The Detroit times., 1910-03-15
l" . LOCAL
THE i LAYHOUSES
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

A play that pictures a big, honest
chiyalrous southerner ighting for the
rights OF the people. is bound TO ap-
peal TO an American audience, especi'
ally when he is portrayed as fighting
the powerful influences In the United
states senate.
This is the story of A Gentleman
From Mississippi" which had its
initial performance in this city before
a large and enthusiastic audience IN
the Detroit Opera house, Monday
night.
Burr Mcintosh takes the leading
role as VIM. ii. Langdon. junior SEN
ator from Mississippi. He arrives in
Washington. unaccustomed to the
subtle influences always at work TO
win statesmen by mercenary means.
The honesty that exerted itself in
Mississippi still influenced him. He
meets Bud" Hams. reporter for
the New York Star" who is honest.
too, and engages Hams as his secre-
tary. Hams is familiar with the
Vaccinations OF the lobbyists for the
big interests" He is on the alert To
see that the newly-elected senator
does not fall into cleverly'laid trap.
Senator Peabody. OF Pennsylvania,
Senator Stevens. senior member OF
the upper branch OF congress from
Mississippi, and Rep. Charles Norton,
of Mississippi, are interested, fnanci-
ally and otherwise. in a scheme to
make a naval base at Altacula, Pa.
Norton cunningly interests Randolph
Langdon and Carolina Langdon, the
son and daughter OF Senator Langdon.
in the plan TO the extent OF $4,000.
They are lured by the dream OF riches
whether secured by graft or other
means, and enter the transaction
without the knowledge OF their father.
Norton believes by carrying out this
plan he can indirectly influence Sen
ator Langdon.
The politicians and the Langdon
children realize they must get rid or
Hams. They misrepresent the true
conditions TO both langdon and his
private secretary, making each be-
lieve that the other is dishonest. The
real story soon comes out. however.
and Hams. who had been dismissed,
re-enters Langdon's employ.
The junior senator from Mississippi
is more determined than ever that he
shall heed the voice OF the people and
that he shall be honest notwithstand-
ing the lure of graft money He
even tells his children after they nave
unfolded the scheme TO him that they
must lose their money. lie must be
faithful TO his trust even II IT costs
them everything they possess.
Peabody. Stevens and Norton f1nal-
ly appear and endeavor to sway Lang
don by threats. They say they will
expose him as a CRATER because he Is
indirectly interested in the scheme by
his children's investment. He tells
them emphatically that II they do not
sign a statement saying they are not
to gain financially by the passage OF
the bill he will make speech In the
senate and expose the entire affair.
he is so fearless that he wins Pea
body and the others. They say they
have been convinced that Langdon is
honest.
The pla.' is somewhat idealistic but
IL strikes popular chord. Ii depicts
wildly the inside workings OF con-
gress. whether the attempt at graft Is
a common occurrence or not. II brings
home the lesson that there are states
men who place a higher value on hon
esty than on the mighty dollar.
Will Deming handles his lines very
cleverly as Bud" Hams. Joseph
Weber. a Senator Stevens; VIM.
Walcott. as Senator Peabody H. W.
Pemberton. as Rep. Norton; +. A..
Laduke. as Randolph Langdon; Miss
Mary Moran. as Carolina Langdon;
Miss Beverly West, as Hope Georgia
Langdon: Miss Beulah Watson. as
Amelia Butterworth. and Miss Ella
Aubrey. as Nine. Des Artiens, take
their parts I'm clever manner and