The Washington herald., 1907-03-10

Correspondence Of The Washington Herald.
New York. March 9.-George Broad
hurst launched his second play this
season last Monday evening at the Astor
Theater. Il is entitled THE Mills of the
Gods" and. Of course, every paper in
town saw the point and rang ocular
changes on the word grind" in describ-
ing the play. 1t was originally called
THE Coward. and perhaps that was
more appropriate name than the present
one, though under the circumstances
the hero Is TO be reJkoned with mercl-
fully for mourning the odium OF coward
ice. The great sensational moment that
was widely heraIded did not material
ize, but In spite Of that. which served
10 attract large audience on the open-
ing night, the play gave satisfaction.
and unless all indications fail, il will
count among the successes Of the season.
Not that it is a play Of unusual power.
but such plays are the exception, and
20 say the least Of IL. # maintains
degree Of eminent responsibility among
the offerings on Broadway. To many
it Will seem better play than THE
Man OF the Hour by the same author.
ieven if it has not the touch-and-go spirit
Of the Savoy piece. With less OF the
tragedy of a political epoch. it has more
OF the humanity of the simple heart ro-
nance for it tells the story Of a man
who is pursued by the consequences Of
a crime committed in youth.
James Clarke embezzles $500 from
firm of wholesale groceTs that employs
him as a cashier. He commits the crime
to save the life Of his only sister. who
has been ordered by the doctors to 20
20 Arizona at once 10 escape the ravages
Of tuberculosis. lie is sure Of being able
to replace the money from a small in
heritance left him by an uncle But
before be can make restitution his crime
IS discovered by fellow-empoye named
Payton. This is an INSCRIPTIONS rascal.
/ He forces Clarke 10 pay him hush money.
the crime is detected, both are arrested.
and the first act introduces them in open
court. arraigned for trial
During the proceedings a telegram is
handed 10 Clarke. It announces that his
sister has died from the shock OF mis- ar
rest. and. broken-hearted. Clarke with
draws his plea Of not guilty confesses his
crime under the circumstance. detailed.
and Is sentenced with Payton to five
years in State prison.
Clarke escapes after two years. assumes
/ another name. finds employment in cut
glass factory, and through his ability to
make novel designs. rises after eight
years 10 position of trust. and falls in
love with the sister Of the proprietor Of
the factory.
In the fuIluess Of his happiness. Pay
ton turns up lie has served his full
term, and now threatens to expose and
deliver Clarke up to justice. unless he
submits 10 being blackmailed. Clarke ac-
/ cepts the conditions, and Payton becomes
his evil genius.
But the blackguard goes too far in the
1 end. Clarke's manhood is aroused; he
casts on the fear that has bound him
I hand and foot to Payton. almost throt-
/ ties him. and finally makes clean breast
/ Of his past to the girl who loves him and
/ to her brother his employer.
I The glass trust has been trying to en-
/ gage Clarke for a long time It's agent
]
or of the State. and promises TO secure
/ Clarke's pardon, provided he VIII give his
| talent 60 the trust at a salary of $4,000 a
year. His sweetheart-s faith IS mistaken,
and so the curtain comes down on a
/ happy scene.
The plot resembles that of another play.
which but for a train Of mishaps. would
/ have been on Broadway earlier in the
! season. It was The Eastman Case"
/ by Paul Wilstach. in which an ex-convict
/ also turns up 10 b!ackmail his former pal,
who has taken a prominent position in
/ the community as a lawyer.
/ In the Broadhurst play. Robert Drouet
plays the hero; Edgar Selwyn appears as
/ PaytOn; Frank Sheridan is the secretary
/ OF the glass trust. and Florence Rockwell
/ the heroine. The cast Is good.
/ Interesting comedy scenes are intro
duced. in which Louise Closer figures
1 prominently as a vivaciOus stenographer
and typewriter, and Toby Lyons as Sam
/ Furnish. who bOrTOws money TO pay his
way through a correspondence college
and finally flashes mis- star as a graduated
/ detective by mail" This Is d novel char
acter and was admirably played.
/ The piece was rather severely used by
/ the critics who put It under a severe
/ handicap; and rather unjustIy, it seemed
/ TO the undersigned.
/ Paul Armstrong, the author Of "Salomy
Jane" is in the thick Of a warm contro-
versy with George c. Tyler, manager of
/ Eleanor Robson, over the playing Of
/ Merely Mary Ann" at the Wednesday
matinees. Armstrong contends that this
policy reduces "SaIomy Jane" to the
status Of a repertoire production, TO which
/ he took a vigorous exception in an inter
view this week. Incidentally. he objected
/ also TO the omission Of his name from the
/ Autographs of his play
/ To all OF which Tyler returns a sarcas-
] tic and discOurteous retort. There is no
Intention. and never was. he says. Of con-
I flning Miss Robson to one play; but on
the contrary, it was ANNOUNCED last Dc
tObeT that she would go on producing
plays until she had built UP a repertoire
How could she go on forever playing
Jane? he asked. No, never, She would
/ soon be ready 10 appear in Rostand's
I Lady OF Dreams and other new plays
besides. And he concluded in a defiant
statement that il Armstrong was really
/ serious in his implied threat to take legal
action, he ought TO proceed promptly. as
he fTvler) would be leaving for Europe
next Tuesday
Armstrong; reply is still due, but it
will probably not be due long.
Genius is not expected to be hampered
by the restrictions that are binding on