The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-25
"THE MAN OF THE HOUR" NOV
ELIZED.

1.-THE New Mayor Founded on George
Broadhurst's play. The Man of the Hour
by Albert Payson Terhune. The ]. s.
Ogilvie Publishing Company, New York.
So often do our playwrights dramatize
from the novelists that it is perhaps but
turn about and fair play for an occasional
writer Of books to "novelize' from a
dramatist. The success Of '"rhe Man of the
Hour has been so great that 1t is no
wonder the enterprlsing publisher has seized
upon the opportunity to turn its popularity
to his own advantage.
Mr.. Terhune has followed the text of the
play so closely in his book that the result
could hardly fail to be interesting and dra-
matte. The Man OF the Hour" is a stirring.
virile drama, written upon a timely subject
of pressing Significance and treating dis
couraglng conditions in an optimistic way.
It's success, remarkable as it is, has been
well earned. Its faults are superficial, be-
ing mainly a too great crowding OF Incl
dents, a lack of simplicity and a conse-
quent scattering OF interest that preclude
the single powerful and concentrated i'm
preston desirable TO be given in the drama
of high purpose. Mr.. Broadhursts tech
nique discloses a too great respect for con-
ventional theatrical methods; he has not
been able to escape the melodramatic. But
he has written a play that holds the spec
tator's attention closely. setting before him
a high and noble STANDARD of action at the
same time that II keeps him amused and
entertained. 1t does not go very deep down
into character. but ii treats of everyday
situations in public life reasonably, rightly
and helpfully.
Somehow Mr.. Terhune's novel rather en-
phasizes the faults OF the play than builds
upon its virtues. Without the aid of the
personality and business of the actors the
humor introduced through the characters
of Alderman Phelan and Perry VAIN
wright becomes fiat and colorless. The in
cidents become more melodramatic; the
character -presentment less plausible.
Nevertheless as 1t stands, it is a capital
story and makes the exciting reading
that the average fction- lover demands.
The story Of the play which Mr.. Terhune so
faithfully reproduces should be well known
by this time. It has to do with the subject
OF politics, finance and municipal grating.
It's hero is a young man who, to prove to
his sweetheart that he can make something
more of himself than a millionaire idler,
goes into politics and gets elected mayor.
In the course of his administration 1t be-
comes necessary for him to consider an in
famous attempt at a franchise steal backed
by the boss who had secured the mayors
nomination and by other powerful interests.
The duty Of the mayor is clear, but the
fortune of the girl he loves and her regard
for him, the honor OF his fathers name
and his own political future are all allied
with the opposition. 1t Is ambition, pride
and love against ~duty-the issue very
strongly and dramatically drawn-but in It
all the mayor stands firm for the right and
ultimately triumphs.
The most interesting character is not the
young mayor, who is almost too good to be
true, but the hrutally. domineerfng and
constituencies political boss, Horrigan,
whom Mr.. Broadhurst has made photo
graphically representative of his class.