The evening world., 1894-02-06
"BUTTERFLIEs."

Plays containing ideas" and "theo-
ries' and purposes" have been very
numerous Of late. They have come to
us from England, France and Germany.
anxious to prove here what they proved
there. They were rejected scornfully.
New York has not yet arrived Mt n
period when 1t can enjoy an amicable
discussion Of dangerous realities. 1t pre-
fcrs to overlook those realities alto
gethcr. or to skate over the thin ice that
hides them from view.
Henry Guy Carleton, tho author Of the
new play, Butterflies" that was pre-.
scented for tho first time In this city at
Palmcr's Theatre last night. must know
all this. He has put together three acts.
among which there Is not n single idea
divided. He has introduced us to some
bright dialogue. one or two pretty Incl
dents and several nice people, most Of
whom are In love with each other.
They trihe %joyously through the scenes,
pelt each other with rose leaves, run
races on a leafy Lcnox lane and play
~peek-a-boo behind n giant oak. They
soliloquize frequently, and they are at
cross purposes occasionally to vary the
monotony. There Is not an unpleasant"
thought In the entire pieco-all Is idyliic.
sweet and perfect-a picture Of true
American life. which. as we all know.
simply rceks with poetry.
Mr.. Carleton tried one ''situation,' but
1t was so grotesque that It was bathos.
Frederick Ossian. the hero. had to dc
something self-sacrihcing to bring down
at least one curtain. He could not save
Miriam frnr, yIllaI,, hn,a,,pa tlnra
was no villain: he could not foil an nd-
venturess-because there was no adven-
turess. Guess what he did? Mrs. Bev-
erly Stuart Dodge. the mother OF the
girl he loved, and "A horrible upstart who
had snubbed him persistently. was
dunned by a d~ressmatcr. The dress
makers agent followed her to Florida
and was about to present the bill when
Frederick Ossian advanced with all n
hero's fervor and for the sake OF the
girl he loved paid the bill with his last
check. This was so funny and SO
original that 1t quite cheered the heart.
Frederick Ossian loved Miriam. Andrew
Strong. his friend. loved Suzanne Elise,
and Suzanne Elise's father loved Fred,
erick Ossian's mother. MIR. Carleton has
not disturbed their love by any plot. A
sort of Arcadia Is made of st. Augustine
Florida, and an arcadian annex Of
L.enox. The girls wear the prottiest sort
OF dresses, and the young men are thu
butterflies" those amiable people whC
hutter about and do nothing at all for q
livelihood, the principal object of theil
lives being the uttering of gentl,
nothings into the ears OF comely maid
ems. Life IL not real and life Is not ear
nest In plays Of this sort, but the hyme
neal altar Is It's goal. After all, wha'
more IL needed to frivol away two
or three hours? Butterflies IL ex
actly like n good many other plays, fol
another turf to the merry Kaleidoscope
IL all that is needed. The hit of thu
evening was made by Miss Olive May. {
DELIGHTFULLY."- clever young woman and AZ
actress who acts. 1t Is "A long time sine,
New York has seen SO admirable a per
Torrance as Hers was. I want to Civ,
her just one little bit OF adv~ice-sinCerely
otfered-and II Is that she will try to for
get the audience in front OF her. Thi.
non-forgetfulness was the only defect II
her work. John Drew did very well al
Frederick Ossian. but It was II part tina
gave him non of the opportunitie!
afforded by THE Masked Ball" Mis-:
Maude Adams, who looked weary an'
worn. was satisfactory, and 50 wer
Miss Kate Meek and Harry Harwood.
ALAN DALE.