New-York tribune., 1905-10-26
A STAGE ERNON.
T'zro Terts IN Place of One-A Peer
Not in the Book of Snobs.
London. October Is.

take a second shot in the evening, the play
wright cannot reserve his fire and finish his bag.
What makes it is that the title of the
completed hoInily has been discarded and the
ambiguous text for the unfinished one substi-
tuted for it, The play, enacted with intelligence
and power by Mr.. Walters company at the Inn
perial Theatre on Saturday night, and received
with exceptional favor and genuine enthusiasm,
is called THE Perfect Lover. This title tTnpi-
Gates, rather idealizes, Lord CardeW, VINO al
the end of the third act runs away with another
mans wife, taking broadminded aunt along
with them as chaperon. The marriage ques-
ton. while 1t emerges an episode or single
act, is in reality of secondary importance ana
receives only discursive treatment. The main
theme of the play is the wages OF disAonor
struggling journalist is offered 10000 for his
services in dirty transaction He yields
to temptation, increases his stock in trade
to 10000 by sharp stroke Of business. is
overwhelmed with sense OF MS deSrada-
ton, and, declining at the last moment 10 proH'
by his own dishonor reverts to honest poverty
This theme supplied the original title, Ihe way
of a FOOL and it has been worked out with
consistency and cumulative force. The subst1tu-
ton of THE Perfect Lover for it has impaired
the unity Of the work and impaired to a sub
sidiary and unfinished episode much weight
to throw the play out Of balance.
deep impression produced by his homey ser
monette, "A Maker Of Men," to enforce the les
son of contentnent by a more elaborate and
stirring play. To this end he has contrasted IN
the first two acts the lives of two brothers
Joseph Tremblet. a highminded journalist lv-
ing in Camden Town narrow means, with a
family to support by i'll requfted labor and an
ambitious daughter already clicking as type
writer; and William Trembet, rich, unscrupu-
N
Gardens is filed with chatter about stock pro-
noting bubble companies and reckless 3hnance-
The solicitor having secret information that
there Is a coal seam Lord Cardews estate
and that railway company is anxious 10 op-
tain control of the property. is bent upon pur
chasing it. He begins by attempting to trade
upon the ardent but restrained affection exist
ing between his wife, Lillian. and Lord CardeW;
but she refuses to become his accomplice He
next appeals to Martha, the journalists wife.
who is eager to take her daughter out OF type
writing and to give her a superior education
When an ally has been secured in the Camden
Town household the solicitor offers the BRIDE
sor his brothers services in inducing Lillian to
ask the perfect lover to sell the property. Alter
resentins the proposal as an insult, the journal
ist allows himself to be persuaded by Martina
and asks his brothers wife to put him IN the
way of making 5000. She starts off with an
abrupt refusal, but, TelenlllS Wileii Sllo liio'
of the poverty of the suburban household. finally
consents to write a letter to Lord Cardew, who
is on the eve of sailing for Canada with his
stronsminded aunt. AS poor Joseph has eased
his conscience by telling her the truth about
the real value of the estate and his own COM
missions, so also Lillian decides to let her lover
kno what his land is worth and why she wants
him to sell it II is all for Josephi
After two acts of the Fools Temptation comes
the episode OF the Perfect Lover. Lord CardeW
is discovered In his aunt's studio packing Ior
the voyage to Canada He has determined 10
sell the estate to the solicitor and to elope with
Lillian; and so certain is he OF securing her
consent that he has bought clothes for her and
nut her initials on the box. The aunt has TO De
talked over to his view. and this is easily done
since she is Iilian's godmother and Lord car
dew promises to be discreet, patonic friend,
at least until divorce proceedings can be ar
ranged Lillian herself remains to be argued
with and this requires more time. since sne
begins by removing the impression that her nus
hand has bulIied her into asking THIS favor
from the Perfect Lover and by explaining fhaI
she mites her brother-in-law and wants to help
hin, financially; and she ends by hurting out
the truth that there is coal on the land and
that her husband is trying to cheat the owner.
When she too has been talked over, and her
consent to the eiorement has been gained, the
hrotner-in-law intervenes with an eloquent plea
for the sanctity of marriage and the necessity
for an Immediate return to her home. Lord car
dew replies by signing the deed of sale convey
ing the coveted estate TO the Journalist himself
and hv repeating his priggish. passionIess pro-
fessions of friendship undefled and Lillian con-
fesses that life with her brutal husband has
become fntolerable Suddenly the brother-in-
law changes his tone. opens the door and tells
them to go in peace; and they vanish from view,
en- route for Canada with the fairy godmother,
and are not seen again on the boards. why the
Perfect Lover has sold his estate at beggarly
fraction of its value is inexplicable except on
the theory that he considers the husband en-
titled to heavy money damages IN return for the
loss of a wife Why the journalist should con-
vert his veto of the abduction into benediction
is equally unintellgible. unless he is grateful
for the conveyance of the estate and considers
it churlish for him to stand out for a tri1e like
morality when everybody is SO eager TO have
him make money and take his daughter out of
typewriting. The entire episode is incompre-
hensible from any point OF view except one,
namely that theatrical. stage made scene ts
required for Mr.. Waller and that a fourth act,
in which the land conveyance can be burned. is
equally Indispensable.
With the disappearance of the lovers the
original theme is taken up afresh and there is
very powerful and intensely dramatic act.
The Journalist has received the wages of dis
honor and cannot look either his ambitious wife
or his afectionate daughter in the face. The
joy has gone of his life; his home has been
darkened: his steps dogged by a black
mailer and while he dictate terms and
make 10000 by quick turn as easily as any
of the stock promoters. he is forced to confess
that he has lowered himself to his brothers level
and become equally sordid and debased.
Emancipation comes when he sweeps into the
fire the papers containing conveyance and as