The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-24


newspaper play that has survived, To-
pekans saw a drama which they are
remembering as full of intense situa-
tons, convincingly true to it's subject
and worked cut in minute detail. The
company, which is playing Charles
Waldron in the leading masculine role,
completes week of one night stands
in st. Joseph, MO, tonight, after which
it will return to the larger cities, play
ing week stands.
Owing to the fact that a week was
open in the season schedule, L. NJ. and
Roy Crawford, who head the CraW-
ford, Philley & Zehrung circuit, were
able to book the company into Topeka,
st. Joseph, Mo-, and Lincoln, Neb. The
company also played in Davenport, Ia,
and Rockford, Ill, on their way from
Milwaukee to Kansas City, where they
open Sunday night.
Though the drama has been given
to big houses and in some cases ca
pacity houses in the last week, 1t was
said by David Towers, the manager,
that the amount would be insufficient
to pay the travelling expenses, salaries,
etc. Mr.. Towers on his arrival here
stated that he had not been in Topeka
in 25 years, though he played minor
part in show at the Grand about that
time.
Mr.. Towers said that it had been the
desire to know how the play, which
had a phenomenal run in New York
and Chicago, would be taken in the one
night stand territory He was sat1s-
fed that it had been appreciated for
its true worth bv those who studied
the characters which were brought out
in amazing eXactness.
1.-THE Fourth Estate" may be con-
trasted to 1.-The Stolen Story" a dram
atization of short story by Jesse
Lynch Williams. Whereas the jour
nalfstic atmosphere of the latter is
thick and does not make much of an
impression upon the public. THE
Fourth Estate" drives home telling
story of truth as seen in the Office of
a METROPOLITAN daily which stands to
expose malfeasance of office and con-
troverted honor. Even newspaper men
can not find fault with THE Fourth
Estate" though protest went up from
over the entire country when The
stolen Story was unloaded upon the
public as an example of Journalistic
work.
The play does not take the broader
view of the situation as does the
Earth" d drama by James Bernard
Pagan. 1t does hold that the function
of a newspaper is to stand for right
regardless of consequences ana TINS IS
carried through in the decision OF
Wheeler Brand to send the paper to
nress regardless of the fact that the
publisher after fighting relentlessly the
irascible Judge Bartelmy, in the end
does relent, due to pressure brought by
his wife whose social desires have been
played upon.
Brand forsakes a lifelong devotion to
Judith Bartelmy, daughter of the
Judge whom he has exposed, in order
that he may give to the pubic that
which they demand showing OF
true conditions Judith Bartelmy
PLAYED by Selene Johnson. pleads with
him ever but in vain even after he has
trapDed the father into offering
bride to which there are witnesses
through the fundamentally of tele-
phone of which the receiver is plugged.
AS the money is paid to Brand for
the suppression of a story which means
the death kneT of Bartelmy's public
life a flash light picture is taken. ThlS
gives to James Nolan, proprietor of the
paper further proof of Bartelmy's ras-
cality
Nolan. played by Tom Hadaway.
has known this but his wife's social
am bitiOn has proved barrier to his
am bition to fight just fight lie
has promised Brand that indisputable
proof will be taken as justification for
the publication of Judge Bartelmy's
latest outrage against justice. HaV-
ng the proofs Brand goes on with the
until five minutes of press
time when Judge Bartelmys daughter
pleads with him in vain not to ruin
her father.
At this juncture Nolan who has
been prevailed upon by his wife's am
billions interposes and forbids the
story's publication. he then departs
the office Brand dismisses his fore
man telling him to go home as he Will
see the paper to press himself Bar
-eImy in looking for Nolan enters the
composing room, is told of the situa-
ton and that the truth will be printed
anyhow He pleads and offers his
daughter as a sacrifice. Judith Bar
-eImy who has not left the office hears
him and repudiating the father cleaves
to her lover, who she has found to be
in the right though until this time
she has been in darkness.
Though the cast here was the orig
inal eastern one the finish of the play
was not like the original AS pre-
sented in New York, just before the
paper goes to press, a cub reporter
returns to the office with a story of a
suicide, the suicide of a woman who
killed herself rather than live life of
prostitution. When the foreman has
been dismissed Brand goes to the
-ype-case, the linotype operators hav-
ng gone home for the night. and set
ing the type substitutes in the forms
he following paragraph:
wheeler Brand thirty years old,
managing editor of the Advance, last
night shot ana killed himself rather
than live a life of prostitution
Though the ending as given here is
he happy one which the average pub
lie demands the strength of the story
d
standpoint of those who enjoy a play
dealing in reality regardless of con-
The work of Joseph Woodburn as
Ross McHenry; Charles Waldron as
Wheeler Brand; Selene johnson as
Judith Bartelmy and E. ]. Radcliffe
Is Judge BarteImy was all and more
han could be asked In the entire
,ast there was not one character ser
ously lacking in its Interpretation.
~ \ TFf1fT he
Der which was supposed to have been |
printed upon the stage was handed to |
he patrons of the theater as they
passed out of the door. tt was ex-
1ected by Topekans that this would be
lone here but it wasn't. B. P W.
esF'Iubdub says he is thinking seriously |
about marriage why, thought he was
married two or three months ago so |
he was but he is just beginning to- think
about t.''-Town TONES.