Evening journal., 1907-10-07

marry this ''meanest OF men," which she
does after an examination OF her con-
science, she makes her decisic' .nown 10
her father who is standing all the while
without. and who Is still ignorant Of his
daughters real intention in the Office
When Tate attempts 10 embrace his lady
love, she repulses him, whereupon Tate,
realizing his mistake In persuading a gil
who doesn't love him TO marry him, re-
leases her from her promise. Then In the
exuberance OF her Joy, she runs laughlnBly
out of the office leaving Tate az MS desk
in tears. The last act shows the stllhb
room of Janets home. Doris her mothel
and Mr.. Chaplin, who rs again sccreuy
admitted into the house by Corplcs-the
porter, are having "a conversation over
their prospective reunion, when Janet ana
her husband again unexpectedly appear
WOman's weapons in nght-Words-iol-
low Janet orders her step-iather ana step
sister from the house, the mean thing, but
Doris asserts herself. She has the where
with TO do It. She commands her tather
TO remain. Mr.. Klein rs seemingly FOND ~
injecting into all; or 70 be correcter his
latter day plays, dcnunciation scenes. The
step-sister Is not contrariWise for Doris
scathingly berates her half-sister Tor her
wanton demonstration and hard hearted
ness, going back over the causes Of their
domestic unrest and unha ppincss In words
deiatoric. At the end OF her speech she
Janet Is too surprised to speak. over her
countenance comes the look Of blank des-
pair De Barget. who stood retired In the
roar Of the room throws of his receptivity
and stealthily advances, and takes the
money like all vamplre-like men do who
live off women. and leaves the house.
Janet follows him, but quickly returns
with a note from de Barget who, quicker
than Il takes to tell n. elopes with a Mrs.
Hampton, a society woman who has
an impershable reputation for not pay
ing her bills Janet Is out done, ana she
throws herself upon the mercy and ten
derness OF her mother and step-sister,
both Of whose pity is spontaneous. There
are tears, embraces and all seems well.
This Is the reconciliation. J. Madison Tate
appears and Doris offers herself to the
man who has brought about her happl-
ness. Tate doesn't object. Doris says they
must be partners in the dressmak'ng es-
tablishment for that's the only way she
can ever pay him back. He says no. dear
est. we shall be partners for life. He
takes her hand they embrace. the girl
clings 70 him much after the fashion of
an intoxicated man who clings 10 a lamp
post to support his wobbly corpus and the
curtain goes down.
''The step-sster" is purely an elemental
playa play Of to-day-a play that
touches everyday lie as men and women
live H. That the author OF 1.-THE Lion and
the Mouse" 1.-THE Music Master" "The
Auctioneer." etc. could have been guilty
of the amorphorus "Step-Sister." IS, at
first thought, surprising as i Is regret
bile. The entire play is feeble in inven- !
tion, the design slipshod and the execu-
tion dull and monotonous. Many Of the
lines are mere repetitiOns. some are IN
sipid. hippant and colorless. Cons 'derab'e
emasculat'on Is necessary before the plly
receives its Introduction to New York
theatre-goers. The cast was an all-star
one. and the players made the most Of
their parts. especially CRYSTAL Hcrne as
Doris: Grace Filkins, as Janet; Mathilde
Cottrelly as Mrs Chaplin; Bruce McRae.
as j. rRtadisCn Tate gave a forcible piece
Of acting. His characterization Of the
'meanest man on earth" which IS prob
ably take OF Of "Money-bag Ryder I'm
the Lion and the Mouse" was one of
the few delightful parts Of this elemental
drama Miss Herne carried her Tart
through with iust q little too much per-
forcement The proper placing Of her
hands seemed TO bother her. but she pos
seSscs that charm Of grace and figure,
sustain her histrionic Inheritance Mics
Herne should remember that she Is on
elemental player.r and not inssie IN |
rural "Shore Acres" %. and shake IN SJfne
OF her rlrsficity Frederick de Belisvn'e |
cleveriy acted. as he always does. the
tedious and foppsh part Of Dc Bsrget |
IN this character Mr.. Klein characterizes |
whose only excuse for living Is that they /
are too cowardlv ta commit suicide John /
Findinv as David Chan'n. gave a very f1ne /
portrayal Of This ever-fo o. be-reen ichqrac- /
ter Ralph Delmore made tho most Of /
Jacob Ogden. In less oar7ble ands this /
domestic drama would not last a m0nth l
on the road. II Mr.. Klein Is 10 deiys into |
.elementsls' should -o2me froDzpl9eas |