The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-01
Imo to show how even thIs grea. Orims ss.Ins.

nature may be turned q ultimate good teenlt.
Ing IN contentment and happiness. By womaniy
other. Tlian WesiGrooE is urged bT Ser tetbeT
Laurence Westbrook a New York banker on the
verge Of bankruptcy. to marry John Srsbeloto,
man oil about 40 years. and a millionaire. She
has quarrelled With her loyer Harold Rolaledoe,
and consents to her fathers opportunities, but
tell M, Stre9elo,o that she cannot offer him her
love; Mr. Strebeloto himself suspects that the
banker 1I may have exerted undue influence over
picons frankly to Ws:t6rooS The H latter r breaks
the promise he had given Lillian, and decelves
spite OF intended honesty on each side, both be-
,ps the victims tdls OF fsthsrs ambition They
affection yet troubled By her sad face, abe bury.
ing the recollection OF her former love and find
ing her only comfort lp a little daughter. Ndtdhe
seene Of the fourth act the construction Of the
PLAY is stTisinsly peeTliar Though the main
husband, the action Of the piece runs entirely
lover, Routledge and rival sui,or. for her hand
The Psrssn residence Of s5so1 " Win IL 'SGf true
frenchman's indifference to the marriage tie
still regards ~; Rogdiedos. and not her
h inasoad as his rival. Urged on by
young American TO a quarrel. eliminating in
blows at the American legation, The result is
midnight Lillian. appriscd Of the meeting.
reaches the scene Just in time to soc the loycr
OF her Rirlish days fall. fatally wounded. Her
expressions Of agony and remorse. coupled
with the cynical explanations OF the Count.
open Srslelo,c,s eyes for the first time to the
truth. When the husband and wife are next
alone together the deception Of the father,
which led, to their union, is at last understood
avictim like himself He has only words OF
kindness though his voice trembles with grief.
| Lillian discovers a deep and passionate love in
| the man who. she thpnult had houpht md
not in anger. follows; The wife returns 10 her
fathers homc She learns that in the six years
Of her married life the father Of her child had
| secured husbands place in her heart and he
nnally returns to find in her true and fond
The comedy OF the play. made in almost
every act somewhat conspicuous feature
seems Intended as comic reflection 80 to
speak, Of the serious passions involved-amost
parody. one might say. bound in the same
marres, like her friend lillian. man much
| older than herself. very old man, in her case
| and she does II deliberately. regarding the
| AFFAIR with the most compliment merriment
| She proves n devoted wife like Lillian and takes
the best possibl caro- Of the old man. laughing
| az herself and everybody else as she does So
| Mr.. q. Washington Plpps is a type OF the
American; rushing and nervous, making all
| ence. now widow, come together in a proposal
scene in the last act. which stands in ludierous
and her husband. BdJtaee is the antipode Of
his frivolous partner. Wesibrook, contributing
| 10 the humor OF the play on one side. and 10 its
| characters have a personal interest in tho action
OF the piece their most direct connection with
| II. from what may be called a " CONSTITUTIONAL"
| point Of view. is in the satirical reflection Of
human passions and in the contrasts already
| nofed
The representation was noticeable for its
nicely OF detail, It's general balance, and the
smooth ness that comes Of painstaking preparA-
ton. The cast OF the piece brought most OF the
capable actors In m excellent company into
view. and presented them In parts, for which
they possessed special aptitude Mr. Thorne
has never had role in which he could 80 ad-
mirably portray an American gentleman. and
his dignity. reposc. and manliness % say moth
ing Of other and perhaps finer qualities were
exhibited TO excellent advantage. Mr.. parselle
Laurence WestiroOkI rather doubtful spoci-
men Of the conventional father who sells his
daughter. was not seen 70 the best advan;
Bdbbdoe. and senior partner Of the firm man
aged to convey a strong picture OF irascibe
honesty. married only by his too frequent use Of
NJ. Ph'pps, an American tourist. and Mr. Le
M9,{ne made passing hit as The s9Hty old
cess Of the piece WAS owing TO the strong contrast
afforded IN BE eharaciers Of Lillian VI 50
Maud Harrison The methods OF these two
players is as wide as were the characters. Miss
Jewett simulated the. melancholy OF broken
heart admirably. and Miss Harrison suggested
the woman without a heart 10 break. Mr. Ling
| ham tThe COu,d de Cdrojdcl, filled n rather
s4dnS r9 SSS T fG%ss aspect and
player 81 much ability. may be said to have
made hit as the lover and artist Harold Rou-
The acts all terminate with strong situations
The duel scene OF the fourth act is not in the
hackneyed mode. The scenery is all surpass-
ingly beautiful, and. what is better appropriate
and artistic, and II may reasonably DO inferred
that this American play. hich has large COM
edy element Is much the best piece Of work
that Mr.. Howard has given us, II not by far the
best piecs Of work that has been given us under
the Instantaneous title OF American.