El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-21
Annie Russell REEVES 1.-The
Rivals" FreckleS" a
Dismal Failure.
by Emory B. calvert.

FEW YORK. y. Y, Dec. 81
nj Apparently the solution OF the
- MISUNDERSTANDING problem is
an increase in ones family.
This sounds like another phase OF
that old heresy. Two can live cheaper
than one" which has been to blame
1or so many of those bread and milk
marriages that usually wind up in
rows or the divorce court. And II IS
to all intents and purposes, but, never
theless. it forms the oasis and ground
work upon which Chains an Eng
at the Criterion theater on Monday
night was constructed.
The play received much applause
and praise on the other side We are
told that staid critics characterized 1t
a very human picture, and otherwise
extended Themselves to be civil when
II was born This may or may not IN
dictate that the child labor of Dickens's
time has not taken flight with the
years and that the JubilatOn and in
which seems to swell the manly bosom
of the father-to-be, is due to the
fact that he anticipated that period
when 1t would be possible to put the
child to earning its own living.
story of "A Clerk.
In brief, the story of the play cen
tiers about a clerk in the great city"
who is chained to his desk and an IN
cOnSenial atmosphere by lack of cOur-
age, family ties and fear of the fu-
ture- He realizes that there is nothing
to be gained by drudging, and finally
decides to quit the city and seek his
fortune in fields afar.
This very laudable determination he
impaTts TO his wife, with the result
that she takes on and accuses him
of INCONSISTENCY There are tears, Of
course, and in the end the husband
goes back to his desk.
Matters turn ont badly for the hero.
however. He IS locked In pay, he IS
buffeted by reprimand, and at last is
fatty told by his employer that there
is no future for him. and that he had
ha Is WI = a. n
Withal to purchase bread for himself
and wife. Thus gOaded to desperation,
he grips his determination in both
ndndS, writes note to the fearful
wife acquaintinE her of the reason for
his departure, and telling her that he
Will send for her as soon as he gets
Started in the new land.
Baby solves the Problem
Please remember that the hero was
utterly disguised had prayed his wife
to allow him liberty, had been refused
and had determined to cut 1t all' and
make a try for a Better and fuller life
in another portion of the country. Also
rapidly drawing toward its finale and
that hubby was about TO carry his
burdens off the stage and out into the
air, leaving the note upon the table.
Having these multitudinOus things
In mind the reader will be allowed
three gueSseS as to the event, cOndi-
tiOn or situation that brought sun
shine from an overcast sky And in
order that he may not strain his in
rushes in at this crucial moment and
bluShlngly tells her husband that she
has a great piece of news-Eews more
important than salaries or new laces or
anything else; towit, that she is about
to become a mother. WhereupOn
hubby, in highly original parIance,
says. wv ell gee Whit" and smiles.
Yes, sir. smiles, TIE coming baby, it
seems, has solved the problem.
The play was well acted and was
not without moments of interest. Shell
~ Hull played the dissatisfied hus-
band olive Wyndham was agreeable
"The Rivals
Annie Russells revival Of The
Rivals at the 39th street theater on
pointing. Aside from Kiss Russell her
self the cast seemed unprepared to
undertake. the parts allotted to them.
They failed sisnally to develop the
charm which has made this play a
prime favOrite Of the yesteryear
A possible exception in favor of
familiar role of Mrs. Malaprop. might
be made. Miss Paget and Miss Rus
sell, who played lady Languish with a
certain mellowness and rhythmic grace,
were easily the stars of the evening.
Fred Permain also managed to be-
long to the times in which he was NOV
ing, but Frank Reicher was hOpelessly
out Of it as the bounding Captain Jack
He failed utterly to reveal the youth
the irresponsible humor and thu rO-
nance of the part George Giddens
was very youthful and spirited Bob
Acres.
The others were sadly weak in their
lesser parts, Percy Lyndal providing a
deal of disappointment in a complete
inability to bring out the fun OF Sir
Lucius.
''FrecIzIes," Another New One.
"FreCkles, the third and last play !
to have its New York premiere this
week proved "a dismal disappointment Z
to those who took the trouble to jour /
new to the Grand Opera house.
rTechtes, as everyone khoWs' VINO /
has read the Interesting and entertain Z
ing novel OF that name. by Gene STRAIT I
ton Porter. is red-haired, one /
handed youth. who wins the hand and I
heart of a certain fair lady, the belle |
or a lumber camp. and in the end
turns out to he an Irish lord.
However Interesting the situations [
that lead to this rather astonishing