The times., 1898-02-27

Old Homestead and Shore Acres, nei-
ther of them good plays have grown into
the hearts of theatergoers simply because
in Uncle Josh and Nat Berry Ihey nave
recognized, in the first instance an exas-
gerated, and in the second true, por-
trayal of natures they learned to read ana
to understand in their childhood
"rhe Hoosier Doctor" abounds In char
acters quite as real as any of these. Dr.
Willow Is human; Higgins we all have
met; Grandma" and Mrs. Bunce and the
three girls are three types with which
every observer is familiar. Besides this.
the play itself is much superior to those
that have been named, in every point that
goes to make a modern drama entertain
ing or ENJOYABLE. The situations are in
genious the climaxical details are charm
ing and the dialogue is brilliant. And yet.
THE Hoosier Doctor like many another
excellent play. has not been great sue
cess.
After all is said and done the public. is
the great critic of nation, and any num-
Der of pieces condemned by Journalistic
wiseacres win their way to favor with
the people who patronize theaters. Such
pieces must have merit q pat has appealed
TO the tender senses of the average listen
err but has not been felt the harden
ed mental palate of the experienced crit
ic. So. when production is not as sue
cessful as il should be. one need only TO
turn around the reasoning to arrive at
the base of the trouble. Little things
that cannot be clearly diagnosed-thiDgs
unseen by most-may have initiated
against ''rhe Hoosier Doctor. The re-
action from plays of the forid and over
wrought class may not yet have come.
the public may have become weary of
productions that are at an rural in ma
ture or the novelty OF placing this piece
in a city may have counted against H.
Then the idea of holding back from the
confidence of the audience-as Mr. Thorn
as has done-perhaps has had something
to do with the degree of success attained.
probably in the way of taking sympathy
from the leading characters until the last
act. There are a thousand things TO be
considered before deciding.
The most probable solution is that the
play is too melancholy for the general
public. As Colonel joyce, Ella Wheeler
Wilcox and Company have said. Laugh
and the world laughs with you-weep and
you weep alone" To many THE Hoosier
Doctor" seems 10 tell of nothing but mis-
cry. The plainness of the Doctors ap-
parel. the poverty in his household and
the look of silent suffering on his face
repels them. Higgins and Tom Bunce
are not laughable enough to coUnteract
the impression left by Dr. Willow and
Fred DalrympIe-the scene at the type
writer and the contest between Grand
ma and Seargent O'Neill do not win su-
prenacy over that which ends the first
act of the play. DIR. Willows humorous
speeches are like a stream, which, pleas
ant and clear on top. still has beneath a
strong current that dashes over the
stones to the sea.
Marshall F. Wilder once remarked: II
dislike morbidity much that shall not
attend my own funeral and people in
general feel much the same, way. They
like all that is bright and pleasant in
life. but abstain religiously from sorrow
and suffering. especially when ii is as
real as in The Hoosier Doctor BY
dressing the part a trifie better. looking
little younger and seeming little hap
pier Digby Bell will probably win more
artistic success, from a popular stand
point than he has in his present work
from a critical view, and that is no small
amount. And ducats come with pOpu-
larity.