The Saint Paul globe., 1902-10-31
------AT ST.
T II E A T r E S

A clever play well acted, handsomely
staged and interesting from the mo-
ment the curtain rises on the automo-
bile dialogue until it drops on the cleo
ton of aAgovernor is THE Way of the
World" presented for the first time in
st. Paul last night at the Metropolitan.
The women of the company, and
they are numerous and. handsome, are
given an d oSbortunity to wear beauti-
full gowns, though not one of the acts
is debaSed into a dress parade; the
men, at least one or two of them, are
permitted to show what they can do
with a really strong situation-it must
be confessed that in most modern
plays women monopolize the situations.
Clyde Fitch has not taken a departure
in this comparatively new play of his.
The dialogue is epigrammatic,- the ac-
ton is terse, the satire is keen, but the
genuine kindliness underlying it all is
felt more than occasionally. The play
wright wastes little of his ingenuity in
deyiSing new plots. 'sThe Way of the
World like most of his other plays,
is built on a threadbare theme, that Of
platonic friendship. He does not even
present it in a new way. A man ne
elects his wife for politics. To avoid
being bored she allows a man who is
in love with her to pay her rather pro-
liouLCSu dtlGullOu. i he uldA proves d
cad Or, worse than that, a blackguard,
and there is the to be expected de-
nouement. The strength of the play
lies in the characters delineated and
in the dialogue. Mr.. Fitch in spite of
his cynicism believes in two things,
mans friendship for man and woman'S
friendship for woman. The first be-
lief is not rare in either men or women
dramatists, the second is, to judge from
their plays, a part OF the creed of very
few.
Miss Elsie de Wolfe has the leading
role in the play, that of Mrs. Croydon.
The part fits her as perfectly as did
any one of the gowns she wore last
night-which is saying much. Miss de
Wolfe has not beauty, but she has
something which is far more attrac-
tive-a most magnetic personality.
There is a suggestion of something
about her-impishness perhaps it is
that alternately attracts and repels,
but always makes its fascination felt.
Moreover Miss de Wolfe has grace
which is better, too, than beauty. She
was most completely supported. Her
leading man, John Mason, apparently
agrees with the society type he repre-
sented last night that good breeding
spells repression, but he made his part
last night spell forcefulness and truth,
too. Miss Grace Eeyer, who played
the part of Mrs. Lake, is good to look
upon and pleasant to listen to. One
likes Mr.. Harrison Hunter, who is Mr..
Lane in the play, in spite Of his oddi-
ties-peri1aps, because of his voice.
The stage pictures are unusually
handsome. If one were disposed to
cav1I at all it would be over the fact
that election returns are received as
early as 8 o'clock in the evening even
In New York City.
"The Way of the World" will remain
at the Metropolitan for the remainder
Of the week.
1.-The comedian you all know" is the
way Liebler & Co. announces the COM
ing Of Ezra Kendall in Herbert Hall
Winslow's new three-act play, "The
Vinegar Buyer" to the Metropolitan
Sunday night for a week. Mr.. Kendall
sat at the authors elbow from the very
inception of the undertaking, and If
between the two they have not sue
ceeded in carrying out one Of the
brightest little comedies ever written,
then all theorizing and speculation
must go for naught. A special wire
will be placed in the theater Tuesday
night and the results Of the state and
county election will be announced
from the stage.
For the matinee at the Grand opera
house tomorrow Magician Kellar will