The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
With Glorious BETSY"


1t is strange that the romantic cpl
sOdes connected with the attachment Of
Jerome Bonaparte and Bette Patterson
were not sooner seized upon by either
the novelist or dramatist, being so fun
of romantic interest, and of such effective
historical environment. but is perhaps
fortunate that the author of Glorious
Betsy which was at the Belasco all
the week. was untrammeled by anything
which had gone before, thus being
spared two unpleasant things which US
ually accompany the play dramatized
from a popular book namely. the con-
straint Of having TO write I'D 10 some
other persons ideas OF character and
atmosphere. and Of having TO submit 10
the criticism of those who imagine that
a so-called book" play must conform 10
the original in every detail The dram
atized novel at its best is a very uncer-
tain form Of dramatic expression. and
Mrs. Young displayed wisdom in select
ing material Of raw quality, and serving
| Il to suit her own poetic. but intelH-
gent fancies.
Surely, no one that we know OF in the
literary or dramatic world was more
suited for the work in hand than Rida
Johnson Young. Born and reared within
| a stones throw Of the locality where
the principal event OF the story trans.
pired. familiar since childhood with all
the real and legendary versions Of the
story, Of splendid mental attainments
/ and educational accomplishments. with
great traditional knowledge of the stage
/ by reason Of acquaintance with the
] Booths, Albaughs and other theatrical
/ families, made perhaps more potent by
her own tastes and her marriage with
James Young, fine Shakespearean actor
and accomplished gentleman she certainly
took up the task under the most favor
able circumstances. and the outcome has
given her 4 noble acqulttal
The two conditions enumerated at the
close Of the aforementioned list, prob
ably guided her more than any others
in the construction Of the play. for prob
| ably no one knew the facts concerning
! the marriage Of the younger Bonaparta
and the belle Of Baltimore better than
did Rida Johnson. 1t was a question
| Of creating play Of acting quality.
poetic value, and enjoyable interest. and
not an occasion for reiterating history.
! The authoress knew full well that Jerome
Bonaparte probably never saw his wife
after the first separation. and that the
after life OF Nine. Bonaparte in Balti-
more. was marred by a reputation for
hard-hsted eccentricities. superinduced.
no doubt. by the blasting Of her great
ambition. for some do say that she really
fell in love with the genius Of the great
Napoleon. as reflected in his younger
brother. All of this, however. would
have been sadly out Of place in a ro-
mantle play, and the writer acted wisely
when she eliminated the somber quality.
and made an ending more in conformity
with public taste and stage tradition.
The production Of Glorious Betsev -
! Brown, Of Harvard" The BOYS OF
Company B." the writing OF graceful
verses. and other literary successes.
places Mrs. Young well up in the list
Of American writers Of the present gen
GRAFTON, and there is every promise OF
even better things coming with the full
maturity OF the intellectual and rehec-
tive powers.