The evening world., 1894-09-12
THE BAtIiLE SHOP

Henry Arthur Jones's plays are al
ways enjoyable as ingenious theatrical
constructions. They hold you in alb
sorbcd interest while you are In the
playhouse, and 1t IL only afterwards
when you come to think II all over
that you realize Joness clever charla-
tanism. He weaves n spell around you,
and II he Is "A quack, he succeeds In
making you his accomplish for the time
being. This is the case with THE Bau-
BILE Shop" the play given last night at
the Empire.
II Is an admirably written, strong and
theatre-reeking effort. more acceptable
than anything we have yet had from
the pen of Mr.. Jones We have seen
"The Dancing Girl" Saints and Sin
ners." "The Middleman," Wealth" and
Judah" ''Thc Bauble Shop" is an i'm
provemcnt upon ALL and II Is far more
human and probable than THE Mas
queraders," which New Workers. have
not yet seen.
Lord Clivebrooke, the leader OF the
House of Commons has accidentally
met Jessie Keber, the daughter OF the
proprietor of "A little toy shop He In
attracted by her apparent innocence,
for he is cynical on the subject of
women. truth and goodness, almost to
the verge Of Oscar Wildelsm. His polti-
cal opponent Mr.. Stoach. NJ. r.. en-
ploys Jessie Keber and her father, and
discovers Lord Clivebrooke's infatua-
ton. The leader frequents the toy shop
Mt the most ungodly hours, and Stoach
has him followed One night Stoach
breaks in and finds him with Jessie A
strong scene ensues. Clivebrooke is to
speak in the House for the Public Nor
ais" bill Stoach thereupon swears to
expose his private life to the House,
unless he signs a confession of guilt.
Clivebrooke Is innocent Jessle's
fair name Is untainted. He refuses to
sign, and in the third act Stoach tells
the House of Commons all about him
The audience sees Cllvebrookes pri-
vate room, opening into the House.
where the noise and excitement can be
heard. In the last act. the leader re-
signs, offers Jessie Kober marriage. and
disconcerts Stoach.
There Is a feeling OF dissa tisfaction at
the end of the play Neither the hero
nor tn" heroire has slnned, get Mr.
.ior es shows IA Clivebrcoke's career alb
for that sort of thing. They love to see
sinner chastened, but when a play
wright has taken particular care to prove
the innocence of his man and woman,
theatrical gatherings prefer to look
upon undiluted happiness. That is the
popular view of 1t, at any rate. To the
fastidious few. the ending OF 1.-THE
Bauble Shop" is better than the stereo-
tyred fms.
1t IL not easy to accept Mr.. Jones's
acknowledgements as a purely theat-
rcal puppet. Imagine "A cync a man of
the world, the leader of the House,
upon whom the eyes OF the world are
turned, visiting Jessie's home. inno-
Gently, after the midnight hour, night
after night. with no thought OF compro-
missing her! He Is so utterly surprised
when Stoach accuses him of baseness, yet
what else could Stoach or anybody else
Infer? Yet Clivebrooke Is a diplomatist,
a tactican, political genius, and he Is
man In the prime of life. Mr.. Jones
does these queer little things purposely
to excite discussion. Every play that he
has written in the last decade has been
talked about for Just these little de-
fects Jones knows that they exist. He
is clever theatrical juEgler. and his
calculations are always exact.
John Drew did exceedingly we'll with
what was, for him, IA new departure.
The Baublc shop is not play OF
smiles, and Mr.. Drew has been asso-
Ciated with laughter. His work was
always worthy, although his limits were
seen rather plainly ut the end of the
second act. the effect of which was
spoiled by an inartistiC exit. The cast
was entirely coed, Miss Maud Adams
was pretty and pathetic, and II she
could leave her face alone in her emo
tional moments her work would he i'm
proved, She clutches at her forehead,
throat and temples in hewildering
way. j. T., Dodson, as the tipsy old
father was excellent; Miss Elsie de
Wolfe played the role of Lady Kate
Frenncl with much refinement, and
Harry Harwood was brusque and
felicitously unsympathetic Stoach. o.
body should miss The Bauble Shop"
ALAN DALE.