The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-04
IRON BELLBoY 10 EILLIoNAIRE.
FrsDusd finance Dr1matilea.A Chserfui
AAtlra. .---

fFepAeu finance Dfamati1odo q Cheeffui
Satire.
For the second time within q few weeks
Ar. kellett Chalmers, until lately known az
barrie K. Chambers Of Australia, New
York and way stations, and as q brother Of
haddon Chambers, presented q play to
New York last night. "A Case Of Frenzied
Finance deals with four hours and forty
Ave minutes In the life Of a bellboy At the
newest New York hotel, which according
70 the dialogue Of the play was built 70 60
the 81. Regib one better.
That the young man was made 20 DO a
hnancier Is shown by the easy grace with
which he dlspoaes OF fake souvenirs Of
the hotel to r1bberneok strangers-the
kind Of people, he observes, 'as would
crawl down a coal hole 10 see a swell we'd
ding The Arizona copper king Is ex.
pected at the hotel. His name IL J. VIII
tovOhbv JohNsoH. Bot j, Wesley johnson,
the leading funeral director Of Yonkers,
Happens In before him with a semi-annual
alcoholic relaxation process we'll advanced,
Benny, the bellboy, collects Mr.. johnson,
jag and all PUSHES him into the apart
ments reserved for the copper king, fills
him full Of Wall Street tip that has been
floating around the hotel, appoints him
self Mr.. JohHson's private secretary and
manager and buys some forty thousand
shares Of stock on Mr.. JohHson's account
The foggy efforts Of Mr. johnson Of
Yonkers 10 understand the talk Of millions,
the general Difference paid 10 him around
the hotel and the luxurious floods Of cham
payne and good things TO eat which come
raining down on him at Bennps orders
were the backbone Of the playa wobbly
backbone. perhaps, but mons the less
amusing.
Bat Scranton, the Copper Kings rival in
Arizona, who lowed as how he owned the
pure and high minded judiciary Of the
Territory, while johnson owned the free
and patriotic Legislature, and the Copper
Kings pretty daughter we're the bell
boys allies. With their aid and assis lance,
a profit Of over $1,000 900 piled up, was
collected and brought 70 the hotel in the
form Of certified check for J. Wiiloughby
johnson. Just as that worthy gentleman
had freed himself from the charge Of being
an imposture, impersonating himself.
The play ends with an Arizona court
held in the Copper Kings apartments,
with Bat acting as court and jury, and
awarding the million dollars to the agile
get Mics johnson too. There was a broker
In the proceedings who thought that the
million ought to come to him. What he
got was breach OF promise suit from the
Yonkers undertaker's daughter on account
OF promise to marry. extended to her
while she seemed to be the daughter Of the
Copper King.
II Ia not often that playby q new writer
improves as IL goes along. At the end Of
the first act Of this piece there was a general
~. IL. Il II r.
that there had been no rehearsal, because
90 much would have TO be cut out Of the
thing that the rehearsal would have been
a waste Of time.
Philosophical reflections on the queer
things one sees IN the corridors Of the show
hotels In New York may be amusing but
last night they lacked dramatic coherency.
But when the action really
be gan, the streaks OF tiresomeneas grew
farther and farther apart and the chunks
Of good. clean, live fun came, faster and
faster till the last act went with an almost |
wboop.
William j. Ferguson, as the YonkeT's |
funeral director, Douglas Fairbanks az |
Benny, Robert Fischer ss the burly Copper |
King Of Arizona, Frank Hatch as Bot ScrIR- |
ton did the most telling work Of the piece, |
though Emily Wakeman, as the lachrymose |
wife Of the alcoholic undertaken was a
powerful support to that first act. Laura |
Lemmers was the Copper Kings daughter. |
When her part is made less difficult for |
her by cutting out some Of those light |
streaks, the impression she makes will
doubtless be greatly siren rthened.
A word Of sympathy Is due 10 the author |
for the conduct Of the curtain man at the |
end Of the second act, when the audience
was doing its best 70 get the regulation |
speech. It Is a sad thing indeed, 10 rest |
ones good right hand firmly on the back |
Of a stage chair. TO clear ones throat, take |
in a full breath, and then have the curtain |
drop down, down, down, before the first !
syllable escapes from ones lips. Mr.. |
Chambers Is too young 10 be subjected TO |
such disappointments, and II Is 70 be hoped |
.-,,rAn ma nnrarnlu Nolan To