The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-13

Mrs. Langtry I'm "The Crcssways."
When asked what she had to say regard
Ing a woman of her neignborhood with
whom she was not pleased. the Second Mrs.
Tanqueray remarked: There is little need
to say anything. She is six-and-forty-the
worst thing that could happen to her."
However indicate 1t may be to allude to
the subject. one could not help but feel, in
Witnessing Mrs. Langtry's production of
1.-THE Crossways" last night at English's.
that the English actress, so long famous as
a beauty. resembled Mrs. Tanqueray's
neighbor in some respects. Mrs. Langtry
still retains her interesting stage presence
10 certain extent, but she can no longer
portray the part of q beautiful young wom-
convincingly. And. even If she could.
she would hardly be able TO make 1.-The
Crossways" an attractive play. The piece
Is d Drama t,0 OF words rather than of action
night. an extremely fashionable one, was
politely attentive, but evidently trihe
wearied at times. and there was but one
spontaneous outburst of applause, coming
at the end of the third act, when the star
was honored with three recalls after the
drama had reached its rather weak climax.
The story OF the play deals with Virginia,
Duchess or keensbury. who is unhappily
married. Just prior to the opening of the
piece she is supposed to have had a quarrel
with her husband, who has been unreason-
ably Jealous OF her. This decides her to
give him real cause TO be Jealous and she
concludes to go a step further-or perhaps
IL would be nearer the truth to saw a big
leap further-in a Irritation which She has
been carrying on with Sir Charles Croffte
one of those about-town Londoners who. If
most English dramatists are TO be believed
are pretty bad lot generally. Sir Charles
has been trying to win the love of the
duchess for some time. and the duchess
he IN aSf<l
restraint and becoming as much TO him as
she has been TO her husband Just at this
1uncture ner young brother Richard, of
whom she Is very fond tells her of his love
for Mural Pembroke. a ward of the duke
her husband. and asks her aid to secret
marriage. The love OF the duchess for her
her true wofnanhood her. She agrees to
assist the young lovers. and when Sir
Charles Croffte arrives upon the scene 10
clio school he finds her determinedy virtu-
Gus and accepts his dismissal with poor
grace Sir Charles is at this time hard
missal he returns. having forgotten to take
with him photograph which the duchess
Ing back he finds the room emptv' and
while searching for the missing portrait
comes across valuable pearl necklace be-
longing 10 me duehess; He then shows
himself 10 be scoundrel in more WAYS
than one, for he steals the Jewels The
theft is discovered the next day An old
servant tells the duke mat she man
leaving his wife's boudor at 2 O'clock in
the morning. Then comes Richard TO the
rescue. and 10 save his sister declares that
he himself was the person seen He Is AT
once arrested on the charge OF having
stolen the necklace. Sir Charles who has
pawned the jewels 10 pay a debt of honor
Is a barrister. and. as luck will have IL. is
retained by Richard TO defend him The
case. however, does not come to trial Sir
Charles has a race horse entered in the
Derby and this horse wins the big event
netting the owner round sum of money
and the titled thief is thus enabled to get
the Jewels out OF pawn and return them
acknowledging that he took them, after be-
coming conscience-stricken. The duke and
the duchess are reconciled and the play
ends happily.
The story is not new one. and although
some ingenuity has been shown by Mrs.