The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-24
Appears To Advantage In
Soldiers of Fortune"
His Play Is Characteristic
of Augustus Thomas.

hN NAAhA afAtlS u AAtIudlh MAI uluk
Davis novel. Soldiers Of Fortune" are
the last to appear upon the local -tags
embodied They made their entrance
last night at the New National Theater.
and were received by an audience in
dicative both OF the popularity and ia
vOT extended the book and the charac-
teristic clientele OF the playhouse. From
this assembly the play obtained an en-
thusiastic Endorsement, and the Hkeli-
hood IS strong that Il will receive ut
its succeeding presentations here the
support OF all the young women OF the
community. and many OF their elders.
The presentation served to introduce
locally Robert Edeson as "a star. and to
indicate further the unusual skill of
Augustus Thomas as a playwright. The
former found in the chief role char
acterization which enabled him TO dis
play advantageousIy those qualities
which distinguished him while a subor-
dinate in other companies-quietude
earnestness, a musical voice. a rare
sense OF humor. much promise as an
actor. and pleasing personality. The
latter apparently accepted the plot and
scenario as so much work already done
at his own work bench. so aptIy has he
developed the details Of the story into
diverting. compact. sequentiaI. and
strong drama
Soldiers OF Fortune" is one OF the
more recent and most serious attempts
At fiction which this excellent reporter.
Mr. Davis, has made In his profess
sional Geld he has long been a foremost
ngure His reports of great ceremonies
and portentOus events are perhaps une-
qualed In current literature His great
est story. Gallagher thus dealt not
only with reporters and reporting. but
mad the character OF that work which
mas contributed chiefly to his reputa-
ton But IL his other efforts at fiction
have been less successful. Soldiers of
Fortune" is yet a comparatively merito-
rious writing. Il presents a picture OF
a picturesque enterprise, interrupted by
comic opera revolution and built about
straightforward. tense. and entirely
possible love story which eventually
unites womanIy and noble young girl
with self-reliant. manly. honest. strong
young man. Those who know Mr. Tbom
as other plays. especially Arizona"
VIII realize at once that such materials
suited themselves TO his hand
M Edeson appears as q young civil
engineer, who has undertaken to con-
struct in the supposititious republic OF
Olancho, South America. q series Of
mines TO work vast amount OF iron ore.
TO this task he has brought the exper-
fence OF a life at sea, many years on a
Western cattle ranch. training in nota-
bic universities in Edenborough. and
other places. and the practical advantage
o. having built great railways over vast
plains and through wild mountain
passes All in all, he seems 10 be iucar-
nate the popular hero Of present day fc-
uon-successful in business. imperfous
and strong OF nature. pure Of heart. chiv-
alrous and knightly I'm his bearing to-
ward women. and Overwhelmingly mod
est 1t has been already indicated that
Mr.. Edeson reflects all these attributes.
Opportunity for this delineation is pro
employer. Mr. Langham, and his two
daughters-Alice and Hope-and bv a
revolution which has a double purpose of
establishing as dictator of the govern
ment a characteristic South American
adventurer, and converting to the advan-
tage Of the State the mines constructed
with American money and by American
enterprise The revolution. although an
parently a success. is thwarted by the
soldierly resource Of the American min
er- The love story affects Hope LanRham
an impetuous, volatile. imperious. noble
minded characteristic young American
girl. and Bob Clay. the engineer.
With these two characters are asso-
ciated Reginald King. a type OF the
fashionable idler which is represented TO
infest New York society: his opposite.
MacWilliams. an Irishmau. whose life
has been as rough as Clay's. and who
has evolved therefrom a differing char
aeter OF rude chivelry. free speech and
unctuous humor: Miss Langham. the
feminine counterpart OF Mr. King; the
president OF the Republic and his wife.
and an appropriate force OF household
guards. soldiers in the rival armies. and
~-NA~oA9 VI INC ltplDllt. among whom
stands prominently a high born young
Englishman.
These roles are on the whole well
taken II should be noted, however.
that Dorothy Donnelley, as the wife OF
the pres 'ent; Z. ". Morrison. as
President Alvarez; Edwin Brandt. as
a revolutionary leader; Richard ster-
ling. as young Langham. and. more than
all the others. Harry Harwood. az Mac
Williams. illuminate and adorn the
characters I'm Mr. Davis book. Blanche
Hall. as Hope Langham. and Miss Don
nelley. as Madame Alvarez. rank with
the star IN the creation Of fine and
pleasing personalities.
Thus written and thus produced. sol
diers Of Fortune" takes a position AS
one Of the best book plays the modern
stage has produced II is no study in
atmosphere. but an enactment OF stir