The Washington herald., 1912-07-07
DRAMATIZING THE
LOCAL TRAIN

Washington is rapidly approaching a
period in its growth when the joys and
woes OF Committing must be weighed
in the balance by future additions to the
city population. The National Capital
already Is sufficiently spread out over
the District with considerable overhows
into Virginia and Maryland, to cause
playgoers of this city TO sympathize with
the long-suffering suburbanites of New
York City, who have been put into the
limelight by James Forbes. author Of
THE Commuters"
In this new comedy hit, by the author
of The Chorus Lady" and THE Travel
ing Salesman" the rural metropolis IL
made the target for shafts OF satire
which. genial as they are. hit the mark
every time. The suburbanites failings,
his humors. his whims and his woes are
presented in a kaleidoscope of marked
contrasts that create a riot Of fun.
OF late years the growing aversion to
life under crowded conditions in the
great cities has created big areas of out
lying communities in which the cottage
form Of architecture predominates. but
where the luxuries and atmosphere" Of
condensed city life are largely preserved.
The interests and the pleasures of the
suburban jewellers are largely conferred
on the big town wherein the husbands
pursue their business callings, but, at
the same time. there are many matters
Of community life held In common and
which are wholly detached from the
hurly- burly OF the metropolitan focus.
Every commuter. be he high or low. Is
the suhservient lackey OF the railroad
time table. The eminent banker comes
to breakfast not loaded with financial
cares, but with the grim shadow of the
relentless train schedule hanging over
him. He obeys its edicts. even as his
humble clerk renders homage to the
staring time clock in the office. The
stock broker reads the record Of closing
prices in his paper and the forecast Of
the financial outlook with a vague dread
interlining the printed facts and figures.
which finally SINNERS down into the anx-
ious mental query:
viii / miss the 1872"
Every group OF train-chasing COM
muters has in its number one model
schedule expert; one man who Is never
late and whose arrival and departure are
the cues for all clocks in the neigh
borhood. When he saunters down the
street in the morning every housewife
shouts to her better half that:
MIR. Primly has just gone past and
you'd better hurry"
In the summertime It is often the
habit for such an enthusiastic early
riser to loll on his porch with the news
paper for many minutes before arising
to catch the train which he knows is his
by right of punctuality. When the other
commuters discover him thus at ease
they breathe a sigh OF relief. for they
know that until Mr.. Prlmly puts aside
his paper and starts for the station there
is no immedIae danger OF committing
the colossal error OF commuting-miss-
ing the 7:29.
The wives of commuters take as keen
an interest in their husbands rush for
trains as do the men themselves. To the
women 1t is a sort of a game, and the
helpmate who can't hustle her hus-
band out of doors and on his way to the
station in good time is considered a
loser of the contest.
At the city end of the line there is
the evening rush to be considered also.
\ man who is late to work in the morn
ing may havaa stern employer to face
hut when he is excessively late arriving
home he has to undergo much sterner or
deal He must explain matters to his
loving wife whose dinner is spoiled
In THE Commuters" the morning anx-
iety of suburbanites and their wives is
depicted in side-splitting detail The
manner in which the wives keep them
selves occupied during the lonely day
light hours Is also given laughable treat
ment. This cleverest OF all the comedies
written by Jimmie Forbes, is the cur
fent Offering by the Poll Players