The San Francisco call., 1908-10-06
By Walter Anthony

Folk will ask you today when yor
tell them you saw "A Grand Army Man
last night at the Alcazar theater
whether it is as good play as 1.-The
Music Master and whether Warfield is
as great in the role of Wes Bigelow as
he was when your tears started before
the emotions of poor Anton Won Barwig
and 80 much is everything relative that
we who were there last night were busy
between acts paralleling the plays and
the roles.
"A Grand Army Man. is the better
play of the two. 1t is closer knit, its
outcome is better prepared for, yet less
obviously due. In suspense and action
too, 1t is a better play, and Its human
note is as true and vibrant as the other
piece. tnough1less fundamental. "The
Music Master stirs with its appeal to
the ready sympathy of those who com
prehend the love of parent for child
The play last night appeals to the heart
and harrows the soul by its presenta-
tion of the love of a man and woman
for an adopted boy. The basis of each
is firm and sound
When Wes Bigelow, veteran grand
army man, draws the faltering con-
iOSoiol lIOui 1tODSIl lips that HC tAiiS
adopted SOM has taken the funds OF
the post and embezzled them; when the
lad-for he is onl. Is. years old-tells
him how he fell a victim to the sharp
er's wiles-when the old man takes a
whip from stand near by and shouts
AS only Warf1eld can--that he 60
ing to beat this boy of his heart-well
when this episode takes place before
your eyes, you cease to compare "A
~ A
world; you feel a huge unyielding lump
forcing its way up from your heart
and into your throat. and you wish
the scene were over and that the sad
ness of it all were but a memory.
There is scene, preceding the lads
confession, when Bigelow struggles
against the restraining arms of his
comrades to get at the throat of the
judge who has accused the lad of theft
that for tenseness of emotion and grip
ping reality is without parallel in my
memory at least; for you know that
this old man, whose self sacrificing love
has guarded the boy from infancy, is
fighting losing battle; you know that
the lad is guilty and that he is at the
mercy of the Judge whose grudge
against Bigelow has been established
from the first. The scene has the hope
lessness of certain defeat background
touched. in the goodness of this boy
who transgressed.
All the art that Belasco has at his
fingers ends has been brought to play
like q flood from the spotlight on the
piece. The Grand Army post, with its
MANNED and aged veterans; the flag in
the newly constructed headquarters,
which was carried by Roberts father
on the latter's last battle field; the me-
mortal tablet to his memory; the ador-
ing comrades. whose affection for the
boy is glorified reverence for his father
the perfect faith in the lads integrity
and finally the love of the young girl
the judges daughter, for the lad her
father hates-all conspire in making
more poignant the catastrophe which
ends in the Imprisonment of Robert for
one year. 1t Is a fearful presentment
of the consequences of sin, mighty
lesson in honesty.
] like the play better, because, while
it robs Warfield of no opportunity that
THE Music Master" accords, it gives
Marie Bates a better role She is the
house keeper in Bigelow's home and
colaborer with him in the pretty task