Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-07

AA@a-.aHE Third Degree" begins an
~ engagement Of one week at the
Boyd's tonight, and It is ex-
- pected that this, Charles
IMN6NWI Klein's latest play, will prove
- as great in point of con
temporaneous interest as It is said to
have been In New York and Chicago. To
the few who may know the true meaning
of the title of The Third Degree, II may
be said to concern that phase OF the un-
written law which falls in favor Of the
police in their frequently employed method
of gaining a confession from a supposed
criminal. Mr.. Klein has taken a rather
delicate subject for material, but
II Is said that he has overcome the diff
culties In an entertaining and pleasing
manner. Although other dramatists have
dealt with the subject of hypnotism, Mr..
Klein Is remembered to have been the first
oof our own playrights to use hypnotic sug-
gestion In the story OF a play. when in
1897 his "Dr. Belgraff" was produced.
The Third Degree tells of the social
undoing Of Howard Jeffries, jr., through
his marriage with a true, womsnly- spirited
shop girl. The boys ultra-a ristocratic
father cuts him from family ties with a
paltry allowance, which causes Howard to
face extreme need. In search of funds, he
came TO the art studio OF a frat mate
who still owes him a college debt, in the
fppe of a loan. While feeling his cups,
Jaffries falls asleep on a sofa. His friend,
bankrupt and desperate. steps into an ad-
Joining room and, fulfilling a threat, COM
mits suicide, The police arrive before JEFF
frksilearns OF the crime and he is seized
GsN It's perpetrator, put through a long
sweating" by an INSCRIPTIONS police cap
tain and finally made to confess murder.
The influence OF a sincere wife in the bat
tie for her husbands life clears him and
wins for her the affections Of her father
in-law.
TIL Third Degree" comes here direct from
te Hudson theater, New York, and the IL
lAtois Chicago, and Henry d, Harris prom
ises the first cast, including Helen Ware,
Ida Mcmillan. Ralph Delmore, James
seely Malcolm Duncan, Frazer Coulter,
Walter Craven, Earl williams, William
Herbert ana others.
Much has been said and written about the
play. Three Weeks" booked TO appear
at the Burwood, for four nights, starting
this evening" as TO its being moral or other
wise. No book. even among the six best
sellers, has been 30 widely read or dis,
oussed, not only in America but In Ru-
rope, and Il is a fact that perhaps a ma.
jority OF those who have read the book
have done so with the one idea OF whettinE
their appetite for sen-satlunalism IAt &C
the reader who thinks, who tries ever 50
little TO delve beneath the surface OF things
the novel shows that Mrs. Glyn had q
purpose and a great one, for It leads up tC
the greatest question that is confronting
every throne in the old world today, al
well as the leaders OF society In our owl
countryside marriage OF royalty, of STATE
and convenience. the marriage where No
thought or idea OF love is entertained. sucf
marriage, Mrs. Glyn believes, is immora
h every sense OF the word and Is the direol
cause Of more unhappiness and the wreck
ing OF more souls than any other condition
In our social lives.
II there be any unpleasant scenes OF sug
questions In the book. they are absolutel!
none In the play. Only the plot has beer
used In the dramatization, and the PLAY
is as far from unpleasant suggestions Al
Romeo and Juliet The production d
magnificent, the scenery, the costumes an,
the music being conceived by one Of IN
greatest master OF stagecraft in the pro
fession, and the cast has been selecte,
with a view TO III perfectly the rather un
usual types that the play demands. Their
will be a special women's matinee wednes
day.
M -
since William Makepeace ThaekOra
wrote Of snobs there have been man
changes runs on this brsrd OF idiot, an
each neg writer that has tackled the sui
ject had slnd something more 20 say. Tn
newest mdirect attack being made Is frol