The San Francisco call., 1910-07-31
THE SPENDTHRIFT
IS TIMELY DRAMA
New Play at Columbia Ha'
Record Success in the
East

The Spendthrift,' a new play by Por-
ter Emerson Browne, author of "A Fool
There Was described as "a vital drama
of today will be presented by Frederic
Thompson at the Columbia theater for
two weeks. beginning tomorrow night.
The Spendthrift" tells the story of a
woman whose only ambition is the en-
joyment of the luxurious incidentals of
a successful social career. Anxious to
give her every happiness possible. her
husband tolls to earn the money which
she lightly spends.
When the play opens. the couple
Richard and Frances Warfare seen In
their new home, surrounded by fuxuries
indicative of q plutocratic income.
Ward has for several years been max
ing a losing fight At the height of his
powers as a businessman he has been
able to earn about three-GuarterS OF
what it cost him to live. Now. deeply
in debt, he begins to see the financial
rocks toward which his ship is headed.
and realizes that a policy of severe re-
trenchment must be followed to avert
catastrophe.
While not directly opposing him. his
wife, refusing to understand the seTi-
BUSINESS of the failure which menaces
them, and shrinking from the con-
temptuous comment of her we'll to do
friends, makes no change in her mode
of life.
The catastrophe occurs. Ward is
practically ruined. His downfall is
made more miserable by his tardy real
ization of the shallowness of his wife
the emphasized fact that her butterfly
career has always meant more to her
than the making of home. His unsat-
i-G u. 1T
dependency Cynical1y he reviews the
past, and of his meditatfons is born
brave ambition to begin once more at
the bottom of the ladder, and building
anew. build differently. His wife is
finally convinced of their desperate
strait, but her consideration of it is
marked by small sympathy for him, but
much pity for herself.
!. Mrs. Ward learns that $4,000 will be
sufficient to postpone immediate disas-
ter, and still refusing to believe that
their condition is such that temporary
assistance will be of little use, sets
about to obtain it.
While Ward is exerting himself to
make the impending blow as light as
possible. his wife borrows money. ac-
cepting it from a man of her acquaint-
ance whose record as a philanthropist
is inconsiderable, but whose fame as
roue is great. This money she offers to
her husband, accompanied by lie as to
the source from whence she received it.
Ward learns the identity of his indirect
benefactor. Torn with suspicion and
dread, he faces the man in the presence
of his wife. Eventually he is convinced
of his wife's innocence. The money is
returned. The circumstances in which
the transaction is involved are such
that Mrs. Ward is taught an unforget-
able lesson. She comes to know her
self as she has been.
The lesson has its effect. 1t is fol-
lowed by her transformation into a real
woman. Healthy instincts of serious
ness. sympathy and usefulness-the
sleeping desire for motherhood-have
been awakaned- In new home, under
totally different conditions. the Wards
start on the road of mutual understand
ing and happiness. Browne has woven
into the play many humorous speeches
and situations despite the seriousness
of the subject discussed, and through
the play there runs clean, wholesome
love story in contrast to the main
theme The excellent cast which
Thompson has provided TO interpret this
vital drama is headed by Doris
Mitchell. and includes Lionel Adams
Vivian Martin. Albert Sackett. Lizzie
Mccall, Forrest Orr, Grace Gibbs and
William Sullivan.