The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-07


Correspondence Of The Washington Herald.
New York. April 6.-"The Ambitious
Mrs. Alcott.'' which was seen for the
first time on any stage at the sAstor Thea
ter last Monday night. is by Leo Ditrich-
stein and PereivaI Pollard, with the scene
laid in Washington. This notwithstand-
ing, 1t is atmospherically no more a
Washington play than 1t would be Pari-
sian If the scene were transposed 20 the
French eapitai-yet the plot Is intimately
interviewer with diplomatic affairs and
a secret state paper, and the intrigue Is
Interesting, and would be even more so
II the clever work Of the two writer's had
been devoted to dramatically more sig
nitcant object than the defeat of the
woman with past in her aspirations TO
marry young man in the State Depart
ment who has aroused her sincere love.
Mrs, Alcott is the young widow OF an
American diplomat accredited to a GER
tain foreign court. Senator Pierce. chair
man Of the Committee on Foreign At
fairs. ia going over some papers from the
State Department Incidental to the franz
Ing Of a new treaty with that particular
government, 1nds compromising docu-
ment which has slipped into the bundle
through an oversight It Shows that Al
colt WIGS recalled from his post because
Of a scandal connecting his wifes name
with that OF the king. which I'D 10 this
time has been carefully guarded as a
state secret
Senator Pierce has a daughter Alice
who is Ia love with Richard Winthrop
Of the State Department staff. but the
young man is infatuated with Mrs. Al
colt. and she is deeply in love with him.
Richard also has brother. Lawrence.
who was attached 10 the American Iega-
ton during Alcotts service abroad. He
knows Mrs. Alc0tt's secret. but himself
is in love with her, once proposed to her
and was rejected.
Lawrence Winthrop hears Of his
brothers infatuation with Mrs AlcOtt,
and determines TO prevent their marriage.
He is, however. inhibited from making
known Der history by the secrecy which
diplomatic usage imposes upon him. He
quaFTsls with his brother. who resents
his interference. and tells Mrs. AIcott
that he intends to prevent the marriage.
de can make no use Of the sealed Sc
crets of the archives OF the state De-
partment, and must, therefore. fight the
woman with her own weapons. She chal-
lenges him 10 the combat. and he tells
her that though himself pledged 10
silence, Senator Pierce knows her secret.
and is free to make use Of the informa-
tlon which the fugitive report among the
treaty papers has placed in his posses
sion.
Now, Mrs. Alcott Is rather an interest
ing woman. as one of her sex sincerely
in love is apt 10 be. She is as old as. OF
older than Richard; she is rich. accom-
plished, beautiful. and though she has a
muddy past. her love has purified her.
and she is far from bad. Richards sus-
picions are aroused. and her aim is to
keep him from getting hold Of the facts
in her life abroad.
Airs. Alcott has sterling friend, as
well as admirer in Count Hegedy. the
minister al Washington from the court
where she scored her conquest over the
king He is Count Cassini transplanted
to the stage but a man with a weak
heart physically and sentmentally He
loves Mrs. AlcOtt and offers 10 marry
her. When she tells him she loves an
other. Younger man. he naively asks
il this young man cannot be induced TO
wait until he leaves her widow
To Count Hegsdy Mrs. Alcott appeals
in her great extremity Lawrence Win
throp has given her till II o'clock that
night to break of the engagement with
Richard. If she does not comply. he
threatens 10 go TO Senator Pierce and
have him expose her secret.
Mrs Alcott sends for Hegedy to pro-
teCt her and the obliging count. ready
TO obey this charming woman In every
thing goes 10 the White House at late
hour, obtains the Presidents interces-
sion with Senator Pierce and the sup
preston Of the state papcr-and Lawrence
Winthrop is foiled for the present
But not for long Richard appears on
the scene. He has been to the play and
makes late call on Mrs Alcott. He
finds his brother and Count Hegedy there
after a scene of cut and thrust. Law
renee asks him If he has still in his pos
session the secret report which Senator
Pierce gave him to return to the State
Department Richard has the sealed en-
velope in his pocket
Have you no curiosity 70 know the
truth?' asks Lawrence
Richards anger and curiosity are ex-
cited. He resolves to reduce his doubts
10 certainty. He is about to read the
report, when Count Hegedy, seeing the
honor Of his king and Mrs Alcott in i'm
minent jeopardy, snatches the report
from his hands in a quick struggle and
casts it into the fireplace.
The struggle has overtaXed his strength
Stricken with heart disease, he falls upon
the sofa and expires.
Four weeks have passed. Mrs. AIcott
has been Frustrated on a sickbed. and
when she reappears in Senator Pierce's
in the last act. she has
undergone q change physically and spirit
laily The fight is all out Of her; her
hair Is whitened. and her nature soft
sned She is going abroad. but not until
she has made amends. She induces the
brothers TO clasp hands. and then re-
eases Richard from his engagement after
telling him the truth.
Her farewell is pathetic. As she passes
lut of the room, Lawrence follows her
With the significant hint that he viii be
aboard the same steamer. Needless to
5ay. Richard finds consolation IN the
owe of Alice Pierce, and spirited in
gigue Is brought TO a satisfactory con-
fusion.
The subject is well handled. except in /
minor details. Events are set in motion /
which have little to do with the main !
iction. Lawrence forms an aggressive |
alliance with Alice Pierce, but it is not
apparent that she is ever required TO |
contribute to the defeaf of Mrs. Alcnft,s