The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-13
THE BELASC0.


"The Little DamOzel."
An audience that comfortably crowded
the Belasco Theater last night saw the
first presentation in this country of the
London success Of last season, and Mr..
Henry w. Savage's second successful
production in Washington. The Little
Damozel." by Monckton Hoffe, the young
English playwright, who it is predicted.
may even yet make Pinero look 70 his
laurels.
For in 1.-The Little DamozeT' Mr.. Hofre
has written a drama OF the times-his
time and ours; a drama OF life as II is
lived, and though its scenes and people
are those OF London's semi-respectable
Bohemia. the motives that move these
are the same motives. for good or Ill.
that move as all. And Mr.. Hone has had
the courage 70 stick to his text. Right
from the beginning he has struck GER
tain key-the people who alone can play
on it are a strange people, almost a race
apart-but having struck II, the play
wright has had the courage 10 carry II
through. in perfect harmony. to the end.
II IS a key that all OF US can compre-
bend. Some of us only through books
and hearsay (perhaps these are the hap
DIV Ones); some OF US. alas. through
knowledge. For THE Little DamozeF'
moves through something OF the same
- -
scamps IN his La Vie de BOheme;'' the
same atmosphere. attenuated a little FOR
the British philistine. in "Trilby," by
Du Maurier: the atmosphere OF that
strange. and. to complacent respectable
lty, little-known land where the wrecks
Of gentlemen, the social outcasts take
refuge-pretendlng to be happy and riot
Gus. It is the land Of which Kipling
wrote where are:
Gentlenen-rankers ont on a sprs:
Damned from here TO eternity;
God ha' mercy on such a. we!
But even among the MASTERS" or. as
they are sometimes called in London,
"rotters.'' there are emotions; almost
drowned In drink. perhaps. but not quite,
there Is still yearning for decency; for
the home we never write TO. and the
paths we never keep; and all we hold
most distant and most deaA;" there is
love and regret, and. above all, there is
drama.
1t Is a rotten bargain that furnishes
the theme Of the play. Capt. Neil Part
ington. a heavy. swell. a bounder, but
the only rich man in the play, has had
a love affair with Julie Alardy. a little
singer at the Cafe Angelique. in Soho.
In fact because OF his love affair for
Julie, who is THE Little Damozel," he
has rather financed the place and kept
It on its feet.
But at the opening Of the play he is
done. He has about got sick OF wild
oats, and longs for responsibility. He
has gotten himself engaged to a young
his happiness is the fact that he has
written letters to Julie which contain
some Of the records Of a rather nasty
past. Julie, to whom he has promised
marriage, Is furious at being thrown over
and promises TO make trouble with the
letters. Capt. Darlington devises a
TO get one Recklaw Poole, an
for cropkedness on the turf; a man on
whom decency has turned it's back to
marry Julie, and Poole agrees TO marry
the girl for sl5,OOO That very night he
gets her consent, the girl being half in
love with him already, to marry him.
The second act shows Julie very happy
married. Poole has found a new and a
decent interest in life He and his wife
are real pals. He has made money since
his marriage; they are living very COM
fortably. Capt. Darlington comes to get
his letters, which Poole has induced her
to give up to him. Julie, being so happy,
has no more thoughts for revenge and
bitterness.
Up to this time there has been only one
shadow in Pooles career. lie is not at
all sorry for the bargain he has made
with Darlington: has not. perhaps, recog-
nized that there is anything rotten IN it.
His one regret-sand that is purely a senti-
mental one-ls for the girl 10 whom he
was engaged seven years before, when
society kicked him out When Parting
ton comes to his house Poole keeps out
OF the way, but Julie insists on seeing
Partington's fancee, and when she comes
It turns out that she is Poole's old sweet
heart. The whole wretched story is re-
vealed. and though Poole at once gives
back to Darlington the money that
bought his honor. Julie is hurt and bro
and leaves his house, swear
ing she will never see his face again.
The last act is back at the Cafe An
gelique, where THE Little Damozel," as
sweet as ever, but pale and wan, seeks
refuge, having been thrown out by her
1t is Christmas Eve, and here
comes Poole with his friends for a fare