The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-23
playfully. that this is TOO ridlculous-too rIdicu-

playfully, that this Is too ridculous-too rldlcu-
lous.
But there wouldn't be any play II you were TO
let human nature rush in wherever II ploasci.
The immemoria thing il better for stage pur-
poses than the natural thing 80 Fleming folds
his arms, scowls. and says AS for you sir.
meet me on the beach in half an hour. armed
and equipped as tradition requiresW
whereupon Grace faints. and Fleming shouts
in voice hoarse with tho emotion Of o blase
man. =" Stand back"
And wa Tracy stands back. while the curtain
comes down.
After this, Fleming shows signs OF softening
Of the heart which extend to the brain. He has
now arrived at that sublime altitude OF respect
for his wife that when wa Tracy tells him that
she always loved him (7racv). Fleming instantly
believes 1t. II does not enter his head that such
belief Is Incompatible with the respect he has
for her.
He actually believes that the honest. upright
girl. who is 80 unlike himself that he worships
| her, can be guilty OF his duplicity, and love one
man while pretending to love and really marry
ing Their
SO he concludes to take boat and pull out
into the sea and smother himself. 1t isn't that
| life is such tanglc to him. it's the labyrinth OF
common sense that puzzles him.
OF course he takes care to make II appear that
| he is actuated by the noblcst scf-sacriiico in
strangllng himself.
His friends pull him out. Grace nurses him.
The moment the opportunity arrives they get
their arms about each other
Grace -
"Johnl'
My darlingl'
Tho fundamental fault here is unorieinalty.
This is the patent love story OF the agcs.
But even the patent love story may be re-
deemed by originality OF treatment
Mr. Nhckayc's treatment is not only convcn-
tionai. hut it is mechanical.
The whole work bears unmstakablc signs OF
hcin: arranged according 10 a formula. Tho
p.rsonngos are Incorporating ideas. Th"y
ought TO be gcrminant fancics They are not
rcilexos OF life. hut revcrbcratiOns Of art Every
one suggests a predecessor.
The creative Imagination which scizos the hui
man character and evolves through all the
vcisstudes OF its life. the consistent individu-
aty Of that character is not felt here. 1t is tho
manufacture that we praise. We feel that JOHN
Fleming AMI Grace and Dr.. TRACY are walk
ine in pres 'ribcd grooves.
Tho sum total Of effect Is that Steele Mackayc
has illustrated n proposition in ethics
Tho sum total Of effect in u good drama T.
, that the characters have illustrated themselves
II ia impossible for me 10 overlook In this
r play tho evidences Of the student vino uncon
!, sriously and enthusiastically seizes upon tn,
obvious things Of life as II they had never beer
seized upon before. one Of the first duties Of
, iramatist Is To be original The chief concern
, Of tho playwright Is to appear So
4 Mr.. Ma kaye is too honest and sincere to evoi
copy. But he has copied ncycrthe lcss. uncon
, sriousy. His work. considered rs n lt"rar
1 | effort. is not distinctive. The two best scene
: in II have boon done before. and are familiar l.
1 most playgoers. ITS charar;cr- are contra
ID lirtory when they are s"rinus. "a trim" muud,il
when they are pathetic. and only absurd wh"l
They are humorous. When ii.G IrH ~ ani hi
q wife Npn.t thr hu-hau to come IA AMI cal
r he WI. thry gr' 'hi.iishiy
Mr. Mqcknyn meant iNrw ~ et confuse u
" and with trcpNNNON. When thc Professor
- lrrpuffd tn rl'.i NI- SON be- arlv''s.
Tu" huWnr OF tine play j. purely verbal ia
70 Nor b. ii,c lrNG'i. ui reference o. 'lan.-a wnr
e that sounds p..udarly cfl'otiys ia Mr.. Ma
Z EayD's eurs-li any special : .nlllrance as a
olpratnlr.
. The fa't is Mr. Meclnyc's humor il gha-tl
4 and heavy That which n contrib ufol rs n.
Frcnsh woman. NH. nu SNgll. b. mainly tll
.. humur Of action aud III" pigu o. -, Of a pur
1t Paris an elem ut INTERCEPTED III "a ,spc,tab
n American home.
Il is the n.y1rof opera houflr that lighter
- On" phl sgphy II mcloirama. But tn nsN'
" Is Du SNuli's.
is A. mr. til. actin, ~ the ulay i is evenly r.
siastic over ii. l wish could.