The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-20
SHELDON is HAPPY
Topeka Minister Pleased With
I'm His Steps,
Had Initial Presentation as a
Drama Last Night.
KEEP 1T FROM STAGE.
Will Not Permit It's Use in the
Theater.
Is Given Without Scenery or a
Change of Costume.
KEEP 1T FROM STAGE.

The first presentation of Charles
M. Sheldon's religious novel In His
Steps," was given at the Central Con-
gregational church Monday night be-
fore more than 1000 persons who were
anxious to get a line on the probable
success of the new drama. Sixty peo-
PIE from the two Christian Endeavor
societies of the church composed the
cast and constituted the large chorus,
the mournerS and the general supers.
No effort was made to dress the play
and the modest simplicity of the sur
roundings, the settings and the lack of
makeup on the part of the players, ap-
pealed to the large audience and the
success of the play was assured as
! soon as tt : crowd recovered from its
first real shock and recognized situa-
tions.
The play was given from the platform
of the church where fourteen years ago
| DR.. Sheldon began the reading Of tha
| story to his congregation. Not an ex-
| ira chair, curtain or a piece of prop
erty'' for the setting of the play was
| brought from without the church. The
reading table used each Sunday by DR..
| Sheldon, was the one table that an
swered the purpose of the crowded
desk of Edwin Norman, editor Of the
Raymond News. In the following
| scene Alexander Powers a man of bus
mess. the superintendent of railroad,
found on that table ample space for his
| voluminouS correspondence; and the
same flowers that cheered the editor Of
the News were in Powers office when
| he made his decision. This was the
situation throughout the play. The
authors one idea was being executed
simplicity. Henry Maxwell, the pas
tor of the church, did not find it neces-
sary to buy new store clothes for his
part, although he preached each Sun
] fn a ho
palatial homes Of the busy manufae-
| turing city.
Jack Manning, the tramp, who in To-
peka is Samuel Leger. created the first
real sensation with the rather specula-
| tive audience: and when Manning drop
ped out of the action of the play, Miss
Alice Shaver, as Rachel Winslow, a
| consecrated singer, held the interest of
the first nighters untn Virginia Page
| came to share honors with her. Miss
Ina Kendall, who carried the part of
| the heiress slum worker, entered into
! the play with a spirit that kept her
position clearly before the audience.
| Miss Kendall was not new. however, as
an heiress, as she is the daughter of a
wealthy banker at Valley Falls and in
Topeka is one of the earnest workers
| in DR.. Sheldon's church Morris San
ders, son of President Frank Sanders
of Washburn college, looked a little
Young far Rollin Page, the sportive
club man, who was also an ardent lover
and later a leader in the work in the
rectangle. but his sincerity put him
right with the crowd.
The audience spoiled a good many
starched handkerchiefs Monday night
| and regardless Of the fact that the cast
was composed of amateurs, there were
! periods when the women in the house
shed real genuine tears and scores OF
men coughed and shifted behind theii
hands and dried their eyes when the
lights were turned out. Maureen Nc
| Herman, as Loreen, a child from the
slum district, caught the impulsive
sentiments of the audience when she
| reeled onto the stage with a genuine
looking jag and declared with proper
emphasis that "I am a child of hell
and the devil is calling me- The teal
tubs were upset again when Loreer
was brought home dead after her visit
to the slum district.
Sheldon Is Pleased
DR.. and Mrs. Sheldon occupied seats
near the front of the church while tht
play was in progress. AS the produc-
ton neared a close and it was assured
that the drama had scored a hit, Mrs
Sheldon's face frightened with a smile
that fingered until after she left the
church The author was modest in dis
posing of the shower of congratula
tions.
Its the first public trial. he said
land of course there are improvement:
to be made, but am glad it pleased il
the manner it was given here tonight
feel that my boys and girls have done
excellent work. although 1 do not " isl
to discuss very deeply my own produc
ton"
1T was immense" exclaimed J. f
Junkin, editor of the Sterling Bulletin
and corresponding secretary of tht
Kansas Editorial association, who at
tended the play. land 1 want to make
early arrangements to have the play
produced in Sterling during the Chau-
tauqua next summer" DR.. Sheldor
looked pleased as the Sterling editor
congratulated him.
yes, yes" said the author, ''it viii
be grand to have the play on the
Chautauqua platform. We expect &
put it there, too. The Chautauqua anC
the Epworth League, 1 propose, shall
be the scenes of In His Steps anC
even then 1 will restrict the production
to my own plans 1 do not want tht
book put in the hands of professional
actors or theatrical agencies.
Not on Professional Stage.
Or. Sheldon said he had received sew
eral extravagant offers to put I'm Hi
Steps on the professional stage, .bu
that this would not be done. He sait
he would favor an improvement of TIL
. dressing of the play, more elaborat
costuming and stage settings, but tha
the play should teach its lesson ant
remain within the jurisdiction of tn
church.
Theatrical agencies have frequentl,
! hried to persuade the Topeka mIniste
to permit a dramatiZation of the pla.
: for the professional stage, but withou
success. 1t is said that recently on
agency sent a representative to Topek;
who made a fiat cash offer of $500
for the exclusive rights with a royalt.
, after the receipts reached certain fig
ure The offer was rejected withou
discussion.
) Il hope my little story will do good
: much good" said DR.. Sheldon, but
| r1avar hermit IFS beinu nl1t l.