Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-13
ADJUSTMENTS
!: Redolent with the fragrance Of

tears. Redoient with the fragrance Of
childish innocence and fascinating in its
quaint simplicity. it is a story never like
~ to grow old. And it was beautifully
presented by the Columbia Players at the
Columbia Theater last evening.
Mrs ErrinStOn. woman of good breed
ing who has been forced to pose as a
model. finds herself on the brink of the
great beyond with a helpless little girl,
her child by an unhappy union. facing the
future without protection. She appeals
to William Peyton. poor. young Ameri-
can sculptor. who. in spite OF his better
Judgment, accepts the charge, that the
wretched woman may die in peace. The
play unfolds the blossoming of the child
into young and beautiful womanhOod,
and the affectionate tie that grows
stronger year by year between the young
artist and his adopted baby, until it
ripens in the knowledge that both love
each other, not as daddy and his little
daughter. but with the deeper, stronger
love that finds its browning glory in mar
riaGe.
Edward Peple. the author. in the three
acts and five scenes of his little play
presents the little Claudia of its story
first as bright and beautiful baby of
five. at her mothers death: then as a
child of eight. on the eve of Christmas.
when Peyton's heart overfiOws with joy
at the prospect of meeting his Princess
Alice" his fiancee of years. from whom
he has been separated by circumstances,
Only 10 DC OaSneO INTO the ueptnS Oh ue-
spair by her desertion, because OF Claudia,
and then the beautiful young woman. the
Claudia of eighteen. In unfolding the
story he has introduced a pathetic little
figure. Phoebe Fuckers, a maid of all
work the Earl of Huntington. a friend Of
Peyton: Marcus Runion, a faithful man.
servant. and number of minor char
acters to lend atmosphere TO the several
scenes.
The play is cleverly staged. and but
in he Ijol, off
t.rely unforeseen might be said to have
been reproduced without a blemish Its
chief interest centers in Claudia. at five
impersonated by sweet. clever little Edna
koontz, with charming baby naivete: at
eight by that splendid little actress. Helen
Hayes. who was the baby Claudia of the
Columbia Players some years ago, and
whose work of last evening shows how
steadily she is forging her way to the
leading woman's honors. the proper am
bition of all young women in the organ
| ization. and the Claudia of eighteen, by
Helen Holmes. who seemed to be the
| natural development of the earlier Claud-
| las, a full realization of the beauty and
hopes of them all.
. Mr.. Van Buren, was lovable Peyton
| at every stage of his rough but varying
career The real surprise. however. was
| in the splendid impersonaton of Fuckers
| by Dorothy Bernard. 1t was an ideal
| Great ton in character work. and received
constant recognition from the audience
/ Carrie Thatcher was the pathetic figure
of the dying mother George Barber. the
! faithful Marcus Runion. who rebelled
when a housekeeper was TO be selected
| to supplant the young Claudia of eigh-
| teen. and Everett Butterfield, strong nat
ural. realistic and wonderfully effective
as the Earl of Huntington. a role that
might so easily have been marred by q
poor actor. Willard Robertson John
| Kline and Stanley James reveled i'm roles
that gave but glimpse of them, and
Jessie Glendenn.ng made very clever
/ princess Alice" who deserted Peyton In
| the days OF his misfortune, 10 try tC
wander back when he was prosperous