New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-29
NEWS OF THE THEATRES
QUERY: WHO'S GOING TO
DRAMATIC ct HE
PRODIGAL JUDGE"?
Vaughan Kester's UntimeIy Death,
Just as His Great Novel Is at the Very
Beginning OF Its Success, Makes II
Almost Certain That In Some Form
or Another 1t Will Finally Reach the
Stage,

Almost Certain That In Some Form
or Another 1t Will Finally Reach the
Stage.
The untimely death ~ Vaughan Kes-
ter. which occurred on July 4. had IN
It almost the same grim ironicaI tragedy
which marked the death Of Walter
Browne on the very day that his play,
"Everywoman," was first produced. Mr..
Kester lived long enough 80 read the en-
thusiastic reviews Of his novel The
Prodigal Judge" and 10 hear the first
peans Of praise which 1t has called forth
from the public, but II he had lived for
another six months his death az that
time would have brought regret 20
vast army Of his readers who are only
now beginning 10 hear Of The Prodigal
Judge" as one Of the most Fascinating
human and original novels that an
American author has turned out IN
many a long year. That some one VIII
Try 20 dramatic 1t may be regarded as
foregone conclusion. Rumor has u
that the late authors brother. PAU
Kester. the dramatist, has already un-
dertaken the work, but whoever does II
faces an almost hopeless task, for 70
place that delightful old reprobate, tho
Judge: his indomitable pal, Mahahy AMI
the dozen other vivid characters which
seem 20 step right out Of this romance
OF 1885 IN such a light that actors may
make them live and breathe as they 90
in the pages Of the novel will be no sine
cure.
The Prodigal Judge" IS essentially r
mans novel. II deals with life IN 4
broad and sweeping way, and yet back
of the grandose strut and chicanery OF
some OF its characters there are scenes
Of most moving pathos, sL@ at least ono
episode-the final parting OF the two old
friends-of ineffable tenderness. The
Prodigal Judge is the sort or BOOK
which you don't want 10 borrow from
any one. Buy a copy Of your own and,
once you have read 1t, you'll never let IL
out Of the family.
Speaking OF Vaughan Kester's novel,
three actors IN q restaurant were dis
cussing The Prodgal Judge last night.
Il had a curious experience about that
book" said one Of the men, IAN eX-
perience which was almost uncanny.
About three months ago 7 went TO one oc
the book shops and picked out lot 81
novels 70 send 10 woman friend who
was desperately Ill out West. For the
most part they were the usual run OF
summer trash. I don't read novels much
myself, so I took the salesman's word
for them But there were two books
which picked out particularly.
lone was Myrtle Reeds "A Spinner
I'm the Sun and which | never get tired
Of reading, and the other was The Prod
igal Judge I hadn't read It then. but I
knew the man TO whom Kester had ded!-
Gated it-Paul Wilstach. SO ] sent u
along. Some time later the young
woman / had sent the books TO died
The other day her husband and her
father stopped me on the street and
thanked me for having sent her Tho
Prodigal Judge IL was the one book
which she never tired Of having read
aloud TO her, and she got so that sho
talked OF the Judge and his pals -
though they were her own intimate
friends.
After heard that went and bought
a copy Of the book for myself. ! spent
the whole Fourth Of July reading The
Judge under an apple tree, and, believe
me, | never spent a more sane. delight
full and glorious Fourth. II took such n
hold on me that the next morning I
started to do something which l had
never done before, and | have been
thrown with a whole lot OF literary
people. I sat down and wrote the gu-
thor a letter of thanks and congratula-
ton. I thanked him not alone FOR the
pleasure he had given me, but for the
= L. 1, 4, 4
that poor girl before she died. But the
note was never sent. Just as I finished
writing it a boy came up with the morn
ing mail and laid New York newspaper
on my desk. The first paragraph in Il
which caught my eye was Vaughan Kes-
ter's death notice.'-Acton Davies IN
The New York Sun.