The Washington herald., 1909-11-16
THE COLUMBIA.
NTaclyn ArbuckIe.

Sweet Darby Bellew in Kilkenny did live
And a sketch OF his character I'm going 90 give.
Maclyn Arbuckle's new play. THE
Circus Man" is distinctly OF the home
spun variety. with that twofold combina-
ton which never fails 20 interest when
properly entwined and skillfully worked
out-human interest and rugged character
portrayal The elements are simple,
which quality makes them quickly and
universally understood. The doubtful
posturing Of eccentric genius is not
needed. but there is required a straight
forward appeal to the human heart.
coupled with a natural depletion OF the
varying shades Of homely character. for
despite its restricted environment. such
character has it's varying shades the same
as human character developed amid more
cosmopolitan surroundings. The causes
which lead 20 the success OF Mr.. Ar
buckles undertaking. for It is successful
I'm high degree. are easily discernible.
He knows perfectly what is required. and
his talents are perfectly fitted 10 the
work while the question of personality.
which enters so largely into the equation
is beyond discussion. He Is such a low
able fellow in the daily walks of life
as 10 make IL almost impossible that
he should appear unattractve I'm any
guise and when the character fits the
personality so snugly as it does in the
present Instance the factor Of failure is
quite eliminated.
The scene is laid I'm the village OF
a yr-afx- onIr IN
the general air Of somnolency is only
stirred by the ripples Of local gossip
The folks have nothing else 10 talk about.
So they talk about themselves The cen
trail figure is Hime Look the Circus
Man." a native Of the town who has de-
velcped a dormant strain of fighting
blood. inherited, perhaps. from some
Berserker ancestor, for IL is not apparent
in his peaceful and lovable brother. nor
does the recital OF the readiness with
which his parents succumbed 10 the
Vaccinations Of the villain lead one to
believe that It was existent i'm them. and
yet with all this stOutness is allied sin
certify of human feeling and a great depth
of human love. eXemplifed at first by
his deep affection for his brother and
the elephant Imogene. yet when he meets
the widow Smell, even these two must fall
to the rear. Some twenty years previous
ly he had been run out Of town by the
WIZARDS. the aristocracy of the place:
the head of the house. Judge Willard.
had also hurried his parents into their
graves by mortgage pressure" and the
peaceful brother. Phineas. had been left
as the struggling family representative in
the village. and so bravely had he strug-
ged that he had become the justice Of the
peace and principal lawgiver Of the
locality.
Now unheralded comes Hime home
again. with a determination TO down the
family enemies, $4,000 in cold cash on his
person. and attended by tho remnants Of
his circus. absorbed into. yet glorified by
association with the syndicate" To pro-
vide shelter for his animals and Incidental
~ to carry on his battle. he takes up winter
quarters at the old home place, and the
fight begins He takes up the mortgage
unmasks 10 his brother the villainies Of
old Willard and his city colleague King
Bradish. and at the moment when things
are ripe for an exposure OF the matter
10 the whole countryside. he discovers
that Phineas had cherished a lifelong
and hopeless attachment for Sylvinia
Willard, daughter Of the arch-enemy In
moment the whole thing is of. The
father Of the girl his brother loves can
not be sent to States prison. His short
comings are concealed He is given time
10 make good and 70 realize the magma
nimity Of his foes. Hime captures the