspected
0 -qlfrMptlnp to kidnap young Wtmberlev.
Lord Aithur iclres tor llarker, a prtoaie
(telecllte he Is cmnlouing, to come to Hon-
1 silver lie can hardly believe that Mrt.
. Traiert It concerned In the plott against
- IVImbtrei. but the Vop streiiolhens sus-
1' plelon by taping that he remembers meetlno
nannlnrt nttemnt irns made.
Lord Arthur returns to toicn and con
eultt Barker, n detective. Though the de
teitda It convinced that Mrt Traiert It
mixed up In Dick iftrltt't tchemet. Lord
Arthur it not.
CHAPTEIt VH-(Contlnucd)
4.,
Shall, 1 light up, my lord?" salO Bar-
tr.
"Yes. Any newn?" 1
"No, my lord. Of course, my hands
are tlotl, lp a manner of speaking. I
can't do much while I'm brushing; your
clothes."
"You can bo dismissed any time you
like,- Darker."
"Well, I think the day after tomorrow,
my Iotd."'
Lord Arthur left the window and aeat
ed himself beforo the fire. Barker turned
up the electric light anil drew the blinds
, and cut tains.
'Havo jou told Mr. Erlclsh, my lord J"
ho queried.
"Tpd him what?"
Jr'That his sister Is a friom! of Mr. Dick
Merlet's, and that sho wna living under
another natrui until nulte recently."
, "No, Barker. I don't quite see woll, to
Uelt.ijou the trutji, I'm afrnld of doing
a'n tiling to worry his Blster-ln-Iaw un-
4 It T n ... r.i.1,.. ...Inln . . , , !!. V
Gjr ' "41 !IM' I.CH4UI tllfc mho inrs.t
St Travers Is un to mischief."
7 Barker shook his head
, "I'm afrnld," he said, "very much
ftfrald."
"Yes, but wo must have proof, and
1 even then sou know that I wish tr nvnM
-.telling Lady WImbcrley that her son has
been In any dnmrer She would never
liave another moment's happiness or
peace of mind,"
"Still, my lord, I think you'll pardon
. mef saying so that It would be best to be
quite open wUll her ladyship. And don't
sou think It would be bette." to persuade
ber to take the young gentleman away
from Ilarptree?"
"Impossible, Barker, unless we have
.something definite against Mrs. Travers
Besides, we can look after him better If
he's fit Harptree."
"But think of the woman's opportuni
ties, my lord-the sister of the headmaster
able to stay In the house as long and as
often as she likes. Then there's that man
Vertlgan. Vm not at all satisfied that
he'H pot an old frend of Mrs. Travers."
sLord Arthur laughed. "You Jump at
conclusions,' ho said. "You made In
quiries and found out that; lie only came
to see Mrs. Travers to nnd out her
brother's address and that lie telegraphed
to ErleJgh lu the morning."
"Yes, my lord tliaVa truo enough still
-.ono never finds out anything unless one
has theories."
h ''Tbero is a great deal too much theory
about this business for my taste. The
only facts we have at present are that
,' on attempt was maae tq Kianap my
? - Miephoyv three years ago, and that Mrs.
' - Travers hannened to bo at St. Pmtrai
T Eltntlnn at thA llmff Wrnnt tliitt T 1.o.,a
een of Mrs. Travers I should say that
she Is not at all the sort ot person to
tut m(tl un In anv rrlmfnnl Anlaraflna
AV" Barker Hushed "Appearances are de
ceptive, my lord," he said, "but still I'll
ddmlfe "
There was a knock at the door, anil Mr,
Purvis, the landlord, entered He was
stout, and tall and clean shaven-a retired
butler who had saved a good deal of
Mi .m.on?y.
f -wen, rurvisr- am i.ora Arthur as
''the man came forward with aolemn
face. "What's the trouble?"
, "A lady to see you, ray lord,"
''Well, you needn't look so worried
. about It," laughed Lord Arthur. "Who
. Is she?"
'Name of Mrs Trovers, my lord no
card says she wants to see you on most
Important business."
"" - "Very well, Purvis, show her up"
1 1 The landlord turned, his face, express-
t ing obJi)u disapproval. Ills tenant was
not in yie naoit or receiving lady visitors
, in Ids Rhambar
"What does this mean. Barker?1' nurliA
LLjjrd Arthur.
tQpn't saV, my lord, a fresh move In
Ltho game, X suppose."
- 1
v- j.. .. 1
sassssssasssssssss ss as s 1 ssssa sssssssa s a. ssssss 1 sasssss 1 ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssaiss j
iWHiSt cT JttXjJ
p jr52& mEU !2?h
l - r 1 1
I --fc. r "-'"l" i..t,.W,-...Ainn... ...-i..,, .,,.,, ,M .,!,, I,,,!, m,,,, ,, . T .. . imrIT jS - -r.-nn-w.nl.
"Well, you'd better clear out at once
I'll send for ou If you'ro wahtcd."
Barker withdrew, nnd a minute later
Mrs. Travers was shown Into the room
She woie a handsomo muff and stole ot
white fox and 1 poked radiantly beautiful.
"I hope jou don't mind hie calling
to see jou," sho said na they shook
hands.
"I'm detlghtcd. What n wretched day,
Isn't It? Come and sit by the fire."
Mrs. Travers smiled, took off her furs
and laid them on a table. Then sho
seated herself on a chalf by the nre and
held out her Hands to the blaze.
"Of course, I ought not to hao come
here," she said, after a few momenta ot
silence. "Only business of the' most
urgent Importance a matter thnt I could
not jvlrtc about has broupht me herc.'V
"I am very pleased to see you," he said
mechanically. "Very pleased, Indeed."
That was truo enough. He naa glad
to see her. On a black and dull October
day like this the mere sight of any
thing so fair and radiant as Mrs.
Travers was a pressure.
"It's rather n. difficult matter to speak
about, ' sho said nervously, "but but "
Sho paused and twined her hantis to
gether on her knees, and stared at the
lire. Tier face wai grave and troubled.
"Weill" ho said kindly.
"You must loOkMJn me ns a friend one
who wishes jou well all of you. Lord
Arthur. If ou hae any Influence over
your tilster-ln-law'-'jou have, haven't
joU?"
"Well, I dare say I haven little," he
answered with a smile.
"Then I Implore you to try to per
suade her, Lord Arthur, This marriage
tan never bring her happiness. It must
not take place."
Lord Arthur Merlet frowned nnd looked
Intently at Mrs. Traver's face. The
woman was gazing at tho flro nnd seemed
very distressed.
"I'm afraid," ho said nfler a pause,
"thnt I cannot Interferes In tho matter."
The tone of his volco made her look up
nt him, and nn eager light camo Into
her cjes.
"You do dlsapprpvs of tho marriage?"
she said quietly. "You have disapproved
of It all along?"
Ho smiled ''Well, Mrs. Travers." he
said, "of course, tiore Is a certain dif
ference In position jour brother, 41 most
distinguished man, of course still
well,. I should hardly have thought the
objection would havo come from his
family."
"Oh, please don'L misunderstand me.
Lord Arthur: It Is of your sister I am
thinking well, not exactly, but of both
of them. I am sure, quite sure, that
they will not bo happy."
Lord Arthur nodded. Ho suspected the
truth and was ashamed of his suspicions
This woman. In league with Dick Merlet
to do some Injury to tho young Lord
Wlmbcrlej', would shrink from her task
If the two families wero united In mm-.
rlagc. Sho thought sho could do her
work more easily if the marriage did
not take place.
"J must confess," he said nfter a pause,
"that you'vo rather taken my breath
away. I thought you ceemed so pleased
that day you caljed at Monksllver. What
has happened since to make you change
your'mlnd?"
"Nothing. Lord Arthur nothing. From
the very first I foresaw dlmcultles. But,
01 i-oursD, x una 10 preienu to De pleased.
All along I've been against the marriage.
You yourself see that It can never be a
success. My brother Is wrapped up In
his work. Lady WImberley doesn't un
derstand how dull her life will be she
has had such n, different sort of life.
And then the boy? You don't know my
brother how stern he Is, how unlikely
to favor Lord WlmberUj: a mother's
darling; the boy Is sure to lend to
trouble."
"H'm. yes," said Lord Arthur, stroking
his mustache and looking at a portrait
of Lady WImberley that stood on tho
mantelpiece. "Still, I don't understand,
Mrs. Travers, why you have suddenly
come to me about all this."
"I have come to jou." sho replied, be
cause I I feel you'ro the sort of man
that can be trusted to do what Is right,
to uso his Influence for good."
"You ara very kind." he muttered.
Then he laughed. "Look here. Mrs.
Travers," he said, "please be frank with
me. There )s some definite reason why
your brother should not marrj-, ray sis-ter-In-law,
X disapprove of tho match
myself and should be glad if you would
tell me anything that would enable me
to break off the engagement."
She met his gaze without flinching.
There was a look of reproach In her
beautiful eyes.
"Anything definite?" she said slowlj-,
"Against mi brother?-'
He flushed. "Well, I didn't mean that
exactly," he stammered, -('But you see,
one could not really break, oft the engage
ment unless there was some definite rea
son for doing so something that would
prevent my lter-ln-la from marrying
your brother."
"There is tithing against him," said
Mrs, Travera-'hotly, "He s one of the
best and kindest and most honorable of
men. But this marriage will mean un
happiness for him and for Lady Wlm.
berley. You can see' that and I can see
It We mus.t do, our best to make It Im
possible "
Ho scrutinized her face with those clear,
steady eyes of his. She was an enigma
so far as he was concerned. He could
not believe that she was acting a part,
that she was any (bin; but what she ap
peared to be a woman who was genuine
ly anxious to save others from unhappl
ness. He could not. at that moment, be
teverany evil of her.
"What do you suggest?" ha said after
a pause. "Why have, you coma to me
and told me yogr views pn the matter?"
"I want you tQ use your Influence "
"Oh, that Is all nonsense," he broke In.
abruptly, "ui oourse. Lady WImberley
would only baiangry with me HI told her
I did not approve of the marriage. It
would not prevent her from marrying
your brother.''
"I thought," she faltered, "I had hoped
jbeHKcW iff 1 1 Jf u "vavv
.umt.l'ltl "Susl." win ,... .-jiilns ami
Tom MeXnugMon mid nn excellent cast A
musical comedy of Vlennete origin Morn
tuneful than brilliant, but well acted and ,
pleasing
Dro V "DIplomiiMr,- with VWIIInm Gillette,
ninnclio Cites. Mario IXiro nnd ft strom
cnit tjardou's famous old play "modernised" '
b Mr Glllotte. end 11 nood deal lengthened
and diluted Good actinic compensates I
I OIWIUST "Dcn-Hur." The. ramlllar spec
tacle tf the persecuted Jew. from hew
Wallace's nocl. The rharlot rnco remains
Its 'big scene," Seo aboie.
OAUItlCK-'-folssh and Terlmulter Mon
tasriia Olass' populsr stories of tho clolUlua
trade -nado over Into the season's most
heartily amusing comedy.
KEITH'S- Bessie Clayton, Sam t.lilp
Mary Marble add n, dltcrslflcd bill
and
lieu 1
acove
UTTI.B THEATJtE-"The Critic ' Shcrldsn s
satire on tho rehearsal of a poetic drama
See nboie.
WAt.NUT-'The Trafrie " by nachel Marshall
Another "nhlto slave play ot tho familiar
pattern. Second and last week
WHAT'S DOING
TONIGHT
Opera
Oreru I
"The MaKle
l'luto,'
Metropolitan
eru House. 8 o'clock
Ilannuet, Now hjigland Socloty, Ilelloue-
Htrntforc; 0 o'clock
Teed and Qraln Dealers, Bourse.
"STJZI" AT THE ADELPHI
Suzl," tho tuneful Viennese musical
comedj- which came to the Adelphl last
night with nn excellent cast,' Including
Jose Collins. Tom McNaughtan and Con
nie Rdlss, was reviewed In this place yes
terday from its last performance In N'ew
York Saturday evening
" Then she suddenly covered her
face with her hands and burst Into tears
Lord Arthur was painfully embarrassed.
He certainly had not expected anything
of this sort. He was moved to pity, ni
most men ure moved, at the sight of a
beautiful woman In tears, Ho said noth
ing. He merely looked uncomfortable.
"I can't tell jou the truth," she sobbed
"If I could only tell you tho truth jou
would see how Impossible It Is that they
should ever be happy."
"Come, Mrs. Travers," he said gentlj-.
"Can't you take me Into your confidence?
I promise you that I will not betray it,"
She rose to her feet, and resting her
arms qn the mantelpiece looked down at
the fire. Her shoulders quivered, She
seemed to be shaken by a storm of
emotion.
"If you know anything that my sister-In-law
ought to know," he said sternly,
"anything serious It Is jour duty to
speak," 1
She did not answer him, but she turned
and looked at him. Her face was very
white; her blue ejes were dimmed with
tears. It was Impossible, he thought, that
she could be acting. She was In the grip
of come terrible secret something she
dared not tell for her brother's sake,
"Why don't you go to Lady WImberley
yourself?1' he suggested, "It Is a matter
for Jier ears alone perhaps a matter you
can talk over better with a woman."
lie wished to be rid of her now, wished
to put an end to the scene. He found
It he could not tell why exceedingly
painful. This woman was nothing to
him, but he felt most unaccountably
sorry for her. He was sure now that
she. had nothing whatever to do with
the plot against his nephew. She was
possibly In the hands of that scoundrel,
Dick Bertet.
"Please go to Lady WImberley," he
said gently. "I am sure It she knows
that you wish t ave her from unhappl
ness she Is kindness Itself you will find
It easier to spoatc to her than to me."
She clasped htr hands tightly together
and looked at him for a tev seconds
without speaking. Then she laughed
harshly
"I will go fiom here, at any rate," she
said. "I I ought neyr to have co me
lt was unwise on my part I did not see
I should have to explain Of course I
ought to have seen that."
(CONTINUED TOMORROW,)
(Coprrlsrt. IpU. by the Associated News
caper. Limited. )
SNOODLES' DIARY
SURE MIKE
MKfc HW
, SWNNCr
I 4HWM
W I
f II I wrrjMHANM nssute
PHOTOPLAYS
SALLIE CRUTE
Of the Edison Photoplay Company.
Writing In Harper's Weckl of which
ho Is tho editor, Norman HapgooU com
ments thusly on "Morals and Movies":
Morul questions nrn best handled by
puollo opinion. They nro bungled by
politicians. A vast now art, with di
rect appeal to million.", must Involve
moral Influences The moving picture
Is the most amazing art-form of our
time. In Impress upon natlonul life,
the movies nrn comparable to the
school nnd the newspaper.
In 1KI9, Mayor McClellnn, of New
York citj', suddenly shut tip nil the
moving picture houses Ho took this
course on no stated principle of what
was allowable and what was not:
simply on an Impression of harm be
ing dono. Tho big manufacturers who
send films all over the country acted
promptly. They saw their business,
national In Its scope, certain to be
ruined If It were to get out of key
with American moralltj, and thereby
to bo constantly Interrupted by police
power, after millions were Invested
They went to Chatles Bprague Smith
and Johtv Collier of the People's Insti
tute, jb men prominent In popular edu
cation, and asked them to decide,
before films wete sent out, whether
they were permissible. Hence arose
the National Board of Ceojprshlp, It
Is a stirring example of 'successful
voluntary co-operation between vast
business and the ethical sense of the
public. It has grown In life with the
growth of tho business. It has not
been exacting. The business has pros
pered and the public has been pro
tected A threat to the continued success of
such co-operation is offered hy the
butting In of nnlltlclans. Ohio put
Into practice lastSeptember a law by
which tin eo paid emplojes undertook
for that State the work done by about
143 representative citizens for the Na
tional Board of Censorship, A repeal
bill will be presented next month,
Threo political uppolntces, examining
MX) to 6C0 films a month, after a large
and especially competent national
board has pnssed the films, represent
a wanton and absurd officialdom.
How Utile the National Board, after
five j ears of co-operation, now needs
to Interfere with the manufacturers Js
shown by the figures for October.
"Eliminations" are nearly always
comparatively slight ana changes In
expensive. Number of subjects viewed
BT1
SIS
Number ot reels viewed
Numbar of picture In which elimi
piciu
nations were roads , . Tt
Number of Umlswttoca wade 1TV
Number nt subjects condemned 3
Numbr or rl MWidm.Red , , 1U
In other words, the big national
manufacturers try to act on the prin
ciples already worked out and clearly
written down. They realize that they
need, nevertheless, a certain supervi
sion, All they dread Is the substitution
: HE INVESTIGATES
&5Sesaaaak " fc
ssaaaak., .ssaaaaaaaaaaaaMA )s. J ll l
T"lK,THSV.
ft Bcmn).w M
Riii Win
of arbitrary political ignorance for
well-informed, tolerant, careful and
disinterested criticism
Illustrating the tolerance of the Na
tional Board as compared with the strict
ness of police caprice by a few Individuals
may be Instanced the suppression of tho
Annette Kellormnn. pictures by the po
lice In Chicago, the chopping to pieces of
the "Merchant of Venice" In order not to
allow Hhjlock'x bchavlout to cast nny
posnlblo nspcrslons on tho Jews; the for
bidding of nil scenes, however gay and
farcical, that could be construed as ridi
culing pollco at other constituted authori
ties; stopping "Pagllaccl" nltogether, and
the practical certainty that "Tho Hypo
crites." hlghlj thought of by tho National
Board, will be suppressed In Chicago bo
cause the figure, of Truth Is nude,
MAnatJEIllTB CLAltK IN "THC SIS
Tnn. OF JOSE."
Margucrlla Clark, who rctently made
her first appearance In motion pictures In
tho Famous Playors' production of "Wlld
flowor," is now nt tho Patlflo const
I studios of the Famous Plnj'ers, appearing
In a film adaptation of Frances Hodgson
Hurpett's pln "The Pretty Little Sister
or jose," tno former ramous starring ve
hicle of Maude Adams.
A GREAT MYSTIC STORY
SYNOPSIS
y.udora.ls left an orphan at an early ace.
Her fattier Is killed In a (old mine he
lias discovered. Half an hour after lesrn
Ins of tha death of her husband, Zudom's
mother a tlsht-rope walker with a clrcu
Is seised with verllro. falla and Is killed.
Zudora and the fortune from tho mine.
which later crows to be worth 120,000,000.
aro left to the guardianship of Frank
Keene. a circus man and the brother of
Zudora'a mother. Xudorn, stvln-r promise
nr great beau.y, readies the ace of 18.
The uncle, who has set himself up as a
Hindu mystlo and Is known as Hassam
All, decides In his greed that Zudora must
die before she comes Into possession of her
great fortune, so that It may bo left to
him. the next of kin. and ho preialla upon
the ilrl to leave her money In Ida handa
three years (oncer and to say nothing 10
any one about the fortune.
Hassam All sees an obstacle to his
scheme In tho person of John Storm, n
jcni- lawyer, for whom 'uriora has taken
fane), and he commands the girl to put
the man out of her mind. Storm comes
tn ask Hassam All for tho hand ot his
nlrce. At tlrst the crystal gaier will not
listen to the proposal, but Kudorn Insists
that If she rancot marry Storm she will
marry no one
'tl tvll aaM Hmim Alt ! v,n,
take such a stand, I'll compromise Soha
.ny next !0 cases and you can marry him;
ana you can marry inm
i.aso and you must rs-
-an in a single
nouiue him.'
Kudnra, using the knowledge calned from
association with her uncle, unravels two
baRUnc cases, both at the risk ot hsr life
storm receives a letter from his mother,
who lives In the South, Informing him
that her colored help was fleelnc from her
estates because on a. hill back of her house,
nlzht after ntaht, there appeared the herola
form of n skeleton hanl with a black spot
In the pil-n as If made by an enormous
bullet. Storm (tots home to unravel the
mistery and wrltea lo Zudora to coma 10
his aid Hasssm endeavors to dissuade her
from solnc.
CHAPTER IV-(Contlnjedt
Zudora's love was like a shield. The
barb bounded oft harmlessly. John Storm
was n e'ean man, In thought and in life.
She had not passed through this peculiar
schooling of hers without being able to
read between the lines. She was abso
lutely certain that love could not blind
her to any defects In John, All Hasaani
All accomplished by his Innuendo was to
enlarge that smoldering suspicion which
was ever In her heart,
A good many of us are near sighted
mentally. It Is easier to Judge things in
the distance than close at hand While
the general world knew that Hassam All
was a miser, Zudora, wus quite Ignorant
of the fact. Had she definitely known of
his Inordinate love of gold, her subse
quent miseries might have been avoided
to some extent
Storm went South Immediately The
home was simple and comfortable There
were two or three bits of antique furni
ture vvhlLh had been saved from the
wreck, It was night when he arrived.
The country railway station had, with
Its usual nondescript crowd of Idlers,
witnessed his arrival, and the news trav
eled qulckl)-. He regretted that he had
not come secretly and gone about his In
vestigations unobserved, But the dam
age was done, and proved conclusively
that he was not cut out for a detective.
He was greeted fondly by his parents;
and they repeated with elaborations what
A VITAL QUESTION
KSOT'CHA ' I SOT'CHA !
Yf SAIP SANTY VvJUX A
rAlfcT TALE , AN' WORE
PAKP WHISKERS'. AN' VgtfZZfNT
.-lu. CPAL
ALU WRONG-tMw, 11 "'on
"Puff's First Play,"
Or Sheridan a la Shaw
Bernard Shaw would get a lot of sat
Isfatllon out of the Llttlo Theatre's pro
duction this week. Not only tho fun ot
laughing nt Sheridan' "Critic" nnd re
Jolcli'g In the continued dominion ot Etln
over the land of comedj". Show might
pretty Justly reflect that If thl first Irish
"play within a play" Is stilt true to the
atrical life 1M j ears nfter Its birth, the
Induction an I epilogue ot "Fanny's First
Piny ' mny go on for a century or two
themselves.
Here Is Sheridan at his Irish best.
Nothing Is sacred, not even the play-wrlght-mttnagor
of Drury Lane, who mado
n name and fortune at 21. He Is poking
fun ut himself and the risk of sending
plays to a theatre run by a playwright,
even as Shaw starts the critics tAlklng
about himself In "Fnnnj" Calling thnt
habit which characters have of supplying
the exposition by long and Illuminating
dialogues "disinterested curiosity." nway
Sheridan goes rioting through nil tho pet
conventions thnt made up drama a. cen
tury ngo nnd that will probably mako up
drama a centuty hence.
tn spite of the considerable time since
"Tho Critic" wns IobI acted profession
ally In Phllndelphln, what a very famil
iar piece It seems Wo know it all before,
hand, because we know what Borrle
called "tho dear theatre." Manager!
''paper" first nights today; In tho days
of "Tho Critic" "they always filled tho
houo with orders to support It." A
Maudo Adnms In knickerbockers and wig,
Sir Fretful Plaglarj', plnywrlght, "made
It n lule ncvor to look Into a newspaper."
In those daj's every enterprising author
Introduced "lovo Interest" Into the his
torical drnma "to supply a deficiency ot
tho times" Ladles, rejoicing In "sort
of poetical second sight," described for
the audience romantic happenings "off
stage" Just us they do today
There wero even "upllfters" In those
dajs, people who thought that "the
theatre. In proper hands, might certainly
bo made tho school of moralltj, but now,
I am aorrj' to sa peoplo.scem to go there
principally for their entertainment." And
thoro were press ngents. Puff who
turned author because of his talent for
Ijlng was one. Ho knew the "puff di
rectthe puff preliminary the puff col
lateral tho puff collusive and puff ob
llqua or the puff by Impllcatlpn." He even
practiced that most pppu'nr of modern
arts, running a play down ns Immoral in
order to bring out the "S. It. O." sign.
"Aj that is alwajs the way at the
theatre. Give these fellows a good thing,
and they never know when to have dono
with It," Perhaps the company at the
Little Thcatro laid on a trifle heavily
and put In a scene or two that the books
BY HAROLD MacGRATH
hnd been recounted to htm tn tho letter.
It was downright serious, no laughing
matter. Tho help wero declaring that tho
mystic hand was tha warning of the
world's end. Not a tew of the poorer
class of white folk were accepting the
hoax as a serious affair. Some of tin.
negroes were even going so fnr as to
kneel down to the hand ((rum a safe dis
tance) and Intone prayers,
"Humph! ' muttered Storm. "I want a
good look at this thing. And some one Is
going to get a rattling good kicking be
fore I go back to town. Why the dick
ens should they pick out our hill for'thelr
tom-foolerj'7"
"Father saj-s it's because some one has
a grudge against the family," said his
mother.
"riffle!"
"An Imaginary grievance," she added,
"Who could possibly have a grudge
against you two, who have dono every
thing to mako life decently worth while
to the help?"
"You never can toll,'' Bald old Mr.
Storm, digging Into his pocket for his
pipe.
"What lime does It generally appear?"
"O, any time between sundown and
midnight."
"All right. I'll take a shotgun and go
hunting for Mr. Clhost this very night,"
Storm declared wrathfully.
Hut he wasted his time; also the night
following nothing came of his vigil. The
third night he was called to the door In
time to see tho hand flicker for a moment
and then vanish. He rushed toward the
hill, but found nothing. He began to
grow very angrj He admitted, the little
time he saw It, that It was grewsome
enouih It was eight or ten feet In
height, with a shadow in the palm, like
an embedded bullet. Subconsd tusly he
seemed to recognize something vaguely
familiar about the shape of the hand
Ha did not go into the village, but
prowled around In the vicinity where the
hand appeared most frequently, There
was no evidence of phosphorescence, no
footprints except, those made by the
negroes some two or three hundred jards
below the hill, John was puzzled and
irritated at the same time. This Joke
was being perpetrated by home one who
lied brains. Meanwhile the crops lay
ungathered and were beginning to rot in
the flelds, Something must be done In a
hurrj, -jlse he would be compelled to send
to the city for emigrants, who would
doubtless tako to their heels after the
same manner as the negroes. 80 he tele
phoned for Zudora.
And Zudora came.
(Continued Tomorrow)
MIKADO AIDS SALVATION AKMY
TOKIO. Dec. K. The Kmperor and Em.
press have given J1M0 to the Salvation
Army, according to a public announce
ment This is the first time that im
perial recognition has been given to the
organization -In Japan.
IhtNGr BUT ITS
ifc
1
INJBeRGtoTGD
v
fe..- Mi
w ri iitrn 1 1
, --r BH W SI
nnanii immtm in j 1 npif.;"T"" "" " jii' jj .-- Sp
don't record. But It trad all tdo good Jurt
lo cavil over. Mr. Payne enjoyed himself
hugely as tho unctuous author, and tedder!
such really delightful touches us tile
names of his own company In tho place of
those whom Puf wns supposed to bo
"boosting " They deserved It. even down
to Ida Hamilton, as "Tllburlnn, stark mad,
In white satin," reciting the following
Joint product of Ophelia and Gcrtftlde
Stein:
The wind whlstlea-the moon risessee
They ha ltllUil mr anidrMl tn til Meat
An oyster may be crossed In love! Who av
A whale's a bfrdT Hat Did you rail, my loT
Then tho scenery which Dangle nnd
Sneer applauded from their box while tho
audience roared. Even a dcrmatt couldn't
object to the tumlpy grand darno who
ruled the waves Brltanlcally on tha -curtain.
As for tho back drop, with Its
painted cowa nnd stationary smoke, tho
Drury Lnno artist must have had n. fore
warning that tho scene painter for "Suzl
was going to show Philadelphia real paint
ed sailboats tho same night at tho
Adelphl.
All this talk nbout the foibles of Bhurl
dan's day and our own, this roaring bur
lesque of poetic tragedy that ends wltti tt
parody of our own pageants Just ns mnefr
ns of Inlgo Jones' mnsques the River
Thames, with his two banks In green,
"one crowned with alders, and tho other
with a villa"; whnt o. vision It gtves you
01 tne long procession or the drama.
Back stretches tho oldest wf tho arts.' past
knickerbockers nnd powdered wigs, blank
verse nnd mail Ophelias, confidants nnd
heroes, llko Don Forolo "VVhlskernndog,
hangers-on who puff and hangers-on who
sneer, mock heroics nnd heroic mockeries,
nnd the audiences thut worshiped It nil,
one, two, 20 centuries ngd as they do
now, A wonderful art, tho theatre's! It
can wlthslnnd Sheridan's Jibes, overt its
own stagnant reality, nnd still keep tli
thrill that touchea n thousand hearts
whenever that fourth wall rises.
KEITH'S VATJDEVXXIiE
Vaudeville de luxo would be a JSl.t
title for tho show at Keith's this weok
It has everything that's good, from
Bessie Clayton down to Max Torli
and his canine pupils. "The Queen of
Tcrplschore," ns Mbs Clayton Is Justly
called. Is a show in herself. With her sur
rounding company of six players and
dancers, sho provided a unlquo trat In
tho way of orlglnalltj', too. by not ner
mlttlng a dull moment In the course ot
her artistic act. While sho and her tiglle
partner wero making changei, tho au
dience wns serenaded by a cabaret show,
which Miss Clayton carries ns a side
line. The dnnscuso was ably assisted
by Lester Sheehan.
Next In the way of real honors came
the act of Sam Chip and Mary Marble
In a picture book play, "A Dream of
Holland," by Herbert Hall WlnaloW
Comedy, dancing nnd drlglnalltj com
bined to make this one of tho best acts
seen nt Keith's this season.
Johnny Dooley nnd Yvetto Rugcl, two
Phllndelphtans, had what tnudevllUana
term "a hard spot," 'but they more than
held It, and their novel act, which com
bined a llttlo of everything In the way
of comedj nnd song, scored a solid lilt.
Black-face Eddie Ross nnd Ills banjo
also a brown derbj', sneaked on the stage
qulctlj', and In a few moments was fast
friends with all present. The audience
liked him so much that they hated to let
htm go. Others who scored solidly were
Louis and Crete Brunelle nnd Harry
Stephens In a miniature musical comedy;
Jarrow, who borrowed money from tho
audience, and made thorn believe blaclc
was white, and tho Alpine Troupe. The,
pictures this week are In keeping- with
the show, .
BEN HUH, BETTJBNS
"Bcn-Hur,'" which began Its entertain
ment In Philadelphia nt tho Torrest last
night, has lost none of Us charm. Its
thrills of gorgeous beauty in the 14 years
it has enjoyed public favor. If anything.
It Is even more beautiful than ever
Tho romance ot Ben Hue is too well
known to go into its history Every
school girl or boy knows the romance
of Ben-Hur, the son of the wealthj Prince
of Jerusalem, who la Incarcerated as a.
galley slave for the accidental killing
of a Roman, his fight for supremacy und
his success In the end.
The costume and sccnlo embellishments
of "Ben-Hur" oro more striking and beau
tiful than ever, and the scenes of old
Rome, Jerusalem, the Vale of Hlnnort
and the Grove of Daphlne, as seen last
night, are unexcelled
Richard Buhler, In the title role, takes
his part exceedingly well. Other mem
bers of the company are John Milton,
Walter M. Bherwln, Leslie Stowe, Ueorga
Sudenham, Casstus M. Qulmby, Herbert
De Guerre, Charles Canfleld, John Hagan.
Cecil Sully. Virginia Howell Mary Con
don, Alloe Haynea, Maud Ream Stover
and Martha Boucher.
l'HOlOl'LAVS
CHESTNUT ST. OPERA HOUSE
Home ot World's Ureatset Fhotpolayr
Afts I to li, 10 Alflc. Eves T toll 10, IB, SSo
POSITIVELY LAST WJJEK
THE SPOILERS
Twice Daily. Afternoons 2 SO, Evs. 8.39
Preceded by Keystone Comedy Pictures
Beginning- Monday Afternoon Dec St
TUB CHICAGO TltmUNKS
MOTION PICTURES OF THE
EUROPEAN WAR
TAKBK UfTOEIl DIRBCTION Ot THB
BBUHAN ClOVBRKMENr
Coming $; The CHRISTIAN
KMAHCU8 I.OKtV'8 T"
NIOllKHUUCKE K
Market and 40th Ma. v
Matinees all Seats Oa except Hoxrs.
Kientnn all Seats 10a except Boxes.
10 Ilia- Features! Chance of U)ll Men. aad
Thurs Vaudeville and Photoplays
famous Thonhouter Mini ZCtlOKA.
SOMFRSFT TIIKATHB TODAY
THKY O'llhAllTK
THE UAME Of Ul'B
On Life's lllsh geu OTHaUia.
WALTON SSSa'SU Tod.y
MAHTIN CHUZZLKtUT
IIBTTY MO Bag. OTUEB.
PABCUALL, 71st and Woodland Are.
II Ills of Kentucky tlameken'er's Daughter,
Broncho Billy. Keystone. Others,
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