El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-27
LION and TIE
MOUSE" STRONG
OFFERING
Great American Play Pre-
scented by a Splendid
Cast Of Actors.

The Ell Paso theater never rang with
more applause than it did last night at
the close the third act of 'FThe Lion
and the Mouse" And a more pleased au-
dience never left the theater since it was
opened to the public.
When Shirley ROssmore Carolyn FL
berts). daughter of the Judge whom
John Burkett Ryder (Walter Edwards),
the richest man in the world has at
tempted to force from the bench because
of his decisions unfavorable to capital,
reveals herself in her true identity and
though penniless and wrecked in name
and station because of her fathers
downfall. refuses to marry the son OF
the money king, the climax is reached.
DO you think 1 could marry man
whose father is as deep a discredit to
! the human race as your father is? I
couldn't marry the son of such merci-
less tyrant, You think if you lived in
the old days turning to the millionaire
who rules politicians and nations) you'd
| be a Caesar or an Alexander, but
you you wouldn't; you'd be
Nero. q Nero Sink my self-respect
! TO the extent of~marrying into your
family? Never! Nevers I am going to
Washington without your aid. am go
! ing to saveEmy father (from impeach-
ment) if 1 have to go on my knees to
every United States senator in the cap
itol I'll go TO tn. white house. I'll tell
the president whatyou are. Marry your
! son, indeed Marry your son, never"
This was the speech--the climax of the
first three acts of an Intensely interest
ing production-that brought the house
like electricity, in a furore of frenzied
enthusiasm and the applause rang until
curtain call after curtain call had been
responded TO.
Great AmericanSPIay.
- -.
es in what Current Literature" two
years ago declared -.thesstrongest play
ever written .zafnerica-" 1t had
years solid run in New York and was
the first great Americas play dealing
with the politics of the country. The CEN
trail character was a thfnlSS yelled por
traya1, ii was declared at the time, of
John D. Rockefeller. At any rate, the
play shows the length t9 which the
vested interests have gone ID corrupting
justice. controlling lawmakerS and even
breaking the regulations of men Of hon
or in public life and upon the bench
when they dare oppose the money power.
1t is a strong play, play, that holds
the interest from the rise of the cur
tain until its fail and as presented in
FL PasO, il is enacted by company
that is flawless.
Splendid Company.
The two principal characters, enacted
by Walter Baker and Carolyn EIberts,
are splendid-just about as perfect as
could be; they do not seem to be acting,
but living the very parts they portray.
Their work is a treat, and the entire cast
is in good hands. There is not a weak
member in it: on the whole, the cast is
in q class with THE Music Master"
though of course, there is no David
Warfield in this company. The Lion
and the Mouse" and The Music Mas
ter" are by the same author and. while
they are widely different in character
each Is at the top of the class in its own
line of thought and action.
It is a genuine treat to see such a
company in such a play and it is a
source of congratulation that the COM
pany remains over tonight to give
others chance TO see it.
The Story OF the Play.
The story of the play in brief is that
Judge Rossmore, of the supreme court,
has rendered decisions against the in
terests" and has been induced to in
vest his savings in corporations and
loaded down with more stock than he
can pay for, so that an exposure will
make 1t appear that he has accepted
stock as brides Charges are preferred
against him and a senate controlled by
John Burkett Ryder (''the richest man
in American is ready TO impeach the
aged jurist at the dictate of the man of
millions. Scenes that follow, reveal
Ryder's mastery over both his house
hold and the United States senate. In
the latter, senator Roberts is his chief
tool. Generals, governors. politicians
plead vainly for a word with the great
potentate OF finance. Laws before they
are enacted are submitted to him-his
power IS absolute.
Shirley Rossmore. daughter of the
judge, has met and loved and is loved
by the son of the money king, but re-
fuses to marry the young man until the
name of her father is cleared. She
writs book, The Octopus" in which
she exposes the System" and the
financier sends for her-her nom de
plume is Miss Greenland asks her to
write his biography. She accepts in the
hope that she can get evidence to clear
her father, and succeeds with the aid
Of the son and sweetheart, in securing
papers that prote her fathers inno-
cence. The millionaire and his wife
grow to love the girl and plead with
her TO marry their son to break his af-
lection for ''the ROssmore girl Then
K is that she reveals her identity and
denounces the millionaire.
In the act that follows all is set
aright-the millionaire, for love of the
girl. has the senate march down hin
again ana Clcdi the name OF her father
and gives her in marriage to his son
Strong, Brilliant DiaIog
The dialog is strong, clever. pointed
and brilliant; truths are thrown ont
over the footlights in their true naked
ness: the financier is told the trutb
about himself and his ms5hods bv the
slip Of 4 girl, and he reveals others in
his own corrupt actions. It's all that
has been said Of it as playa strong.
perpetuation on the stage as an exnos-
ure of the methods that Thee. Roose-
Welt fought relentlesslv. the ex-
posture OF menace that is as great to-
day as ii was when the play was writ
ten, but better known now, by reason of
the play, than it was then. 1t is a pIav
with mission, and it is fulfilling If
THE MAJESTIC Y
There-Hill be new bill tonight at
the Majestic. You know YOU Are o1JroI-s.
eroinp RI SEQ the pest AT tbis -. ;,