The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
NEWS OF THE WEEK IN
 THE MIMIC WORLD

New York, December z5.-(Specia )-- Abandoning the picturesque garb or the plainsmsn, in which he has endeared himself to the hearts of so many ot the fair sex, Dustin Farnum strolled anajestically into the mimic world at tired in the aristocratic costume of a true southern gentleman during the period of 1880. The tight patent leatii- CT boots and high hat, coupled with the southern drawl,s proved quite as at tractive as the cowhides and sombrero. which were linked with the bluff. hearty manner of the westerner.
 Cameo Kirby" is the name of the new play and Booth Tarkington anu Henry Leon Wilson are the responsi- ble parties. The first performance was given at the Hackett theatre last Mon day night, and 1t proved conclusively that remarkable number of events can be crowded into a brief period of time, for the happenings in the entire three acts take place between sunrise and sunset.
 The scenes are laid in Mime. Davezac's s house in New Orleans and the planta- tion of the Randalls In the suburbs.
 The story begins with the suicide of old man Randall following the loss of the fortune while gambling on board d Mississippi river steamboat. He had been the dupe of card sharps, and be- sides losing all his money had deeded his plantation to one of the profess sional gamblers.
 Randall's son hears of the death of his father at the levee from the lips of Colonel Moreau, who tells him that Cameo Kirby was responsible for his fat CTS downfall.
 He adds that in his anger at Cameo's heartlessness he had shot the gambler.
 But his shot did not take effect, for the play opens with Randalls son re- ceiving the news that Kirby Is In town. Like a dutiful son, he imme diately starts out on a hunt for the man, who ruined his fathers life, de- termined to bring the gamblers ad- venturous career to quick close. Colonel Moreau, who, by the way, is the william, offers to aid young Ran- dall in running down his prospective victim.
 At this point the ingenious play wright turn the tide in favor of the handsome Cameo Kirby, and show that Moreau. himself fig the gambler guilty of swindling Randall, and that Kirby had entered the game for purely phil anthropic purposes. It was his iN- tention to protect Randall from Moreau, and when the old gentleman had so- bered up, to return the money unfairly won by Moreau from Randall, and then by Kirby from Moreau.
 When these explanations are offered the lie is passed and like true souGhern gentlemen Moreau and Kirby arrange for duel which results in the col onel's exit.
 Kirby, in making his escape, springs over balcony and enters the living room of the Randalls. Here he is taken for Colonel Moreau, Is introduced by Miss Randall and escapes the bloodthirsty mob, who are pursuing him, by riding with Miss Randall and her friends ts the Randall plan ntation. Of course, Kirby and Adele Randall fall in love, neither being aware of the others identity.
 At this point the interesting situations name to an end, and the remainder O the play proved to be sort of mys tie maze At the end of the third act the identities are cleared up. and thu play ends like the fairy tales.
 Supporting MT Farnum, who played thu role of Kirby, was May Buckley, who in terpreted the character of the southeri beauty Adele Randall. The other mem bers of the cast included Emmett Cor rigan, George Thatcher, Gordon John stone, Burr Caruther, Nora Chelby. MauS Hosford, Ruth Lloyd, Jane Kendrick ant Gladys Williams
 Friends and admirers of the late Clyd Fitch f1ocked to the Lyric theatre ol Tuesday night, where they witnessed tn Arst New York production of that au thor's last work "The City" drama Il Ghree acts. The play possessed all tn brilliant repartee which was characteris t1c of Fftch's works, but the theme wa more sombre.
 It tells of the effects of metropolital life on an ambitious and prosperous coun try family, which moves to New Yorl oity from an upstate town. Further more, it is defense of the city so dearl loved and SO admirably interpreted b. MT Fitch as the crucible in which tho es sential good and bad qualities of me and women are thoroughly and inevitabl brought to the surface; the place to fraught with life and activity to tolerat the self-deceit and small hypocricie