The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-20
THE POPE IN PLAY
POATIFF GIVEN PROMINEx-r ~ -,
IN DRAMA WRITTEN BY
A PRIEST
DIVORCE QUESTION ITS THEME
Author Says No One Can Object %
tia" Manner in Which He Pro
Vides for Representing Head
Of Church on Stage.

NEW YORK. March ~ -1r,,,rf,a
campbell. manager for Henrietta Cross
ihdil' mas under consideration "A bist0rf
caI drama written by the Rev Fathar
John 4. smith, chaplain Of the Sister
OF Mercy, at Eighty first street ana Mad
son avenue, and il il likely that Miss
Crossman will produce the piece soon
the play is entitled The Baltimore
Marriage * deals with the attitude
Of the Catholic church regarding divorce
ana draws powerful lesson from the
attempt Of King Jerome Bonaparte to
DISCARD his wife, Elizabeth Patterson
Inc striking feature is the introduction
On the stage OF the character of Pgpa
Flus VII who is carried through two
Of the five acts, and who furnishes rha
dramatic climax by refusing to grant a
divorce to the king
consider the drama I'd ba almost
1aultLess in construction" said MI
Campbell yesterday land ID II nos
slbIe that Miss Crossman may produce
IT, Father Smith certainly shows Il
wonderful knowledge Of things behind the
scenes for a priest Nothing, however.
has been definitely decided"
The author even goes further than
70 place the pope behind the rootights.
He LAYS the fifth act In the papaI apart
ments at Rome, introducing To the audi
ence the home life Of the pope The
remaining four acts are placed in the
apartments of Cardinal ConsaIvi. I'LL Rue
DC Lille, Paris; ill the han Of the TuiI-
crlGs, III the garden ait the house Ut Con
salvi at Rheims. ana in a room at the
royal palace, Versailles The story of
the play closely fellows historical events
and the character vi Elizabeth Patterson
the American wife of the king the role
designed for Miss Crossman) IL gail
TO be strongly drawn.
Father Smith had been interested ir
the drama since his college DAYS Ills
familiarity with stagecraft IL accounted
Tor by the fact that while a student a
st. Michacls in Toronto, he took part in
many amateur dramatic performances.
and wrote several short plays which were
given there Later he wrote .'Shauu-na-
| Cow, and THE Blamey Stone" which
were produced by professional cOmDauiees
on the road. His literary work has rCt,
however, been confined "a play writing
Father Smith having found time to pub
lish several works Of fiction ana books
touching upon priesthood and matters
pertaining TO the church
When seen at his home No 72 East
l2ighty-ninth street last night. Father
Smith said "'fhere was no particular
reason for my writing the drama except
that | have always been interested fill
the stage. l have studied plays and play
ers ever since my college days, and INV
endeavor is the concrete form Of what a
drama Of this nature should BE- / have
attempted to draw emotional characters
true to life, and without seeming eg0tis-
teal T may say that I think ! have sue
cceded without bordering on the melo-
drama"
Asked regarding the introduction w The
pope on the stage, the priest laughed
heartily.
why" he exclaimed tho one win take
exceptions To that. Neither Catholics
nor Protestants can object To the head
Of the church appearing in play and re-
fusing to grant a divorce that ~ paIpa-
bly, unjust You may call III a bold
step. but IL will cause no unfavorable dis
cussion.'