The Washington herald., 1910-03-01
STAGE MISSISSIPPIAN
LIKE TRUE SOUTHERNER

( Aside from the peculiar interest which
such "a play as "a Gentleman from Mis-
sissippi must excite in Washington, It is
absorbing because OF its value as play.
It possesses the requisite elements of bal
ance and plausibility of action-however
the realities may be strained in its lkli-
hood as a true happening.
| The Senator himself is a combination of
/ joviality and shrewdness. Of honesty and
patriotlsm-a patriotism that Is not con-
| fined to the State he represents, but which
encompasses a love for his whole native
land Although but newly arrived in
Washington. he takes a hand in politics
affecting his own State and teaches a
lesson TO some Of the older hands at the
game.
Viewed from the standpoint Of proba-
bility Washington may profess to be
amused, but the play IS an object lesson
Of unusual directness and serves the pur-
pose of showing what legislators ought
not to do, and this is an even more i'm
portant accomplishment than the working
out of a love story or the development OF
character.
Mr.. Wfse's Clever speech.
Mr.. Wise. who plays Senator Langdon.
said in his speech that he and his fellow
Washington alive, and. moreover, that
since the play was first seen here two
years ago, he had noticed some needed
reforms in the matter of legislative meth
DDS Thus ne established the entente
cordiale between the play and the very
distinguished audience.
As for the comedian himself, he made
the Gentleman from Mississippi" and
very real and very delightful figure.
There is something about the cool and
determined fighting man that appeals to
an audience, whatever be the grade Of
its intellect, and the operations of SEN
ator Langdon were not only closely fol-
lowed. but applauded to the echo. The
acting of Mr.. Wise was so GOOD that he
seemed not 10 be acting at all. but just
human nature let loose.
The whole cast partakes largely Of
this quality, except perhaps in the case
Of the villains. the dishonest legislators.
and their tools. but, then. villains never
know exactly what to do with themselves
in plays. The author often Sights them
both as TO sentiments and as TO stage
business. Why is it that dishonesty and
vice on the stage always appear 20 be
unnatural? Applause and sympathy is
only for the good and the noble. In them
< recognized truth to nature-the wicked
are cast into outer darkness.
A Cause for Jealousy.
Douglas Fairbanks is playing the role of
the brightest newspaper man in Wash
ington." (Can you see all the correspond
ents holding up their chinsO Fairbanks
is the kind that rings true. He makes his
character encouragingly nfelike and tries
hard to live up to his reputation. When
the journalist turns private secretary to
the Senator and takes hand in the little
game Of politics. Fairbanks was very
much on the job"
The balance of the company presents
some good individual work Miss Lola
May was refreshingly ingenious as Hope
Langdon. the Senator's daughter, in love
with the private secretary. Miss Laura
Butler as a fascinating widow spoke some
clever lines with good effect and looked
charming. A particularly good sketch was
that by Frederick Book, the old down
and-out" veteran, Col" Stoneman. the
man with a elaim-a type not wholly un-
known in these parts. His was a touch
Of emotion that sounded a tender note,
and 1t was so naturally done, too