The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
In "A Ragged Hero" at the Park

possible 1t is here again, in general way
the same, but sufficiently different in par
ticuars to be a positive novelty and with
its bride so characterized by Haddon Cham
bers as to provide an exceptionally suita-
BILE role for Annie Russell. 1 don't doubt
that gentle Annie might beguile us to &C
cept sinner as a saint. She could make
deviltry so demure that we would mis-
take ii for pure morality But the author
sets no such task for her. He places her
in circumstances which make ii really
right for her to go wrong. That is to say,
when this wife walks out of her husbands
house to go TO one which the other
man has offered to her, there is no doubt
that she is taking a perfectly justihable
course.
Probably you, too, would take that view
of the case if you were to see what hap
pens in the Carstairs and Pairing house
holds The name of Jacqueline's mother
would not be Carstairs if Sir Philip Null
laby had made her his wife instead of his
companion, but he is a shameless old repro
bate and she has no blush for her infamy,
even in the presence of her bIameless
daughter She loves Jaqueline fondly how
ever, and that one womanly merit recon-
mends her to mercy when the audience
comes to pass judgment on her misbehavior.
Jaqulines father-in-laws morals are flaw
less and he defends her resolutely against
the taboo which his social set subjects her
to- but he is an austere Puritan and his
genuine affection for his sons wife is so
dictatorial that 1t augments her unhappi-
ness and the audiences verdict condemns
him for a fiint-hard old tyrant. Similarly,
the author induces US to dislike the bride
groom. because his love of his wife takes
Tx like f6e Woor because his
sion is tenderly cOnsiderate. AS to Annie
Jaquline Russell her own plaintive self. we
are kept In doubt what she Will do, or
ought TO do till the curtain Is ready TO
close in on her. The husband has just
commanded her to cut herself off from her
disreputable but beloved mother and SUBJ
nit to the rigors of his fathers rule The
wooer has just implored her to run away
from miserable slavery, and, after the law
shall have given her the right. find felci-
tous freedom IN congenial wedlock. Up to
this time her conduct has been obedient to
her marriage vow. What viii she do now
The men have left her alone. She puzzles
over the problem in silence slowly pins a
hat ON her head and goes off without utter
ing another word. In that odd way the
play ends.
Mrs. Gilbert, the oldest actress on earth
still in service has the small part Of a
mother-in-law in 1.-THE Younger Mrs Par
ling" She member of Augustin
Days company so many years that at
his death, she felt tnat Sne could never De
happy under any other boss, but she says
Charles Frohman has been so good to sner
that she wants TO keep acting long
as she can keep on her feet. This is her
temperance after a fall that hurt her
considerably and she is very feeble The
first nighters held up the play TO applaud
her till she begged them TO stop.
Frances Hodgson burnett, in THAT Man
and T. gives relatively cheerful view of
the evil that men DO to women. This new
play is not funny farce. as its name seems
TO indicate but comedy OF tender senti-
ment and deep emotion. Mrs Burnett has
made ii with pen and ink, as we'll as scis-
sors and paste. from her novel. I'm Connec-
ton with the De Willoughby Claim" The
misfortune which John Baird brings TO
| Margery Latimer IS shown in a prologue.
| Then the action skips seventeen years and
we get acquainted with Margery's daugh-
| ter. Felicity, who goes on her wedding day
| TO lay her bridal flowers on her mothers
| grave and pray there 10 be kept pure A
plaintive incident Is this. with the girl un-
| aware of the pitiful pertinency OF what she
| does and her remorseful father saved from
| suicide by the innocent creature. OF course.
| you have seen Maude F'ealy-if not on the
| stage. then In portraiture as her hundreds
] OF photographs have been multiplied into