The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-24

ing and turn over a new leaf. Adoniram
father in Clarksville, Ark. comes to Hot
Springs. accompanied by his daughter. Pert
Barlowe. and tries hard to get Kendall 10
return TO his native village. Judge Mar
tin. friend of the Kendall and Barlowe
families, also visits the famous watering
place at the same time, with his daughter
Sadie, who is Perts best friend. Miss Mar
tin is introduced to Checkers, and snubs
him because he Is a gambler. Pert also
meets Checkers. confides to him the mis-
sion OF her father and herself in coming 10
Hot Springs, and Checkers takes 1t upon
himself TO influence young Kendall to go
back TO his old home. The act comes to a
conclusion with Kendall In a miserable
drunken state. the blame of his condition
heaped upon the unfortunate Checkers.
The second act shows a street In the little
on one side of the thoroughfare and the
Barlowe home on the other. Kendall has
Strengthened up" and Checkers has come
to the village TO live, being drawn there
through falling in love with Pert Barlowe.
He has been given a job In the grocery
store, and is willing to earn his living
among flour barrels and boxes of fruit for
the sake of being near the girl who has
won his heart. During this act great deal
Arkansaw rustic types of character. On
account of his having been a gambler,
Checkers is barred from visiting the Bar
lowe home, but he and Pert have secret
meetings for the girl has learned to care
for the young fellow whose worldly talk
and smart bearing have fascinated her.
discovered
gagged in one of these stolen interviews,
and Pert's father, a sour old man, orders
Checkers off his premises. Then does
Checkers declare that he will go back to
Chicago. where he came from, make five
thousand dollars in some way or other. and
come back TO claim the pretty Southern
maiden for his bride.
The third act gives a spirited glimpse of
the betting ring at the Washington Park
race track in Chicago, and the stage is
thronged with bettors, sightseers, book
makers, touts and other familiar figures
that are always to be found on the turf.
Checkers has promised Pert that he will
never gamble again, but he receives some
Inside information" about race that
proves too great a temptation to resist,
and he bets on a horse named Remorse and
wins the 5000 for which he had been long
ing. This act is weakened by the appear
ance or Pert Barlowe her father and Judge
Martin at the race track. Just why the
author should have thought 1t necessary to
bring these characters into the play again
at this stage is mystery. 1t would make
the story seem much more logical If the
Southern characters were allowed to re-
main where they belong-down in Arkansas
many hundreds of miles away. There is no
reason for their coming up to Chicago SO
act shows all of them back again In Clarks-
vile, to which place Checkers comes, ap-
parently following after them or the next
train, although the audience is not given
to understand that such is the case. Check
ers arrives just In the nick of time to de-
post his 5000 I'm Mr.. Barlowes bank, on
WHICH EuH Is tdhiIS pldce, mus Saving the
concern from collapse. OF course the old
man is overjoyed upon being rescued from
financial ruin, Checkers at last wins the
girl of his heart and the play comes to an
| chapters of Mr.. Blossoms book.
The plot Is very slender one, as may
be seen and in the hands of a less capable
| Shelle has got together the play would not
| be worth the expenditure Of SO much money
| on scenery and other accessories, for Mr.
a ha a m nrO-
| duction. But the players do much for the
play, and nothing but praise can be be-
which they handle the slight material.
There are many good lines in the piece, and
/ Ii might possibly be made into a smooth
| and convincing comedy drama, but as it
stands now it is rather crude and shows
| only too plainly the hand of the unskilled
| dramatist. There is no denying that the
about the race track, and to the spectator
who has at some time or other experienced
| an attack Of the betting fever Checkers
| will make particularly impressive appeal.
| The entire work Is of a decidedly sporty
/ flavor.
Thomas w. Ross In the title role does
some admirable acting. The part fits him
perfectly and he does not overdo 1t in any
/ way. He makes Checkers a very human
| person indeed-a character who will prob
ably not be understood at all by those thea
| ter-goers that have little or no opportunity
! to rub up against their fellow-men in all
| the walks of life, but who will be imme-
dlately appreciated by those VINO nave a
broader knowledge of humanity. Checkers
IL to be met with every day in every city
He is one of the commonest OF types; he is
a man with a good heart who often finds
| temptation too strong for him; he Is cap
able of doing really noble things, and he
does them at time with little ostentation
| and with no desire for the applause of his
| fellows. The character of Push" Miller,
| a race track tout is played by Dave
| Braham in capital style. A rustic servant
| girl named Cynthy is portrayed by May
| Vokes in a way that brings forth a great
| deal of laughter from the audience. The
character Is of the Sis Hopkins type, that
| has been very much overdone on the stage
| of recent years, but in. the hands of Miss
| Vokes, who Is an unusually funny
| Coincidence, 1t is irresistible and becomes
one of the real hits of the performance.
| Miss June Van Buskirk makes a very sweet
| and winsome Pert Barlowe, and her acting
| Is all that could be desired. H. s. Northrup
| has the ungrateful role of Arthur Kendall,
! and he plays it in a most intelligent man.
ner, making the best of every opportunity
| that is allotted him. George Larson makes
| the most of the part of Barlowe.
| The company in fact is uniformly good.
| and IL Mr.. Blossoms play fails to prove
| strong success ii will not be on account of
| a poor Interpretation. The cast is very
| large one, and it is impossible here to men,
| ton all of those that deserve praise for
/ their work. Checkers will be given again
| tonight. tomorrow night and at to-mor-
| rows matinee.