Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-03
Case of the Poor Woman With a Past

whose name he does not know. while eve.
conventionality expects him to sacrifice
himself without question for the woman he
docs know. n then. Il is such a matter Of
fact thing for a man to efface himself 20
protect a woman from physical injury or
death. why should we make such a bob
berry about II when he does a very ordinary
thing to save her from moral injury or
moral death? Isn't Septimus just as
rational in his undertaking to save for
Emmy her good name as he would have
been II he had wrapped his coat about her
when her dress caught on fire and saved
her from burning to death7 Maybe, II the
problem we're approached a little more
definitely from this side. some possible
way to its better understanding, II not It's
solution, might be discovered.
Before saying az revoir to Mr., Arliss,
whose work so charmed us all, a word
ought to be said for the stagecraft ex-
hibited in the course Of the comedy. II
is possible that "Septimus' could be made
Of interest as a straight" comedy, but
it would call for a genius as a comedian.
But when the dramatic possibilities Of the
character are emphasized by the first
aids to understanding the property man
and the scene builder can provide, and
these are marshalled and manipulated un-
der the guidance of one whose artistic per-
ception has led unerringly to the best pos
slble result, then the effect comes as near
perfection as one cares to see at the the
alter. And Mr., Arliss has this advantage.
His stage is set with a myriad Of trlfles,
little things, bits Of business that amount
in their handling to the subllmation OF the
art Of pantomime. and the most direct
communication between the actor and au-
dlence was not that Of the spoken word.
It was the shrug Of his shoulder. the droop
Of his eyes, the twist Of a hand, the un-
folding or clutching Of a news
paper or any one Of so many,
many things he did, that are remem-
bered that to count them would be
tiresome Mr.. Arliss is an actor of the first
quality, but he has a stage manager who
understands his business, too.
Whatever else Blanche Walsh may be.
she is sincere, and for many years she has
played the drama Of purpose because she
believes it may possibly effect some good
She doesn't especially relish being cor
founded in her personality with that sor.
of woman and yet she has long devoted
herself to the public discussion of the ques-
ton in the hope that she may be of assist
ance to someone by pointing out what may
be done. 1t was this that led her to take
up Resurrection" and gave her courage
to present the terrible pictures OF that som
Der drama with such crushing fidelity tia,
no one whoever saw them will forget. She
has given mucn of her time and all of he
thought to the work, and does it so sin
cerely hat 1t scarcely seems that her effOr
must be In vain. Years ago she said 10
friend that she would love to play a dif
ferent role, one in which she might b
happy and not be called upon to portra
misery and suffering always, yet she fel
the necessity Of carrying the message ant
would probably continue to do 1t. She /
not carried away by any false notions con
corning her work. but realizes fully tina;
hers is but a voice, crying in the wilderness.
and yet she is convinced that someone will
hear that voice and may be helped by It
Her fine talents are not wasted, for sh,
has used them in an effort to aid in IN
solution and possible settlement of a grea
question.
.