Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-21
BY W. HERBERr BLAKE

BY w. HERBERT BLAKE
II 1.-THE Fighting Hope" had been
written as a deliberate apology and
defense for captains of industry who
have been targets for the cheerful
muck raker, 1t could not perform that
interesting function more ably than it
did last night at the Mason under the
non-committal title, IAN American
Play OF Today" Burton Temple, a
flnancier of a dazzling nobility Of
character Is put forward, apparently
as a type of his kind. He Is pilloried
by the press as a scoundrel. Yet there
he is before us-all but saint and
every inch a hero. And in and about
his halo as a hero are intertwined the
Iaurels of his worldly conquests. We
are hidden to admire him because he
is strong; we are urged TO mark his
extraordinary probity, his unimpeach-
able vigor Of grip on the kingdom Of
brute force. And among the laurels
which fall to him at length is the wife
of his subordinate in business-also
his employe. The husband is an ar
rant rascal-is killed at length in try
ing to escape from prison. Temple Is
free to marry the woman, whom the
action Of the play disillusionizes as
to her husbands character.
Now, the principal thesis Of the
play might be acceptable enough, and
real enough, were It not for our inner
feeling that It is a thesis and not a
play. Consciously or unconsciously
Mr. Hurlbut has wrought cunning
and a powerful appeal for the men at
the top who have been accused OF
lawlessness during the past few years.
The appeal Is garbed in the livery OF
heaven, to be sure. The principal
character Is all but immaculate; he
does swear rather winningly on oc-
casion. But in our eyes, Intentionally
or by mischance, he does typify the
king of the business world. And the
moral of "The Fighting Hope by
accident or by design-is that the king
can do no wrong.
The togs Of villainy fitted READY
Money Ryder in THE Lion and the
Mouse" and the Great John Canton.
Very we'll! We shall now see how the
wings of a seraph may perchance chng
in perfect accord to the earthly snape
Of Burton Temple.
To make money to spend on a
woman, Robert Granger, treasurer Oh
a. trust company and married man
consents to the certification of check
on his house which overdrew a private
account for a personal bribe Of good
round sum. The certifcation preclp-
itates a financial crash and Granger IS
sent to prison. His employer, the pres
ident of the company, is Burton Tenn
pie. The press quickly puts the blame
for Granger's act on Temple as MS
superior, but the press does not know
the truth of Grangers personal IN
iduity. Granger's wife sides with MIN.
Under an assumed name she gets po-
sition as stenographer in Temple OF
fee in order to ferret out proof that
will win her husbands pardon and OBJ
4 1fatY1
press is clamoring. on meeting Tenn
pie, she recognizes him as former
passing acquaintance, whom she ad-
Jnired. The curtain deftly falls on
Temple debating to her her first letter
Temple is indicted and must fight to
prove his innocence. Through detec-
tive agency he learns that Granger
was actually brihed to certify the
check and that his motive was the
placation Of an imperious woman and
the protection OF his good name. A
letter is produced which proves the
bribe-a letter in Granger's own hand
writing. Temple gives this letter to
his stenographer and she places it in
his safe, having overheard its unsus-
pected value to her own struggle
when Temple has gone she opens the
safe and reads the letter, learning for
the first time that her husband is de-
servedly a felon and that Temple is
legally innocent. For the sake of the
good name of her children, she burns
the letter. A moment later Temple re-
enters and asks for the letter. She all
but swoons as the knowing curtain de-
scends.
In the last act Temple, thinking his
stenographer unmarried, proposes mar
riage to her--the demand for the letter
postponed for this interlude. Cornered,
Anna Granger confesses all. Irration-
ally, and even inhumanly altruistic,
Temple forgets his hatred Of Granger
in pity for the woman he loves He
thinks only Of her suffering. 1t is
somewhat too noble to be credible
even in a lover. In an access of we'll
portrayed remorse, Anna offers to go
to court and repeat the letter to a jury
telling of her destruction Of it. This
to save Temple, whom she already
loves without admitting it. When his
housekeeper bitterly denounces her as
already infatuated with Temple, she
denies it and declares her secondary
duty is to the father Of her children
Granger enters, declaring he has
been pardoned. He keeps up the lie
of his Innocence" to his wife. She
fastens upon him his deception as to
the bribe, but is still ignorant of his
marital infidelity. She hides him in a
nearby room as Temples attorney
enters with the news that new evil
dence pins the guilt upon Granger be-
yond doubt. Calmly the lawyer then
dictates a letter to Anna, proving her
husbands faithlessness, with the name
of the woman in the case. 1t is shown
that Granger was false even to this
woman, planning to dupe her with the
promise of funds he would really place
in his wifes name.
To Anna it is the end. She writes
all, under a mechanical compulsion,
and even addresses the envelope.
Granger re-enters to renew his pleas.
She faces him with his double deceit
He covers under her wrath and
shanelessly retaliates with insinua-
tions as to her relations with Temple.
He threatens to pull both her and Tenn
pie down with him If she takes the
stand against him. He would even
taxeI her boys from her, he says. All
this is strongly and brilliantly written
and ably played. 1t is genuine and 1t
is impressive-whe we forget for
moment the thesis Of the play. And
Miss Bates and Mr.. Novel; make us
forget it, which is to their staunch
credit as artists and players.
But the climax approaches. Temple
attacks the craven husband and is