The Washington times., 1912-02-14

II seems almost impossible to believe
that William II. Crane. who is tenn
porarily keeping house this week in the
Columbia Theater, has been before the
public for half a century. His fifty
golden years have been crowned with
success such as Is melted eout to but
few actors.
When one sees him in his present
play, THE Senator Keeps House," IL
is to recall that other character of the
Senator in which his memorable sue
cess was won more than score OF
years ago. In this new play of his,
which was written by Martha Morton,
Mr.. Crane is still the delightful Senator
Rivers. lie has grown a little older,
perhaps, though IL is impossible that
he should ever grow really old; trine
more sedate in manner, yet the same
kindly, tender gentleman who, twenty
years ago, won, as reward for his In
tercst in the "'Denman Claim" the hand
of the eighteen-year-Qld daughter Of
the claimant.
There is much that is reminiscent of
this in Miss Morton's play. For in
stance, there is the same motive of a
cfaim-the Mason Claim it is this
tilnc-closing with the same denoue-
claimant herself. The only material
difference between the two plots lies in
the fact that as Senator Larkin he OPP
poses the latest claimant, but nothing
happens to prevent the plays romantic
termination.
A Parlor Comedy
Devoid of Problems.
THE Senator Keeps House" is n par
Tor comedy. There is an entire absence
of problems, either OF the Triangular
variety or otherwise. 1t is a bit old
fashioned. but sweet, clean, and whole
some. There are numerous discrepGn-
cies in the play, which, to a wOman's
eyes, are objectionable. For example,
though the month in which the play IS
supposed to have taken place Is some
time in nidwintcr, the vases in the
Senator's breakfast room are filled with
q ConCloneration of unreasonable flow
ers, among which appear chrysanthe-
NUNS and peach blossoms. Can it be
possible that tho Senator was guilty OF
adjoining his Washington residence with
tissue paper flowers? Neither chrysan-
thcmums nor peach blossoms could
have been scascnable at that time of
the year. This is but one instance.
There are many others.
The story entertains. but ii does not
excite to any marked degree. Given
three guesses, it would require but one
to tell that 1t was written by a woman.
1t is as full of feminine detail as an old
maids boudoir is full of tides. No pen
but woman's would condemn a man as
fine as Senator Larkin to steal his own
cigars. or endure the horror of that pink
8nd blue baby ribbon with which his Of
fetal papers were tied. I do not know
If Miss Morton is married, but I. do
know that her conception of keeping
house for a man Is purely theoretical,
for the world contains not single one
of the male sex who would possibly
stand for those pink ribbons. He would
prefer to discharge his housekeeper-
even a perfectly good one-for one less
artistic in temperament.
SO, too, 1t Is impossible to imagine the
Senator living with a woman who dom
mates him to the extent Mrs. Flower
and her daughter dominate the good old
man. Impossible as she is as a house
keeper, she would be doubly so as a
wife and helpmeet, and when the cur
tain falls upon the last act. leaving the
impression that she is to become Mrs.
Senator. sympathetic ones in the audi
ence sigh and feel sorry for the Senator.
They see him. as 1t were, through vista
formed of a maze Of pink and blue rib