New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15

nero's cards. Indeed, little If anything is do
ing in the second act beyond a complete exhi-
hilton of the Ridgeleys and two outbreaks of
temper from the second Mrs lesson OF talk
there is almost as much as in Mr. Shaw's contro-
versial revels about everything under the sun
The chef topics are the late Annabel and the
memorial park; and the pompous Sir Daniel
Ridgeley agrees with his wife that a hand stand
would be un-English and Enthusiastically CONT
mental Nina. under secret instructions from
the diplomatist. proposes artistic fountain;
but Geraldine, the martinez housekeeper and
Pryce Ridgeley. a prig as hypocriticaI as the
old bore Sir Daniel. voice their discomfort with
anything so indecent female figure in mar
BILE or bronze. The young wife flies out of the
room In a rage and speedily returns to beg
everybody's pardon. When she hears that An
nabers boudoir which has been closed since her
death, has been allotted, not to her. but to little
Derek. she is furious with wrath and breaks out
in hot rebellion. Let the neighbors and the
newspapers say what they may. she will not
der tribute TO Annabel by attending the official
ceremonies in the memorial park So ends the
second act, after the dplomatist has preached
TO dull ears the parable of the French cook who
heard too much about the marves Of his prede-
cessor and finally in despair blew up the kitchen
boiler.
There has been no earnest drama yet but it
is coming; after Nina, unrepentant and def
ant. has appeared in a pink costume among
the mourning Ridgeleys and refused to accom-
pany her husband to the park When they leave
her by herself an opportunity for throwing down
and smashing the sacred image of Annabe
comes 10 her. Little Derek has found under the
floor in his mothers boudoir reticule. and
when his back is turned Nina opens it and draws
out four faded letters from Major Maurewarde
10 Annabel. From these It is plain that the
~ rl,4
she had planned elopefnent when she met her
death by a carriage accident. and that Derek
is Maurewarde's son. Vengeance is now in the
power Of the sighted. injured second wife; but
in really thrilling scene she is disarmed by the
eloquent pleading of the diplomatist. who per-
suades her. as an act of mercy TO the living and
the dead. to give up the letters and not to break
silence. After this intensely dramatic duel
comes the fourth act. in which the diplomatist
turns Maurewarde out of the house and then
reveals the secret to the husband after the re-
turn from the ceremony in the park. What he
had begged her not TO do he does mpulsively
himself. after trying TO induce his obstinate
brother TO treat his wife more affeCtionatey and
after witnessing her meekness and patience when
affronted anew by the prosecuting Ridgeleys
After fierce onslaught upon the least offensive
of the priggish and sanctmonious relations OF
the first wife, he witnesses their expulsion from
power and the reinstatement Of the second Mrs
lesson as mistress of her own house. When the
discriminating letters have been burned the
chivalrous squire of danes leaves husband and
wife by the fire and softly closes the door be-
hind him. as they look. with renewed confidence
into each others eyes.
Mr.. Pineros play is constructed with the mas
terry Of technique for which his best work is
conspicuous The story is deeply interesting
and is told with directness and cumulative force
The comedy passages are fresh and sparkling:
the treatment OF the SNUG, snobbsh, self
righteous Ridgeley family is frankly farctcal
rather than Cyncally satirical and there is
strenuous melodrama in the third and fourth
acts. The dipomatsts appeal 10 the injured
wife's conscience and ma gnanin1ity is perhaps
more convincing than his own justification for
hurting out the discriminating secret after he
had sealed her lips. Indeed he was impusive
rather than consistent, and finally acted from a
rough sense of justice for a prosecuted woman
who had earned by noble. unselfsh conduct de-
liverance from heartless hypocrites. who were
bringing virtue, charity and religion into con-
tempt. There is no problem in the play except
the struggle Of a sorely tried. exasperated wom-
an TO overcome her passion for resentment. when
an irresistible weapon for executing vengeance