Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-11

Woman is again about to reach out and
pluck the Fruit of the Tree Of knowledge
and partake thereof. From that moment
she Is In his power. Thence the way is
easy and the pace Is swift, but It is the
way Of a mortal seeking happiness, Of
one mate going to another. And all this
is done with a delicacy that is charming
IN its effect. The creation Of the role
with such vividness Is but another evil
dence Of the excellent qualifications Of
Miss Elliot as an exponent OF the actors
art, aud her fidelity to its canons.
-
As 70 the play Itself, there can he little
difference Of opinion. II is Of Che type that
has been denounced again aud again. its
philosophy is entirely at variance with the
general thought of the American people. As
a piece Of skillful dramatic construction It
stands very high. and as a literary work
viii probably take eminent rank. but as q
lesson to humanity 1t Is without force, II
70 teaches any lesson at all. Its cynicisms
are those OF the worldly wise, devoid of
reverence for the things most dear to
man. It SCOTS at womanly horror and
manly responsibility. It proposes proflig-
acy as the ultimate mode of life and boots
with derision at the thought Of a steady,
sober, purposeful existence. Herr MolnaT
Is one Of that circle Of decadents who are
shedding a false luster over European lit
erature at the present moment, and his
thought Is but the reflex of a phase Of
life that may exist abroad, but is not uu-
d]erstood in America. It is possible, and
even probable. that in the older countries
woman stands IN her relation to man as "a
creature for his pleasure or necessity. This
is happily untrue under our civilization.
She stands by his side through all his life
an equal partner with him in all his uu-
d~ertakings. II ever this condition is al
tered, It is because the man willingly sets
woman upon a plane higher than himself
and devotes his efforts to provide that
she shall be urmolested in her exaltatlon.
The European habit of soothing at the
American man for his devotion to his
womankind will probably not be altered by
anything that is here said, but II Is to the
credit Of the American man that he has so
far given no heed to the %scoffers, and Il
is to the honor of the American woman
that she has so far deserved the Difference
, paid her by the American man. That The
! peyil' has been able to attract the at
.cntion It has so far received may be
lsCribed entirely by curiosity. 1t certainly
1oes not reflect any serious intention of
the Americans to abandon in any way
their present standard Of living, or to alter
the very pleasant and reasonable relations
that now exist between the man and the
woman.
The accomplishment of the actors in
presenting this play with such admirable
precision and effect is all the more re-
markable when It is considered that the
| TIqnng0rinr 81 In tbo HANDS ~ tha pIay
ers not earlier than Monday morning and
that during the short time of preparation
for its presentation they were required &c
give ten performances of another play
The perfection attained under these con.
ditions Is well nigh incredible.
Another notable play given in Omahs
during the week was Paid in Full, pre-,
scented at the Boyd. This is a simple story
OF American life and in its general outlin,
strongly support is the assertion that the
American man honors the American wo.
man above all earthly things. The char.
acter of Joe Brooks is one conceivable, buI
not at all common. Such. ours as he dc
exist, but they are few and far between
while men like Captain Williams and Jim
sic Smith are so numerous along the way
of life in this country that they attrac
ip oNNNhNbh Nv ~ NAh
play is merely a strong mans unwaverinl
respect for a good woman, and Mr.. Wal
ter has made 1t very plain that a woman
needs only the armor of her womanhoot
to be safe at all times and undo
all circumstances with an American man
The sociological problem offered by thu
play is equally simple. 1t merely teache!
that happiness cannot be purchased, tina
success comes only by hard work, ant
that it is a mistake 20 undertake to supply
lack of dessert by envious discomfort. TIL
drama has beer successful wherever it hai
been seen because Of its deep humanity
Some regret is felt in recording at thi
time the fact that the play proved a failur,
in London. 1t was warmly received by tn
critics Of the metropolitan press, who CAV
it enthusiastic commentator, but the Brit
ish public would have none of it. 1t pre-
sents a phase OF life that is not compre
, hended on that side Of the water an
, merely adds to the lorg list of simila
plays which might be cited in support O
the general proposition that the B. I
2 does not care a rap how, Americans liv
a now or at any other time.
pIANG rom nNIE NEW THEATEl