The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

gratify her extravagant whims. When he realizes the direful pass to which their mode of life has brought them he de- mands of his wife the sacrifices that are necessary, preparing, at the same time, to make them himself. He wife's life has been too easy-she has not sufficient stamina to face comparative poverty-and with the Idea of relieving their monetary distress she borrows a large sum from man friend. This action hastens the inevitable climax which Is in turn fol- lowed by an entire readjustment of the family relations. producing a condition more nearly approxmating happiness than any that had heretofore obtained in the household.
 The play is in four acts, the first three showing the lavishly furnished and taste fully decorated interiors of well-to-do New York brokers home, the last an at tic room in a lower East Side tenement house., The company was especially en- gagged by MT Thompson for the present tour, with view to the particular fitness of each member to his or her respective parts. They include Doris Mitchell, who portrays the spendthrift wife,. Lionel Adams, Gwendolyn Piers, Albert Sackett, Lizzie Mccall, Forrest Orr. Alice Kelly and William H. Sullivan.
 
 "The Melting Pot" which scored a sen- sational success in New York last sea- son, where 1t ran for over seven months to crowded houses, will be the attrac- tion at the Shubert. theatre for two days engagement, commencing with hol- iday matinee tomorrow, with the original metropolitan cast headed by Walker Whiteside.
 In this play Israel Zangwill has chosen %< vIr~ok k~ xf.x
 ica is Gods crucfble wherein will be fused Into one perfect people all the na- tionalities of the world-through the me- dium of a lowly and humble people typi- cal of the oppression of the strong against the weak that has prevailed ever since the world began. In so doing he has given himself an opportunity to exploit theory, and, going further than the ordinary theorist, to demonstrate it's prac- ticability. He reasons logically and we'll, it is pointed out. that the principles of freedom, justice and liberty will eventual ly overcome and utterly vanqush the prejudice of race, and that the Ameri- can idea of equality will amalgamate all warning factions and in the end pro- duce a citizenship of the highest and noblest type. It is glorious idea and it Is presented in such a novel and con- vincing manner that it st1rs the emotions, arouses afresh a glowing patriotism, stim- ulates the heart and soul to renewed endeavor in the worlds betterment and possesses a power for good that cannot be over-estimated.
 Such play as "The Melting Pot" whose lessons in the great study of life are beautified by an exquisite story of love and devotion. All of these theories, these love passages, these faithful transcripts from life, Mr. Zangwill has embellished with poetic fancy, brilliant epigram, nor dant sarcasm and an unceasing flow of wit, humor. pathos and fervent patriot ism. Aside from the interest of the play as a mere drama there is a deeper sig nificance for those who care to think. There is the old grandmother Frau Quix- ano, wrapped up in the traditions and su- perstitions of long ago. who typifies the narrow-minded, bigoted people who have been standing still so long that they can never move again. Mendel Quixano, her son, represents the present-day sentiment, willing to let things go as they are, con- tent with existing conditions. Baron Rev endal represents the old feudal system, stern, harsh, unrelenting aristocracy in the most obnoxiods sense of the word: ready to slay tnoffensive women and chill dren should ,they cumber the path of the tsssHv treat .@ the lords of creation by di- ;ssser right. Quincy Davefport personities