The Washington times., 1912-09-26
One Critic Says 1t Is
A "Play Without
7 A Punch"

Each time that the; pendulum Of
popular favor swings too far In one d.
rection. the law Of nature demands a
reaction in the form OF a reversal OF
tendencies. and II is for this reason
that q musical l-comedy-sated problem
play-mad theatergoing public accepts
with quiet thankfulness play which
one critic has spoken OF as a "play
without q punch" That play is Mile
stones,' which is given to the public
In printed form. with copious illustra-
tiops, In the october Munsey Magazine
Arnold Bennett and Edward Knob
LAUGH are tho authors. Mr.. Bennett IL
too we'll known In the literary world to
need an introduction. although new In
the guise Of q playwright. and his fel-
low craftsman. Mr.. Knoblauch. Is we'll
remembered as the author OF ''The
Faun." ''Kismet," and other notable
and successful dramatic works
Great Lesson Taught.
'"Miiestones" 10 unique and charming.
and leaves an after-taste that recalls
''Pomander walk for although no
harassing mental conflict is predomi-
nant. though there 10 no noisome COM
edy. no nerve-racking situations. a
great lesson Ia taught In the quiet SIM
plicity Of the development-unforce
and ground out slowly bv the march
Of years. Radical. stupidity conserva-
tive old age is shown the futility Of
trying to hold back progress In the ris-
ing generation, and that sorrow Is
avoided. and happiness gained by true
love marriages Is demonstrated by cpl
sodes which give an unbiased viewpoint
Of all aspects Of these questions.
Family hopes, failures. and happiness
are presented with a strikingly human
Interpretation. and there Is hardly a
|'playsoer who cannot find a poignant
personal appeal In the delineation of
some of the characters. While not pos
sessins any strikingly beautiful liter
ary characteristics, 'Niiiestones" Is
symmetrical. and the three acts, laid
respectively in the periods 1850. 1885, and
1872 are well rounded. From their very
simplicity OF construction they aid in
the readjustment necessary to the tran
sition from one period to another. with
the consequent upheavals In social and
business conditions.
Three Periods Of Play.
The theme, characteristic Bennett,
matter" deals with the development OF
! the young Progressive shipbuilder OF
1904 pioneer In the use of iron 70.
ships-into the Reactionary OF 1912, who
as an old man. shorn of his youthful
enthusiasm. laughs at the preposteroui
hopes of the younger generation ant
bemoans, as did his father-in-law Z
generation before. the devastating re-
suits Of a formidable social revolution
Complete in each act there Is a charm
ing love story. and running through al
the acts there IL one connected romance
As the love stories deal intimately will
the relations of the two families, an,
a few outsiders. there is no break o
incongruity In the sequence OF the plot
The play is essentially English, an,
some think that the primary cause 70
it's success lies In the fact that Their
are SO many excellent character parts
there being practically no leading role
But II prominent part should b
placed in the hands Of an actor with
pronounced personality It would be a
easy matter to have the piece revolv
around this character as centra
pivot. '.', '.'.'
| Plays Artistic Touches.
The most artistic touches in mile
stones are supplied by the very nat
ural manner In which local color |
brought out: One recalls again Pom
ander walk is the conversations be
tween Mrs Rhead and Gertrude. Their
too. the piece Is reminiscent Of "oualit
Street" in the quaint settings-the old
fashioned mahogany and walnut draw
ing room at Kensington Gore. quit
new at the time. with its decoration
of pictures, furniture. and crewel tidie
Of the mid-Victorian period. The seen