The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-04
"servsnt in the House"-eennett.


1.-The Servant in the House" which
is the Thanksgiving attraction at the
Gennett theater, is a modern comedy
through which runs well-defined vein
OF pathos that occasionally touches
tragic significance. 1t tells of mys-
FERROUS Indian bishop who enters the
home of an English clergyman dis
guised as a butler. At the end of the
play this servant in the house disclos-
es himself as the Bishop of Benares,
the Holy City of India. And it does
not take an audience many minutes to
realize that he is something more
than Bishop in Gods Church. He
is readily recognized as a reincarna-
ton of the Christ.
When the curtain rises for the first
act man clad in flowing Oriental
robes is seen standing with his back
to the audience. After a few minutes
Of conversation with the butler" of
the household, who tells him that he
can't help thinking that he has seen
him somewhere else, this stranger
from the east startles the lad by cor.
recting him for petty offense which
had been committed while his back
was turned. POND my word, Mr.
Manson" the boy exclaimes, you give
me the fair creeps and no mistake. y
You will get over that when you
know me better" the other replies. A
moment later he turns about and the
audience sees that this Manson bears
startling resemblance to we'll
known painting of the man of Sor
rows"
The story Of the play tells of three
brothers who have not met for fif
teen years. One has become vical
in the Church of England, preacher
famed for his eloQuence. Another
brother has sunk low in the socia
scale and becomes scavenger 1.-THE
man who looks after drains.) The
third had disappeared in India wher
a mere boy, and only the previous
day word had reached the Vicar tina
his long lost brother and the celebrat
ed bishop of Benares were one ant
the same person. On the morning O.
the play these three brothers come
together at the Wears home. The
drain man had journeyed there witt
hatred in his heart against his clergy
man brother, and brooding ovel
wrongs, for which he held him respon
sible. The brother from India is pre-
sent, but neither of the others recog
nize him. They soon come under thu
wonderful influence of this servant II
the house. The vicar realizes the hyp
ocrisy Of the conventional form of re
ligion into which he has drifted an,
in the revolt from it finds peace. TIL
scavenger turns from his thoughts o
revenge and in the end gladly faces
horrible death down in the darkness t,
save his comrads up above.
The most pathetic episode in tn
play Is the meeting between the scay
enger and his little girl, whom he ha
not seen since she was baby, an
who shrinks with fear before his dis
sipated face and disreputable appear
ance. But in conversation with hin
she grows even friendly and tells hin
Of her longing to see her unknown
father, who is, she knows, ''brave
beautiful and good" The scavenge
is tempted at first to disclose his ider
tity, but is stopped by her description
of her ideal father. He realizes hi
own unworthiness and that he can OF
ly drag her down to his own level b
claiming her He determines to e
away without speaking AS he goe
out of the door she says: Before 20
go won't you tell me your name? VIII
are your" ri got no name wort