The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-28
HYPERION.
"The Lion and the Mouse" Has Fine
 Opening.

Opening.
 The Lion and the Mouse;'' and the colossal octupus of finance succumbs to the mouse. The play presents pro blem that is of the deepest interest In modern days, and suggests a remedy that eventually brings results that are of the most gratifying character. The problem appeals phychologlcally to one presents in clear cut characters the struggle of a woman against we'll nigh insurmountabe accumulation of wealth directed to insure political sup port of the man possessing It. The psychological effect is produced by the suffering of one who is innocent, and this is heightened and heated to a glowing brlliancy. A short outline of the play will show the many oppor- tunities of power.
 Because Judge Rossmore absolutely refuses to be ruled By greatest f1nan- cier of the.world, greatest tnot only at present, but the greatest the world ever will see) he finds his name dis graced by the accusation of accepting bribes. practice which he never dreamed of doing and was led on by the octopus to invest in stocks that were recommended to him. He finds all his money gone, suddenly, and charge of having more In his possession than he bought The explanation given by the conspirators is the acceptance of them as bribes. So, in the opening act. the judge is found in' ms cottage on Long Island living humbly, with all his weath gone, and his trial for impeach- ment just about 10 begin.
 Judge Rossmores daughter, Shirley. l has just been on trip to the orient, and Is returning now. Her father can hardly bear to tell her of his disgrace and so has gotten his attorney to ga to meet her, but he, too, cannot break the news to her. When she is told of the calamity, she bears up bravely. making the load infinitely easier to bear Her greatest shock Is to find out that John Ryder Is the man at the bot tom of the conspiracy-the octupus She has met his son. Jefferson, on board shop, where they have reached a mutual understanding of their regard for each other Then in comes Jeffer- son to tell her first, that his engage ment to another girl, just announced in the days paper, is false and secondly to express his deepest sympathy fol having to acknowledge that his father is at the bottom of It all. He IS an nounced as engaged to Kate Roberts daughter of Senator Roberts. It Is easy to see the political ends the octu' pus has in view.
 But Shirley decides that lt is best no' to have any visits from Jefferson. bu 60 fight the whole thing herself. m, she does by writing a book in whici the octupus is the leading characte' and where many of his ,characteristlc are undisputably set forth. The wori creates such q sensation that he sum mons the authoress before him, think ing to try her before his tyrannl glare. but Instead he finds himsel caught in the tolls before her keen re marks that show hls character Tn searching light He Is so lntatuate with the young woman that ne ASK her to nut his autobiography in coher ent order, takes her into family TOT a indefinite period. Two months eiaps and Shirley has so worked herself int his good graces that Ryder asked ne to marry his son, so that he may D free from his love for the Rossmor girl, whom Ryder imagines he mates The final day of the trial IS reach ed and tomorrow Judge hossmor would have his seat taken away fro' him Here Shirley makes several pas sionate entreaties for her fathers hon or but no avail Ten in an elouue climax she denounces Ryder, retusin to marry his son and in finai oul burst sets his true inner sell befof him in light such as has never pee done before The effect on Ryder 2 first seems to be of no avail for n orders Shirley out of his house Ate sleepless night he repents ana tn truer manhood conquers the spark ioi merly now raging for the love the only human being who ever coi uered him-a woman. He stops pre ceedings against the judge and give his sanction to the marriage or n son and Shirley.
 Edmund Breese well known to man, as Ryder was at his best The gru financier always in hurry. hdfdl civil. and recognizing the rights none, whose sole aim was to get some thing that was always out Of his gras This same gruff money king change before Shirley in most interestln manner. In the end not coveting monf solely, but the love of woman he r Spects.
 Mir. Breese has Gertrude Coghlan assist. and her support Of him was the highest character. Her acting
 the ultimate climax when she d. nounces Ryder. was wonderfully don Attractive and grecful SC was the ce ter of the play.
 Julia Marlowe.