Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-02
"OLD HOMESTEAD" GRIPS
HEARTS AT THE NEWARK
BY ADELINE oARR1cK WELLS

Which was the greater treat, to
watch the unfolding of the familiar
scenes of THE Old Homestead" at
the Newark Theatre last night, or to
sit quietly back and surreptitiously
watch the play of expressions on the
faces of its audience?
How they loved it, the faithful ones
that had seen this simple play many
time and oft: wept tears of merri-
ment at the ludicrous errors of old
Josh Whitcomb when he struck the
city; chortled over the jokes they had
so long known by heart, and swal-
lowed sentimental throaty Jumps
when old Josh found his boy in front
of Trinity and l1nelt uDon the pave
ment to take the erring one into his
arms. while the choir within sang
Lead. Kindly Light" with yearn-
ing sweetness that inspired us all to
go out and find somebody to forgive
for something.
There's a something in 1.-THE Old
Homestead" that grips you; that
makes you tenderly wistful. 1t is
the same influence that permeates
the poetry OF James Whitcomb Riley
f1ih iId6CiiC iClNA0s OA We1iAt w W
better and bigger and truer; to for
get the thousand and one turbulent
problems that harass you by day and
night, and instead to walk quietly in
green fields; to cast aside vanity and
be just plain, home folks"
Sentimental?
Perhaps. But it is the sentiment
] didn't say the sentimentaiity-th
lifts you up, and not only for the
moment. You go home with THE
Old Homestead" tucked inside of
your heart, with eyes dancing or
misty as the events of the evening
chalk themselves on memory's slate.
How many times have you seen
it, asked man of his neighbor, last
night, after Uncle Josh had put his
letter in the mail box in front of
old Trinity, and remarked after
moment that cit must be in the post
Office by this time"
His neighbor looked slightly sheep
ish. "I wouldn't say whether this Is
the twelfth or thirteenth she de-
clared, brushing back a gray lock
from her forehead, but I'll probably
see it thirteen times more" she added
defantly.
ME too said the man. 81 can't
help it. 1t sort of starts one all over
again. each time, doesn't it?"
And thereafter they smiled and
grew teary-eyed together And |
thought to myself that they had
found the precious secret of 1.-THE Old
Homesteads" never-dying charm.
So long have most of the actors
possessed their roles that today finds
them no longer acting. They have
become the embodiment of what they
wish to convey. Mrs. Maggie Dryer,
grown Just q little more frail, more
spirituelle is ever SO much more
Aunt Tidy than herself. Young
actresses of the present day should
sit at Mrs Breyer's feet and learn
the secret of naturalness.
OF Edward L. Snader's interpreted
ton of the role of Uncle Josh
nothing more can be said. We used
up our descriptive adiectives in sea-
sons gone by Like Mrs. Breyer. he
has sunk his personality into the
part until we feel sure that he is
Uncle Josh in private life as well
as on the stage.
Fred Clare is still the debonair
Happy Jack. and Harry S. Robinson
and Charles II. Clarke retain their
roles of Cy Prime and Seth Perkins
As whole the company is practically
the same as in former years.
Business man, forget those rows of
fgures Housewife, remove your
apron and hang II on the closet door!
Silly miss stop thinking about Para