The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-19

This Is Mr. Drew's 14th season without
verifying "a general recollection we believe
that Delaney" Is, accordingly. Mr..
Drcw's lfth play and character. Was it
"The Butterflies" that inaugurated the
count2 iEhat seems only yesterday, and
Mr.. Drew as Delaney seems TO be
trihe younger than then. Unless you
stop TO verify the record he certainly
is! And I'm the same way, speaking gem
orally, we should say that Delaney
ia about the most engaging play and
about the most engaging Drew part of all
the II Drew seasons. Certainly Mr..
Drew was never more finished more lik-
able and altogether more agrecably pro-
nounced IN his own distinction than he
appeared last evening.
"De Lancey" is different as a bit Of
character work There was a period I'm the
course OF the fourteen seasons when Mr.
Drew seemed 20 be burdened with the no.
ton that. while he might continue TO he
a matinee idol 90 the bon bon bunch and
a fellow Of rare cultivation as a demon
strator OF the talents that he Is highly
blessed with The exclusive Drew talents
which only the mlsanthropic reviewer
would choose 10 lament on the ground
that-it rs exclusive. distinctive. all his own
and that he is deharred thereby from be-
ing n lightning change artist and coiapell-
ed TO ever be John Drew--he got a curious
notion that he must be aging for the alb
surd reason that you required two hands
20 count his stellar season, that was pc
riod we repeat. when Mr. Drew-well. IL
appeared 20 seem 10 him becoming the
dignity of what ne may have been pleas
ga to call his years" to let the Juvenile
man run away with the heroine Mr..
Thomas has put n stop 10 this nonsense
De rancey resumes possession OF the her
oine. II not quite In the old boyish style
still with unrestrained vigor and passion
and everybody In last nights audience
a. lat, - fs
no pathetic sniff OF rosemary about that
capital good fellow with a predisposition
to make n failure OF himself, Jim De Ian
cey
And n DC Lancey restores 10 us the
John Drew that everybody wants. the
character also furnishes n distinctively
new Drew part, while at the same time it
is all original Drew. For this Augustus
Thomas hero. as a character-his ethical
character. not dramatic, we mean-is
weak where most everybody else in the
list Is strong-a very unusual Drew sort.
That rather contributes 10 its charm as u
certainly does 10 It's novelty. For you feel
like asking as tho heroine does: What's
the matter with you Jim?" And there's
nothing the matter with him except that
he apparently finds no niche IN the world
that he is able 20 hll with credit or ad-
vantage TO himself A grown man a grass
widow. without visible means OF support,
he Is n moor stick sure enough. from n
worldly point OF view Fortunately In tho
play world at least. we don't depend co
much on tho worldly point OF view 90
make our heroes And so DC Lancev with
All his Weaknesses Is as delightful fell
low as ever took tho worlds hateful medi,
cine without making n face over a., or
made love 20 "a pretty girl with fine and
gentlemanly consideration OF his own un-
ftness
And after all. Il isn't a fellows fault
n there is no market FOR tho talents that
he happens 10 be blessed with. Jim De
Tancev ran ride horse better t~in most
men Tho demand for that sort Of talent
Isn't so insistent and broad as 90 make
II either OF much credit Dr profit 10 the
possessor. ne the world goes. Neither
captain Of industry nor worlds statesmen
are developed from riding 10 hounds. and.
even though De Lancey could give his bet
ters points in this fine and wholesome art.
II doesn't count for much I'm the world
which - paying It's big prices 90 tho men
who have other kinds or tnlent So Jim
DE Iancey rides to hounds gallanuy and
lets his creditors wait FOR his return with
the brush. until IN Ear or Japan a sud
den demand springs up for just the sort
of talent that he possesses and then. TAX
lnR the giri with him. on ne goes 10 make
good with his ono talent and filhll tho
scriptural admouition.
But that is tho end ~ tho story How
DE 1anCey makes ont 90 win the girl
that he loves and who loves him and who.
accordingly. might have been won within
I've minutes after the overture. n he
hadn't been a gentleman as well as