New-York tribune., 1908-02-12
THE DRAMA.
a GREAT PLAY.
THE Witching Hour" I"

srreat" especially. has been misused to such a
see-ee IN relation 10 the stage and its professors
,-s- n has almost lost its meaning II becomes
<..-t.aI therefore that the writer who uses that
ru-d should consider the proprety OF its applica-
non The play OF The Witching Hour" by Au-
rusrrs Thomas, now current at the Hackett The
s.---vhere the 1coth performance OF it in this
htty was given last nights q greet play. It is
not q lesson. sermon. q treatise. a discourse a
Rebate clinical diagnosis; it Is a drama. The
Go-d drama tot which the significance sometimes
see-ns TO have been forgotten ignored), means
pounsthing made. done. performed: something that
,cr.-s in action That fact Mr.. Thomas in writ
r that play, distinctly and brilliantly exenplifes
rhe action OF The Witching Hour begins with
es first line and ends only with its last one. so
Rat II its pivotal passages il could be cornpre-
handed almost without the help Of words. The
eub5ect Of the play is the influence OF mind upon
rfud. Independent OK the usual methods Of com
snunicatioa- by means Of the acknowledged senses
sbat subject is not new, either on the stage in
knoks but the treatment Of II, by Mr. Thomas. IS
novel on the stage. and that treatment makes his
s-arna one of enErossiIg interest. The period of
-The witchiug Hour" is to-day: the action passes
n tzo rooms in Louisville: the other In
Washington The characters are distinct, indi-
vd-aI verftable The pivotal incident is IN
r-suseditated unintentional homicide The situa-
eons are essentially dramatic; they occur in
,eclerce each arising a natural result oc its
Predecessor. and the exposition OF them Is sklful
s-s IMAGINATIVE. The treatment applies the fact
er
n teIepathy-to probable persons and incidents,
,,5 The result is a delightful comedy, touched
Nth romance. which, in the right method OF
e-auaa1ic art.-tfat namely. OF suggestion. not OF
.us-ruc+iou.-ir1parts ethical significance and in
seTectual pleasure.
Jack Brookield is gentleman gambler His
,z-er and his niece TO whorn he is devotedIy at
tarhed. disapprove Of his vocation More than
tzenty years before the opening OF the play the
woman whom Brookfield loves has refused 10
nary him because Of his propensity for gambling
she has married another; she has a son: and now
. widow Mrs whipple, she returns 10 her native
r5tv Louisville. Her boy loves Brookfield's niece
.ns is hv her beloved BrookfeId favors that at
tachnent and he looks with dlsfavor on the suit
n sr acquaintance Of his. political otfcehoioer
named Frank HardTnuth, who also is a gambler.
Young Thipple has inherited al hysreTicaA loalLIe
40 insane fear Of the jewel called cat s-eye- Al
f-ook6eld's house tpsy youth forces one OF those
ssvels upon Whipple's attention. and. IN DINO ter
r. and fury that boy strikes at his toTrnentor
with the first thing his hand touches-a hedFS
.vo-v rlisk fashioned into paper cutter Inc
victim tipsy, the blows are struck wildly al ms
head and are heavy. and he as killed NnlpPies
,zz-,f, q few moments Of his acceptance by the
.-ou-g woman whom he loves, is arrested 1or nHI
re- ard subsequently he is tried convicted ana
ro-5er1ned 70 death The hereditary fear OF the
rs--=-eve 5exeI IS known 10 the boys mother anu
.. +ss friends but It is not effective 6 defeEce
.rsi-s- the accusation point Of CONSTITUTIONAL
law IS raised: the trial has not been held IN pup
;ssdrission having been restricted 10 those holo-
ing tickets and the tickets having been al the dis
,ossl Of r7e prosecution conducted by the olsap-
,oi--A5 s,lito- Hardmuth. The point is carried
q a71eaI TO the United States supreme I"uFl-
r-a of the members Of that tribunal, Judge fren-
.i,a had been a rejected suitor for the hand OF
N-s yyt,jupIe's mother. In his youth he hao
.,-v+- = 671el because Of her, and he Is aware OF
-ze truth affirmed II e1terluation Of young WhlP-
ne -enporarv insanity caused by the slshI OF tH1
-av-ai His devotion his lost love las never
-E-a7O- far
., g--ezl is made 10 him: the point % constItu-
t;ousI law having been decided IN favor OF young
---+7Trae = new TRIAL is granted, and Judge Prem
ice gives his testimony, as 70 the hereditary Pc
,-.lia-=-y and an acquittal Is obtained
r-o-.,---e,+ with that story there is & draTnasc
,--gza1 Of the operation Of mental force without
,ba recognized means Of communication IN bhe
@-s- z~+ Judge Prentice calls upon Brookheld, WIN
.1a desire 10 purchase painting IN the possession
Il The latter IN extremely clever interesting
s-1r the rossession 70 an extraordinary degree OF
revchc OF cla4rvoyant faculty by both Jucge Fren
oe and BrookfeId. Is dIselosed.-a faculty oI WEch
g5rookfieId has been unaware t1ar4inuth' haE-1-e
ferou7a Prosecuting Attorney, has pursued iS
.z-o-a5 rival WhIppIe, with vindicIve euITnosiJy-
F-ookhea has discovered that A2rdnluth IS LAe
murderer Of former Governcr-elect OF hehluchS-
ne C,oebe7 case IS. Enthusiastically, Indicated tn@
name ONLY being changed 10 that OF Scoebei Dur-
g. -aa second trial Of Whippie. at the supreme
moment while awaiting the verdict OF the jury
z3rookaei5 has published in The CourleI7JouF-
nal" his accusation against HarduluIh' WHICH ne
possesses evidence 10 prove His double purpose
s 10 influence the minds Of the jury by means o.
+re fo-rr cf thousands Of minds turned against
zEardu1uth bv this accusation and 10 prevent LI0
nomination. which would mean practically. me
election Of Ea-duluth Governor OF hentNchy-
rhe tu-y acquits the youth The climax OF l4e
third ac- is situation in which Eardmuth, oes-
pe-z5e with defeat and rage attempts to klli
BrookfeId. rushing into his presence and placing
G revolver AGAINST his side. but being prevented
from firing. and compelled 10 drop his weapon Dy
TIE sudden exertIon OF BrooBied's superior mental
for
TIE success Of BrookaeId as a gambler is indi-
caled % hin . be the result Of his power 10 read
tie minds OF other pIavers-he having believed hls
sIccess 10 ne the result Of skill the aDil-
81 make q lucky guess" There are passages
&c sentiment tn the play which for loFell1less OF
feeling. have not been surpassed in the naooerH
drama There must be great dencacy. rare per
oeptUn and deep sympathy with beauty IN the
izl1d thar truly see and so cellcateIy poI-
tray such deep and fine feeling some OF the HlCI-
eeats and devices used by Mr. Thomas, since they
ers and since they deal with racIs ana tHeo-
ro- generally studied have been received with
II skepticsn1 usual in such cases-though al
auditors have felt the charm OF the cramauc por-
a-aysl. Most Of the objection is the protest OF
ignorance against Truth THAI is new or not under
stood the Subject Of mental influence iloe-
Pendent OF tie usual means OF communication
there Is nothing supernatural n il there Is Inuch
t1a1 4 not UNDERWOOD
When the play was first acted here M. Thomas
ssi- that he would agree with those who coTsid-
efaC IN the statement Of the fact Of telepathy
in dramatic form he had been fairly redundant
There Is nothing redundant In his play. There Is
sothing 6iaactic II # Whether or not MI 1hohi-
a. has lesson teach and IL has been
sad thai he has-he has not narred his play with
Irecept. The action IS continuous; the auditor
esn dedvoe from il whatever lesson" his mind is
oRable OF cornprehending. The ethical purpose IS