The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
THIS WEEKS PLAYBILLS
The Columbia ..The Travelling
Salesman"

The Columbia THE Travelling
Salesman"
An interesting premier win hf offered
by Henry B. Harris at the Columbia The
ater tomorrow night. when he VIII pre-
sent Thomas w. Ross in THE Travelling
Salesman new comedy by James
Forbes. author of "The Chorus Lady
The scenes Of the new comedy show sue
cessively the interior Of a depot. the sam
ple-room OF a hotel, and the Office OF a
village store in Grand Crossing. "A small
Middle West town which, when the
play opens. is in the excitement OF a land
boom.
Beth Elliott, resourceful. brainy Amer
lean girl, has, through the death OF i'm
provident parents. been saddled with a
large tract of untillable land. 10 which
she clings for the sentimental reason
that her father valued il. although the
responsibility is almost more than she can
bear. Inspired by the boom. she is MAX
ing redoubled effort to reclaim her land,
which, although repeatedly offered by
the township for sale, has never been
purchased for II possesses no value as a
farming property. The action OF the play.
which consumes little over twenty-four
>
holiday being saddened by the fact that
her .and is again to be offered for sale by
the township the following day. Frank
lin RoycS has been acting as temporary
receiver of one Of the village stores
owned by "A certain widow Stratton,
whose financial difficulties have been the
result Of sharp practice on the part OF
Martin Drury. the head OF a wholesale
concern with headquarters in IndianapO-
lis. Royce has heard that Beth's land.
locally known as "Elliott's stone pile" is
desired by the railroad for purposes of
Improvement. and has made har several
offers, which she has refused Knowing
that none Of Beth's friends In the vicin-
ity would consider taking advantage OF
her by buying in her land at the sale. he
decides 10 go over himself and bid il in.
thinking to resell 10 the railroad at a
profit. Bob Blake. a typical American
drummer, also In the employ Of Drury,
arrives on the scene with fresh con-
signment Of goods. He meets Beth: they
are at once attracted to each other. a
feeling heightened by their similarity
lonely condition on the day when absence
from home and loved ones is felt most
keenly.
In the second act, which shows Blake's
rooms at the hotel strewn with samples.
he learns Of ROyce's project 10 rob Beth
Elliott Unable 10 warn her OF Royce's
project. he resolves to take matters into
his own hands His ignorance Of the
laws governing the sale Of land for taxes
not only involves him I'm difficulties with
Royce and Drury. who has been called
in by his employe 10 help him in the
land grabbing scheme. but threatens as
well 20 ALLEVIATE the love Blake has in
spired in the woman he has tried to help.
These complications give rise 10 series
Of highly dramatic situations. As IN
'The Chorus Lady" Mr. Forbes has
chosen different veins OF comedy interest
10 develop his heart-interest and his plot
His widely contrasting characters include
types OF farmers. villagers, and travelling
statesmen.
IN Thomas W. Ross. widely known be-
cause Of his popular impersonation Of the
title role in Checkers, Mr.. Harris is
said to have found an ideal exponent for
the character Of the travelling salesman
as delineated by Mr.. Forbes In his sup
porting company are Marion Kerby. Will
lam Beach, May McCabe, Percival Moore,
Arthur Shaw Harry d. Blakemore.
Maude Sinclair, Ernest Lamson. Edward
NJ Dresser. Nicholas Burnham. r. c.
Turner Frances Golden Fuller, and Mar
tin Fuller.