The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-29
BURL LESoUE ON BROAD LINES
Fritz Williams as Mir. Crewe Docs Good Character Acting
 Others Score.

1 know hut little of the way in which political nominations are brought about by intricate maneuyers much | like those on a chess board 1t is cer- tanly instructive
 In "Mr. Crewe's Career Marion Fairfax, the dramatist, has undoubtod- ly written something which will ap- peal to a large class of theater-Roers For that reason It's financial, If not It's artistic success is already assured and we predict for 1t long run, To say of 1t that it can boast not one dull moment would he to put the situation mildly. It Is like a three-rins circus large part of tho time Especially Is this the case in the third and last act which is set in the ante-room 10 l the state convention hall, from which place the generals who are the pawns of the octopus like railroad manipulate l the delegates like mauikins
 The plot of the play is much the same as that of the novel. "only more SO" The leading role, that of Aus ten Naue, is played by William Lew CTS, who showed some nervousness during the carly part of the evening atd for that reason missed some Of his cues, but who later succeeded eN- cellently in carrying his audience tri- umphantly along with him whenever he appeared on the stage Austen Nane is one kind of a hurlcsQnc 70 burlcsquc on goodness. He is all that is good and noble. In direct contrast to him is Mir Flint president of the great railroad, an exaggerated bur iesquc on badness. Between these two extremes there are any number of varieties. Of these tho best two eN- amplcs of skilful characters drawing came with Adam Hunt, the railroads g candidate for governor, as empty headed a iackass as was ever depicted on the stage uproariously funny but quite 10 think Of az q possible candi- date for even a iack-straws team, and with Humphrey Crewe, the title role, a sef-styled rctormor but really a man with nothing but his own person. al aims and ambitions in view at heart
 Austen Nane has just won an im- portant case for a farmer against the railroad when the play opens For that reason the president of the latter sees how necessary it Is that the young man be got under his thumb. So that he will not accept more cases against tho road. he sends young Austen an annual pass on the road, hoping 10 buy him off and he also sends Aus tens father the roads head counsel to him with promises of future posi- lions in the roads employ. All these offers are indignantly refused by the high -browcd young man. who is ac- claimed at the end of the act by a ! crowd of farmers as their next candi- date for the governor
 The second act was one of political plotting and of making. It hap pens some months later In the mean I time Austen has fallen in love with the railroad presidents daughter, l Victoria Flint So has The Honorable Humphrey Crewe, a role played to perfection by Fritz Williams Mr. Wl- i Hams loye-scene with Molly Pearson. who played Victoria, was exceedingly funny His description to her of his idea of an ideal wife was rich" and his proposal while holding his watch in his hand and counting the min 1 utes he had to spare vas uproarious. The waN he took his refusal was typl- cal of his kind of man. Miss Pear son was charming throughout
 Tine "high-hat' conference Of tho masuates followed Al this tt was dc. cldod to run Mn Hunt AS the railroad candidate upon the promise being giv- i cn by the elder Vane that his son did not Intend to run for governor the latter depending upon promise of his son made to him to that effect some time before tpon Austen Nanc's con fesaon of his love for Victoria, how ever, she urges auu to make the fight oi his life for the nomination and win. which he promises to do. When this is made known t puts the father In a | very bad light He turns against hia son and vows to down him at the con- 1 vcntion if 1t takes his life.
 |, IS seldom that such am act of cone | tinuod excitement and sensations is shown on the stage as in Mir Crcwc's | Career There will he those. peThaus, to say 1t is not much overdr3wu. Out side the door Is the roaring convention with Its hands playing, and ifs chairs rattlIuG on tho floor. In the room sits the elder Vana. white haired. working at his papers. and keeping tho situl- ton thoroughly in hand at every mo- meut Al times rural delegates with badges attached are rushed in at doors 1 or al windows over balconies and into tho hall to swell the ,ote or again rushed out to prevent a. onorum In rushes the red faced, persprinR chair man. at his wits end tO do the work the railroads secret agents have hired him to accomplish. Vote after vote Is taken without selection being made. tn q moment of indecisiou the name of Aus. ten Naue is prcsentod-it can all be heard through the door. Tho cheers which follow show pontedly that the dele 1 gates are with him, and that the rall- roads candidate, Hunt, will be downcd In the whirlpool to follow
 The despair of the elder Nano is eX- trome, He threatens his son that he l will go on the floor and publicly dis own him if he is selected Auston reallzcs the position he has put his fa- ther in and consequently orders his name withdrawn, md the end comes quickly and uneXrectedlE Hunt, the Impossible, gets tho nomination. and Austen gets Victoria apparently from the embraces which follow and the Vanes. father and son resolve to he l worthy of ihr profession from then on. The denouemont is strangely artt' fcial k,
 PARIS JOURNAL UNDER BAN