The Detroit times., 1909-03-30
TIE DETROIT.


Mysticism, occultlsm and telepathy
are all blended IN strikipgly interest
ing and entertaining manner in the
Augustus Thomas drama, The Witch
ing Hour" presented for the first time
In the Detroit opera house, Monday
evening. The Thomas play evidently
made It's appearance at the psychology
cal moment for never before have
scientists. literary people, ministers
and the laity been more interested In
these subjects than at present. The
influence OF one mind over another.
call Il by the name OF hypnotism.
telepathy. occultism, mystic influence
or whatever you like. Is attracting the
attention OF thousands of people and
magazines and newspapers are teem-
Ing with the results OF Investigations
along the various lines OF this study.
II makes little difference whether
one believes in the claims or tho
scientist relative to thought transfer
ence, telepathy. hynotism or the other
branches of this field of research, GER
tain II Is that THE Witching Hour
has sort OF magic about II that holds
the interest OF the audience from tho
first to the last curtain.
To begin with, the work OF MI.
Thomas In this play shows the stroke
OF a master hand. and places II along
side OF the dramas OF such notables az
Ibsen and Paul Bourget, whose DOH
House." and Divorce" had local
hearing during the present season III
the same opera house.
The salient features OF the plot arc
brought out. piece by piece, only III
such manner as TO present the neces.
sary ideas that make for the good o,
the whole, and the characters are SGT
over against each other In such way
as TO make each one distinctive ana
clear. The conversation, the quiet
humor. all serve TO work up TO the Gil
max OF the homicide which ends the
second act, and which is the only bt
of real action" In the play. The key
to the whole play Is furnished when
CLAY Whipple worked into frenzy
by the Haunting of a cat'seye scarf pin
In his face by Tom Denning. Kills the
latter with an ivory paper cutter
There are many strong scenes In
1.-The Witching Hour" notably the one
in which the daughter OF the deau
sweetheart OF Justice Prentice, of the
supreme court OF the United States,
uleads with the Judge for the life ot
her son. II is In this scene that THIS
daughter, Clay Whipple's mother
brings. out the fact that her mother
had the same cat'seye superstition
that had caused the undoing OF the
voung man. II was also this cat seye,
many wears before, that caused duel
between Justice Prentice. theh
young lawyer, and a rival FOR the manu-
OF Whipple's grandmother.
The Justice. still retaining his affec-
ton for the memory OF his sweethear,
OF long ago and viewing the caee'
which Is now before the supreme
court of the United states, IN an
other light. remands it back for re-
hearing and also appears as WIZ
ness to the fact of the heredity In the
family concerning the aversion 10 inc
cat'seye. IL Is In this scene that the
Judge, believer In teiepathy, VINO
after the interview with Mrs. whip
ple, declares that he felt the presence
Of his former sweetheart In the room
that night and that II Influenced ue'
cIsion OF the supreme court OF the
United states.
Another powerful scene Is that be-
tween JACK f5TOOhHCiu, thS S~H~
ly gambler, and Frank Hardmuth' inc
assistant prosecuting attorney OF
Louisville KY, where the latter. stuns
to hatred and revenge. enters the
rooms OF Brookfeld. revolver In hama
with the avowed purpose OF murder
inc his enemy, but by some subtle In
fiuence. call it hypnotism or mesmer'
ism or what you will. is forced to
drop the gun. The author makes
Brookfield turn on the light. while the
cleaning weapon is pressed against
his side and IN the calmest manner
tells Hardmuth to drop that gun. This
Hardmuth does. asking in a bewild-
cred tone:
How the hell did you do THAR"
II is that scene that requires the
greatest stretch OF the imagination for
the mind to appreciate. Another
striking incident Is where Brookfield.
from the opposite side Of the room,
tells gambler what cards he holds
with quite as much ease as though
he were looking at them. The action.
while some followers of the cult may