The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26
DRAMATIC IN THE EXTREME.
Thrilling Situation Portrayed in Story
of sEFrenzied Finance"

Chicago, Nov. 26.-Thos. w. Law
sons latest attack on the System" is
attracting much attention in this city.
The Tribune says of him and his
work:
Whether or not Mr.. Lawson makes
good his agreement to expose the
system" and to give a remedy Tor its
abuses, the magazine story he is I'M
folding has the merit of being one of
the best dramas based on American
life written in the last few years. In
the current issue all the principal
characters appear again. The stage
settings are effective and the orchestra
plays the right kind of music to give
the psychological moment its fullest
possible force: The story OF the pass
ing of the Whitney bill through the
MaSsa chusetts legislature. the veto OF
the governor, the CONSERVATION which
followed the wild flight of Towle and
Patch, their tragic deaths, all these
incidents are told with the art OF the
romancer, the verve of the dramati5t,
and the charm of the story teller
Whether they are true in toto or IN
part, or not at all, they have merit
which cannot be denied. They upset
the theory that there is no material
for romance in this country because
there is not enough ivy, and Hchens
and ruins.
The characters are assuming form
and rounding out. Addicks is present,
villain without moral sense, and up
to the present moment quite immune
from the punishment which Shakes
peare melted out to his villains in their
dreams. He is more dire. more cold
blooded than ever. At the scene In
Mr.. Parker Chambers home, whittier
the f1nanciers of Boston Gas had with
drawn to concoct their nefariouS
schemes, Mr.. Lawson is seized with a
terrific pain as the cheese is served.
He is put to bed, and doctors are hur-
riedly summoned. After an interval
of inconsistencies he awakens.
doctors were at the foot of the bed;
Addicks, standing beside them, was
looking fxedly at me. 1 caught his
eye; dOped as l was with OplateS, L
saw the cold, calculating expression of
his face, which told me as plainly as
words that he felt it was all up with
me, that my usefulness to him was at
an end, and that, without a thought
for my interests or a scintilla of re-
greet, he was calculating how to turn
my death to his advantage. Then
passed out into the land of dreams"
Mr.. H. H. Rogers, the arch con-
spirator, whose fine italian hand" is
discernible in all the baser villainy. is
here again and in one of his best
moods. He takes Lawson into an
Sx10 room.
1.-THE room was small. Suddenly 1t
became full of arms, and legs, and
hands waving and geSticulating, and
fists banging and orandlshed; gnash-
ing teeth and a convulsed face in
which the eyes actually burned and
rained fire"
Rogers was expressing his opinion
of Addicks.
Another incident for the great third
act:
The governor has vetoed the Whit
ney bill and it is impossible to bride
the rest of the legislature to pass the
corrupt measure over his head. 1t is
all up with Towle and Patch, Whit
neys emissaries. The mob of angry
legislators is without demanding their
money. They are clamoring at the
door, and probably will soon employ
a crowbar to batter it down. Ter
rff1ed, Towle and Patch fly to Lawson
and cash check for $4,000. They
get gold. Then, as the ominous NUT
terings are heard in the distance, they
bid him farewell and disappear.
Mr.. Lawson has, in sense, made
distinct improvement upon his former
articles. He has made definite charges
of bribery against Mr.. Henry NJ. Whit |
ney, and has specified the time, place |
and circumstances.