Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-01
Academy-"The Divorce Question.

When Joseph Medill Patterson wrote
Rebellion" that striking plea for the
dissolution of unhappy marriages, ne
aroused a storm of protest from those
who belive in the permanency and
sanctity of the marriage vows. The
first answering argument to reach the
stage is "The Divorce Question" COM
batting lax divorce and presenting the
subject from the clerical viewpoint,
and if William Anthony Mcclure, the
author, has not proved his point, ne,
nevertheless, has produced a play that
is notable for its earnest, fearless at
tack upon existing evils and for ORA
matte situations vivid in their inten-
sity
Herbert Lockwood and Mrs. Roger
Manners having settled their marital
difficulties in the divorce court, go
their respective ways, remafry' ana
raise new families. The NO children
of the former union arc placed in the
care of poor relatives, whose neglect
and cruelty finally drive the boz ara
mis- sister into the streets. Earning
precarious living by selling news
papers, they gradually sink into the
muck-the boy dope fiend, the GIL
in the clutches Of "cadet. lhc
opening of tie drama takes place III
the sacristy Of church, where heto-
ert, the drug fend, and the gl"l ma"
sought the protection Of Father DC
rome By strange coincidence Loci
wood and Mrs. Manners are b0tn =;
the church. The revelation that these
two outcasts are their children comes
as shock. Well-bred, unsoiicd chl'-
dren, they are willing to take INTO
their lives, but not these wretched
beings Of the gutter. How the s"'-
fish parents are brought to fea'iZ+~
ton of duty, with conscience awakened
and hearts refllcd with love, is tea
in a moving series of scenes and inter
preted by a company whose Ike has
not in recent years graced the Acad-
envy stage.
That the fearful toll exacted in tt!s
one isolated case Of divorce cannot 20
taken as the general result Of broker
marriages, is the point on which lie
Divorce Question" falls short Of be-
ing convincing. Al! n.isnsted couples
set free b. tie courts dc not dese.t
Their children, 1o2 10 ali such children
fall into sir ard crime, any more than
tie offspring of happy marriages ST
ways attain the higher and nob.er
walks of life. The play thus resolves
itself into a discussion of unnatural
parents who, dcvoting themselves .
worldly pleasures, neglect the au:' $
Of the home, and that, after al, Is e
pertinent a question as divorce.
That admirable actress, Charlotte
Granville. is cast as Mrs. Manner
and gives the well-poised, clear'%
drawn Characterization that alwa|s
marks her work, and manages to ven
sympathy for this misguided mother
torn between her two families. IS
Mamie, the unfortunate girl, Virginia
Pearson has a part Of few lines, 6Ht
she handles it well, and her facial plaE
is particularly effective.
John Kline, late Of the Columbia
PLAYERS. was givcn a cordial g.eetir
70 his lot fails most Of the purpose
al speeches. and he offers vigorous
,yn1na;hetic performance. i part
faithful and horrible in It's realism IS
The Dop;c Doe Of William '. Mono,
which recalls TullyMarShaiI IN Ire
C:ty.," without cvoking comparisons
hat are unfavorable to Mr. Mon".
Charles G. Bumham, makes a delight
ful Irish sexton, and Sheldon Lewis
presents finished characterization IS
lockwood. Brunette Radcliffe. Hi
worth Stark, William Weber, and J.
\. McAndrews, complete the excellent
.Ompany.