The San Francisco call., 1896-08-23
"Y0U ARE mine,
| BOUGHT YOU, !"
A Modern Climax in the
New Play, "A Social
Trust"
REPLETE wITHINCIDENT
A Drama to Be Produced for the
First Time Next Mon
day.
AT THE COLUMBIA THEATER.
Californians in New York, as Seen by
Ramsay Morris and Hillary
Bell.

A degree of interest beyond the ordinary
has been awakened in dramatic circles by
the expected production of new play ct
the Columb bia Theater next Monday even
ing. The new drama is called The Social
Trust" 1t is the work of Ramsay Morris
and Hillary Bell OF New York. Through
the kindness of Mr.. Frawley a reading of
the original version has been permitted.
If the readers Judgment counts for any
thing, the playgoer expecting drama re-
plete with vigorous action will not be dis
appointed. In a sense it may be called
New York society play, but the authors
would hardly claim that the best society
is represented. The speech of the dia-
loeue is not faultless.
The characters are: Frederick Brewster,
Daniel Hallock, Charters King. Captain
Beresford Wynne, Philip Cornell Ed
mund Brewster. Lillian Cornell, Mrs.
Bleecker Nelson, Mrs. Russell Cornell,
Mrs. William Morton, Mrs. DanieI Hal
lock and Dora Sprague. The first act is
laid in Mrs. Cornelrs New York home
after dinner. Some of the people are in
the louneing-room and others on the bal
cony. The talk and situations reveal the
nature OF the drama. Daniel HalIock is
in evidence. He is the head and front of
Cordage Trust and with the reputation of
success cuts a wide swath.
His rise from obscure poverty to
affiuent notoriety is vaguely outlined. In
a Denver hotel he was ''dead broke" and
there his brilliant brain conceived the
scheme of forming the trust In Chicago
he borrowed money from Californian to
get to New York, an idea which has al
most any merit but originality. Anyhow,
Halloek, to use his own phrase, got
there"
Mrs William Morton is another figure.
She. enters the New York swim with
boundless wealth. required in California.
Her niece Is Lillian Cornell, her nephew
Phil Cornell, the son and daughter of
Mrs. Russell Cornell. Lillian Cornell is in
love with Charters King, a promising
author. Phil Cornell is in love with Wall
street. The aunt, Mrs. Morton, is very
determined sort of a person, with some of
the Inf1eXible characters ascribed TO the
Puritans, without moral sense as ballast.
She has firmly resolved that Lillian
shall marry Frederick Brewster, a repre-
sentative of one of the oldest and best
families of New York, whose sister has
married the Earl OF Orsilly. Mrs. Cornell,
the mother of Lillian, is subdued DY Mrs.
Morton. Lillian is told during the evening
that proposal for her hand has been re-
ceived. In her sim pie, maidenish delight
she supposes that Charters King has
spoken, but her vision Of happiness is
utterly defaced when she is apprised that
Frederick Brewster is the suitor. She is
inclined 10 be rebellious. She stands on
her rights and dignity for time, but when
the secret has been rudely impaired to her
that her father left nothing which was not
trimmed with a mortgage and that her
dear mother, her beloved brother and her.
self are maintained in food, clothing and
social prestige by her aunt, Mrs. Morton,
she reaxes a little. AT first she talked of
giving up everything, OF enduring poverty
and even of going back to California rather
than sell herself, hut when she thought of
her mother and brother exposed to
poverty and distress she exclaimed:
"Then my marriage to Mr.. Brewster
would avert all this?" Her aunt some
what graciously replies:
"Within twenty-four hours after you
have accepted Mr.. Brewster | will make
a settlement on your mother which will
render her independent for life, give youa
quarter Of million dollars and purchase
tor Phil an interest in a WalI-street firm. "
There is somewhat Of a scene here, but
Lillian, excleiming II am to be sold" ac-
cepts her destiny.
1t seems that Frederick Brewster, who
Is presented as an example of the New
York aristocracy, wants money to put in
Daniel Hallock's Cordage Trust. He has
roped in all of his acquaintances and club
chums but more money is needed. There
isn't a great deal to be said about Mrs.
Hallock beyond CHASING her as a bird.
Halock met her first in Pullman car GO
ing out of Chicago, introduced himself at
Fort Wayne, dined with her at Pittsburgh,
proposed at Harrisburg and married her
in Jersey City. 1t is we'll understood by
every body but Hallock that she is the at
traction which brought Brewster into the
Cordage Trust and induced him to get his
friends to invest.
Eight months having elapsed since
Lillian sold herself the next act is Mrs.
Frederick Brewster's reception. In this
act Phil makes love to Dora Sprague of
Boston. There is quite an interchange of
witticisms OF the current tyne, about the
relative culture of Boston and New y York.
Some of it was original when 1t was pub
lished in the newspapers. King leav-
in literature. He attended Mrs. Brew
ster's reception on an invitation from
Mr. Brewster. His old sweetheart,
Lillian, didn't know he was in town,
but Brewster saw him in the club or on
the avenue the DAY after the steamer
arrived from Liverpool. Brewster being
hard up for money to float the paper trust
and gladden. Mrs. Hailock was inspired by
the notion that he could raise money ii he
could bring his wife and her old-t1me
lover into compromising position, SO he
sent the card inviting King.
This was not q pretty thing for scion
OF one of the best New York families to
do, but Brewster needed money. The
trap was baited for King. In his ardor
he lost his Judgment and was becoming
impetuous in his love- making, while
Brewster watched him through balcony
window. A kindly spirit in the shape OF
Mrs. Nelson intervened to save the young
wife. She broke up the love scene by SUBJ
stituting Captain Wynne for the lover and
putting herself in Mrs. Brewster's cloak,
which had fallen on the sofa. Brewster
came in to spring the trap and found Mrs.
Nelson and Captain Wynne there. The
work here is clever. Wynne IS dunn
founded at the ardor of Mrs. Nelson, but
the love- making begun to save Lillian ends
in the marriage of the captain anu Mrs.
Nelson.
About this time in the progress of
events the Hallocks have resolved to take
their proper place in New York society.
Mrs. Hallock has been abroad for the
necessary polish, and SO her advent into
society is to be celebrated by grand ball.