The times., 1898-11-06

episodes, but that the bulk of the matter
used is Mr. Reads and that 1t needs
careful repairing there can be no douDo.
In all of the young authors stories the
most notable point is the manner in which
he sacrifices everything 10 drawing one
character and making that one true and
strong and lifelike. This Is just what has
been done with his second stage work
The role of Melville Crance is one of pow
erful sympathies and great individuality.
1t stands apart from the rest OF the
comedy in the bold relief of a superior
creation. The drama of today offers few
products of more convincing reality. more
unique possibilities or less hackneyed con-
ception But Melville Crance is in the
offering without being OF 1t. The chsrac-
ter has not been furnished with plot that
can interest in the telling. and 1t Is not
surrounded by others calculated to at
tract or to display to advantage the devel-
opment and broadening to which 1t is sub
jected. The Carpetbagser" is merely
Melville Crance and Melville Crance is
THE carpetbasger."
Anyone who cares to run over the story
of the piece will have no difficulty In
proving this assertion to his complete sat
isfaction. In the first act the governor OF
Mississippi is introduced and his presence
explained He has been put in office un-
scrupuIously and Is there only for what
is to be made by his handling of State
issues. His extreme unpopularity is men
toned and his dishonesty supposedly
shown by the readiness with which he as
sents to signing a bill of uncertain origin
and still more uncertain meaning
incidentally he meets his next door
| neighbor and is to some extent moved
by her plea that he do the right thing In
| the matter of pardoning an indefinite
boy who is to be hanged for an indefinite
crime. Just exactly what the woman has
to do with either is not shown, but her
| interest in both only leads up to num-
ber of other unaccountable and busybody-
| like things which she does during the
| course of the entertainment. Crance has
| displayed no affection for her and she
| none for him when the curtain falls.
During the next scene number of un-
accountable matters are taken up The
| father of the governors political oppo-
nent is arrested for a murder SO vague
| as to be absurd, and the Widow Fairburn.
true to lser instincts, comes to entreat
| for something or other not known to the
| audience. In consequence of this Crance
| sends for the prisoner and has him re-
| leased. He also refuses to have any deal
| ings with woman who has previously
| been lobbying for an inexplicable and
|
| turns around to assisting the villain IN
| his attempt to pass the surprisingly bot
| tomless statute mentioned early in the
| play. A little bit of sentiment is sug-
| gested between the executive and Mrs.
| Fairburn which affords an unbuilt eli
| max to the act. During that following
| nothing of Importance occurs. The juve-
| nile and soubrette try to carry out a
| comic elopement that lends some little
mic nd frl kaar
| in the memory of audiences for a short
| time Finally a duel is fought between
Crance and his opponent, that worthy ap-
parently blaming the governor because a
! murder had been committed and the
| sheriff has arrested his father. Into this
ARRAY Mrs. Fairburn's desire to meddle
leads her and enables the stage manager
to ring down the curtain after pretty
bit of pantomime.
But the most ridiculous part of tht
whole ridiculous performance is It's las
act in which matters that have passed
for incidents all through the evening arr
taken up and magnified into side issue:
of Importance An Unforeseen election i.
going on, and for some reason or othel
Crance Is being defeated. The villain de
sires to have his wonderful bill signed be
fore the vote is counted-although ther'
seems to be no cause for haste-and en-
deavors to make the governor act at tn.
point of a pistol. By some clever bits O.
business Crance outwits him. and then th'
fun begins. Things of no weight arr
forced into prominence, situations tina
had possessed little meaning before arr
developed. points Of no interest ar
brought out, and, after wasting TWO hour
and a half of time. the authors begin try
ing to cram whole story into fifteen min
utes The meek and harmless lookin,
scoundrel is made to have murdered a maj
for whom the successful candidates faith
er has come near swinging, and is ais
| proven to have killed a negro-evidentl,
for pastime, since no tangible motive j
shown. After a bit Of absurd intrigu
and wildly melodramatic accusation
| from servant whose lines before hav
heen confined to the words necessary I
announcing visitors, the villain is ar
-ested on evidence that would not hoi
good before any court OF law in the coup