The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-08
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE eEM.

THE GEM.
"Men and Women" four-nct society
drama. by David Beiasco and Henry c..
DeMills, viii be next weeks attraction
at the Gem theatre, interpreted BY the
James o. Barrows stock company. 1t
has been some years since this play WIS
given In Portland, but IL has left the
plsasantest of reoollections and theatre
goers can hardly fail to recall 1t as one of
the greatest Metropolitan successes "Aen
and Women" and Shenandoah" were
the two plays which put Charles Froh.
man on his feet after this manager had
suffered a succession of defeats. men
and Women" has heen played in every
state and nearly every city and town in
the country. there having been at one
time as many as four companies playing
1t. The story relates. to say the least,
TO the indiscrstion OF William PRESCOTT,
cashier of the Jefferson National bank Of
New York city. A friend OF his, Arnold
Kirk, proposes plan he has in view to
Prescott. He wants the cashier to take
from the banks vaults valuable bonds
and mortgages and loan them to him for
a short time, that he may be able to inl-
press certain men with his wealth. BY
this means he hopes TO Affect deal which
win be greatly to his advantage and
offers PRESCOTT a substantial share In his
prospective gains. PRESCOTT yields. He
hands over the bonds and the ultimate
result may be guessed. In some manner
the bonds pass out of Kinks possession
and he realizes the horrible position In
which he has placed the cashier. Seeing
no way out of ths difficulty Kirk takes
his own life and leaves Prescott to face
the climax. Soon bank officials become
aware of the fact of the loss. and the very
financial foundations of the bank are
shattered. The assistant cashier, Edward
Seabury, is believed to have hypothecated
the securities. and a. midnight meetiu
of the directors he Is openly accused of
having done so. The meeting is held in
the library of the home of Israel Cohen,
president of the bank Throughout its
long length Seabury sets in far corner
OF the room, tbs picture of despair, say
Ing nothing, although he realizes the ac-
Gus ng eyes of everyone of the men Of
hnance are fixed upon him. This is quite
the greatest scene In the play and indeed
there are few scenes in any of our modern
dramas that can Guido 1t. PRESCOTT is |
finally left alone and his conscience,
which has given him no rest since hisJ
istal act, now fortunes him to the ut
most Then he. becomes aware that Agnes |
Rodman, his intended wife is aware of
the position in which he has placed him |
self, and he is about to make clean
breast of his fault when he hears the |
officers of the law outside, in the act OF
arresting his assistant, whom he knows
to be innocent. This decided him. and
with pair of handouts which are on the
table, he shacklss his own wrists and |
awaits the return of the officials. When |
his part in the affair is made known.
Agnes Ro6man's father, who is Gov. Rod
man of Arizona, volunteers to make good |
the banks loss. For few moments IL |
looks as If everything would be smoothed |
over. Calvin Stedman. however, is at.
torney for the institution, and for person. |
vi reasons Is anxious that some one shall |
be made to suffer. He urges against &C. |
eepting the Governors proposition, and |
RkopOo1i ittm GEcetu6ub OOQen To deed |
over his valuable residence to protect the |
bank Is likewise rejected. Then enters |
the wealthiest Of all the directors, Mr.. |
Pendleton--old, attenuated and deaf. He |
learns that the bank is about TO close IT'S
doors and asserts that he will prevent it
II 1t imperils his entire fortune. Thus |
the meeting ends. Seabury succeeds to
the position as cashier, and 1T Is decided
not 20 prosecute Prescott after the lattert
has handed In his resignation. PRESCOTT
and Agnes, who has remained true to
him throughout mis- trouble, are Arrange
ing 20 marry at the close of the story, as
are Seabury and Prescott's sister, Dora
PRESCOTT. =
RIVERTON PARK.
Remem bering all the good things that
nave been offered at Riverton in the
past 1t can be consistently said that the
attraction next week viii equal any of
the past in merit and novelty. 'Gor-