New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-29
AN ENGLISH COMEDY
"The Blindness Of Virtue" by
CosmO Hamilton.
IS VERY WELL ACTED
Rut II Seems a Little old-Fash'
toned in the America
of A. D. 1912.

T~rrr
clears are amazing fools and miracu-
roysIv ignorant OF the lures OF SEX ac-
,1r5tng IN Mr.. Cosmo Hamilton, the au-
tnor NJ q comedy newly imported from
Tondon The comedy Is named The
RIfrdpess of Virtue" 1t is played here
- tn Thirty-ninth Street Theatre (can-
NOT somebody find for theatres more ap-
nropriate names than those Of the mum
bsred streets0. The company that acted
ft IN London acts it in New york. ana
acts il very well.
The wears daughter waits In young
mans bedroom, in her fathers house.
until 4 o'clock in the morning for the
voung mans return. She doesn't know
that this isn't quite the thing to do, to
evnress II mildly. The young man does
not arrive until T. by which time the
young girl is watching from her own win
dow.
Again she goes to his room, and this
time makes love to him. The young man
behaves like trump and tries to put her
out, although he is in love with her. She
clings to him and cries: Put your arms
around me and make me live" which IS
rarbaps lust what a wears daughter
of seventeen would say. The vicar enters,
sends away his daughter quarrels' OF
course, with the young man, and rather
late I'm the proceedings, but not too late'
asks why his daughter had not been bet
ter taught The vicar Jumps straight at
the conclusion that the girl is lost.
She isn't. But there is no telling what
"a
fool Because the young man had peeh
away from the village twenty-four hours
the zirl was maudlin lonely and behaved
ike one bereft of sense. But II all comes
out right In the end. The story could De
unfinished I'm the most eXacting journal
for ladies. The young man has come 10
The wears to be reformed and to study
for the bar The reformation takes
because he is trusted. In the distance
and unseen, there is a suspicious father'
whose lack Of faith has driven the son
IN WAYS that are dark. And so 1t all
comes 70 the question of the training Of
children.
Mr.. Cosmo Hamiltons play would have
YOU think that English parents never
teach their young anything about the
sacredness Of sex, or about It's lures ana
dangers. So his play seems rather naive
~ audiences IN America, for in this land
there has been a great deal OF discussion
Of this subject, and some wise teach-
ing How much, who knows? but
II is difficult to believe that class
for calss American parents are such
rrudes and prigs as the English pa
rents in this comedy. Apart from their
horror OF certain facts in nature these
English parents are most estimate ana
delightful persons. The CHEEKY wear
wins your heart. His wife is mothefy
and sweet and dear. They are doing good
works for their parishioners, but cong
rrecious little for their foolish daughter
who has romantic yearnings 10 kno"
what life IS"
II the play were not acted very well IN
deed it would not engage much serious
attention. But il is very well acted
Holmes-Gore as the Vicar; Basil Hailam
as Archie Graham. the youth under pro-
cess Of reformation; and Polle Emery as
the seryant-"Cookie'-a by far the
best II Mr.. Hallam would not speak in
his throat but would occasionally move
his Inns ne would be even more sauSlac-
tory than ne is The performance was
Cordially received. The author appeared
twice, and made one short speech AttGr
that the house seemed contenled, II 10
u.oT5srFr,I what satisfaction audiences de-
rive from an authors appearance ana
speech. Some persons go TO the theatre
for nothing else. a. W.
CAST OF THE BLINDNESS OF VIRTUE
The Rev. Harry Pemberton, Vicar OF East 900
Brent0n. MiddleseX. .......A, doiiIes,TT ~ :
Helen PembertOn, his wito.'.... Lena -, 80
CoILfe .............,P Polite Emery
+u-e 4>o'"''''''' - Louie Dmery
IA c,ufr "a Hamllton-GiDbs
Mary ann. y,btI IJaIIs,,
The Hon Archibald Graham SEQ BASH h"i'"'i'