The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-13

or SO in the life of country boy,
, Tom Wilson-"an irresponsible boy,
with boys ideas" as his sweetheart
Jane describes him. So sure of him
self Is nc, so "cocky," that he laugh
ingly scorns the opportunities offered
him in his little hvo.e town, Fairyiew,
and goes to New \ ork TO show all OF
them what man can do in larger
sphere In a very short time he learns
something of real life. He makes
pal, IN all innocence. of hard, shall
low chorus girl, Amy Leroy, who lives
in the same professional boarding
house with him. He takes her about.
at her own sweet pleasure, neglects
his work. dissipates more or less, and
generally plays the giddy goat. Ills
sweethearts father learns of his con
duct and breaks Off the lifelong love
affair.
Then he is discharged and turning,
as TO a last hope. to Amy. he is some
what roughly enlightened by her as to
her conception of the easiest way. AT
this time, penniless, moved from floor
to floor by his landlady, at last sleep
ing on folding bed In the parIor,
he lays down" and determines TO Kill
himself. Then enters the foremost
character of the play. certainly the
one Merkle. a newspaper man, and. by
a most ingenious ruse, prevents the
kid from carrying out his intention.
They agree to go to Fairview and start
Il newspaper, when they both remern-
Der that they haven't penny between
them. While Merkle is racking his
brain, in rushes Joe Weinstcin.
ticket speculator who. a little earlier.
has persuaded Merkle to give up his
last cent to him because he. has a
bunch on thirteen and knows nice
little place around on Forty sixth
Street and announces that he has
made good to the tune of 80 to l. The
three of them then go TO Fairview and
"all's well with the world"
Reading the story over, 1t sounds
somewhat heavy, but one must see the
play in order to appreciate the keen
clever witness of many of the lines:
the screaming fun OF Joe Weinsteins
slangy talk; the genuine, clean, living
comedy of the boarding house life.
and the striking and almost uniform
ability of the men and women who
present the play. After raking my
memory | can recall only one scene
that begins to approach that dinner
table at Mrs. Bananas boarding house
in pure, slde-aching comedy-the poker
n't'ii' ''NStit III ne IiiNSliuS ho6iGS.
man"
And the scene in "Thc Country Boy
Is the more remarkable, not only be.
cause 1t is funnier, But because there
are nine people, as against four. and
all of them good. even the negro SER
want girl. who. in that act only, comes
hearer playing the part of a real negro
than one sees once in ten years.
OF the principals. the country boy
himself, II. Dudley Hawley to my
mind, was the least convincing. In
obtrusive, too pouting, to be altogether
satisfactory. but he grew much better
as the play went on, and, after all. tho
house liked him. and besides the first
act doesn't matter mucfl--it is merely
explanatory. John Webster, the slangy
wise guy, was utterly beyond the crit
icism OF even the most carping--he had
so many up-to-date and slanSily funny
lines and got them off in such nat
ural, easy way, that everybody in the
house was his friend. But George A.
ance as Merklc, a newspaper man on
the wrong side of forty. with a chronic
crouch. Ills work was quiet, re-
and powerful, and or a high
order of dramatic intelligence While
pitched In different key his per-
Torrance reminded me, in It's skill and
artistry of Reeves-Smith's playing OF
the Hon. Peter, In Mid Channel"
Still, Mrs William Butler as Toms |
mother, was motherly and convincing; |
Charlotte Ives was "unstagy" and APP
pealing as Jane; Madame Erazlet was
excellent as the near-prima donna;
Nellie FILLMORE was killing as the land
lady; Ethel CLAYTON. as Amy, was more
than good, and--O, we'll, the whole ;
is meant for big cities
1t Is the best thing since THE Trav-
cling Salesman" w, D. G.
At the BijOu
1,Rosalind of Red Gate" which |
opened weeks engagement at the
Bijor Theatre last night, with the
usual Monday night audience looking
on approvinsly, came fully up to the
expectations OF those who love thrill |
ling scenes and that fine rescue work
by the hero, Indeed, the play offers
many chances, which the hero easily
grasps, The story is somewhat out
of the ordinary. Each of two broth,