The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-31

notes the way the cork pops when ex-
tricated from the bottle and his imi-
tations of that and the pulling of the
elderberry wine cork, make some of
the best humor to be found upon
the American stage.
kissing her husband, after the
guests have gone, Mattel retires to her
room. Then it is that Joe finds the
letter left for him by Clinton Bragg.
He opens 1t and reads. His foreboding
of something evil has been realized.
He sits long time in despair. Then
Mattel comes slowly down the stair
way. Joe tells of his discovery. She
tries to explain. He will not hear.
Then the curtain goes down as Mattel
walks slowly away to her room and
Joe sits in the agony OF despair. The
situation is one that is strong and the
stage picture one that is different.
Two months later, the second act
takes place. A very pretty scene is
that in which Ned and Agnes discuss
the little. little" sin of Mattel.
Should Joe have forgiven is the gist
OF their discussion. It is here that the
motif of the story is brought out. The
idea of the sin of more than one en-
gagement at one point in the scene
comes into the mind OF Ned. Earlier
in the play Big Adam, too, has exper-
fenced the feeling.
Hardly has the discussion between
Ned and Agnes finished, when Joe
from her room. Since their wedding
day she and Joe have kept away from
each other. She pleads with her hus-
band and tries to make him under
stand.
Clinton Bragg Is Denounced.
sleighbells are heard. Big Adam and
Margie enter from the kitchen. Big
Adam goes to the door. Returning, he
informs the party that Clinton Bragg
is without. Instantly there is a change.
The fires Of hate break forth in the
eyes of Joe. Mattel and the others stand
as though thunderbolt had struck
them.
Let him come in" demands Mattel
Then as Clinton Bragg says that he
has come with a note from her mother,
Mattel goes to her room. She dons her
wraps. Then she pleads with the IRON
willed Joe. She begs him to ask her
to stay. Then she pleads with him to
command her to stay. Finding 1t all
to no avail she passes through the door
way and away.
As he hears the door close, Joe comes
out of his study. He goes to the win
dow. In his despair he sees Mattel.
She is driving away in the company
the second act.
Two years later, after Joe has been
granted divorce. the third act takes
place. Barker enters hurried1y to find
Agnes reading. At the mill he has
heard that Mattel and Clinton Bragg
| are to be married that night. In pass
ing through the woods he has seen a
| skulking figure. He. realizes that Joe
has heard of the intended marriage and
| that he awaits the passing of Bragg
and Mattel through the woods. Know
| ing that his pleadings would be in vain,
Barker sends Agnes and Marcy into the
woods to find Joe. through a ruse get
him to return home, and thus avert
| crime.
Shortly, a shrek is heard Agnes hys-
terical returns and tells how in flash
of lightning the two have seen Joe
| spring from behind brush-heap, stop
| Bragg's horse, in an instant pin Bragg
| to the ground, choking him, then take
Mattel in his arms.
! Hurrying footsteps are heard. It is
| Joe bearing Mattel in his arms. He
enters, lays down his burden tender1y
and in his moments of insane rage tells
of his crime.
| The friends of Joe bring to him the
realization of what he has done. In
| stantly his demeanor changes. His
I friends pian to take him away to a
| new country. Joe. however. has an idea
| He asks his friends to leave him alone
| that he may work 1t out.
Suicide, Deliberate One.
When they have gone, Joe, very de-
liberately, takes a poison-one that has
| no nain. He talks to himself as the
| drug takes effect slowly. Then he de-
| sides to write note to Mattel Unable
to hold the pen, he gets up, walks SLOW
| ly around the table to the stairway
finds himself unable to stand, and MUIR
| muring IT love you, Mateel," he sinks
| into chair and collapses.
Mattel comes slowly down the stair
| way. On her face can be seen the
traces of a slow death-consumption. II
| is tense situation from the beginning
| Reaching the foot of the stairway she
] pleads with her husband, telling him
| how disappointed she would have beer
had he not rescued her from Clifton
| Bragg, whom she says would not have
married She explains how it was tc
! bring Joe to her that she acted
as she did. firing. she sits in a chair
still pleading. Then she goes over te
Joe, places her hand upon his shoulder
and tries to still further explain. Slow
Il ly MateePs right hand follows Joe's arm
| to the left hand. Then she feels the
/ chill of death. She is startled Throw
pulls his head to her bosom and muir
! murs, He is dead and will never
know and as the thunder crashes, the
lightning flashes and the rain pours
| down outside, the curtain falls
Actors to Good Advantage.
Harry North as Joe Herring
showed himself to be an actor of the
difficult moods and trying characte
situations was exceptional. Mis-
lGenevieve Russell revealed herself a
Ian actress capable of portraying deel
emotions in that still. silent way tina
shows true. inward grief.
/ c. c. CSport') North as "Bis
Adam" was distinctive and scores
heavily. Miss Gene Fulmer, opposit
him. was to good advantage. Mis-
Ruth Robinson, as the sympatheti
Agnes" handled well her part and il
} the third act was especially good il
, a hysterical scene that followed tn
witnessing of the murder. Rober
tBlaylock was at ease as Med" with
lnaturaln ess that was becoming to him