Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01
ADJUSTMENTS.
Polls,


theme as old as a foolish womans
tongue. which means as old as the world.
It was given its local premier last night
by the Poll Players. and If success may
be measured by applause and by the sud-
den. tense silences. more eloquent of emo
ton than mere hand-clapping. the large
audience emphasized the verdict OF other
audiences in New York and Chicago that
have pronounced the Marion Fairfax
play a real success
whipped into a froth for the amusement
of that most-advertised creature under
the dramatic sun, the tired business man.
whom, incidentally, one never sees; and
some are sermons sweetened over. like
sugar-coated pills. THE Talker' is
neither and both. Its human nature is
OF vitality realistic quality that whets
the interest of the most blase man In
his capacity of home builder. and IT, by
any strange chance there was foolish
tongued woman at the theater last night,
she had her lesson in the applause-vig-
orously sympathetic masculine APP
plause-which the men in the audience
gave to the man on the stage.
To etch the story: There is pretty
home which a man is buying for his
wife. She is volatile young woman
who chatters about ''woman's sphere"
as irresponsibly as child plays with
in the mind of Ruth LenoX. the young
sister of the husband. and the result is
an elopement with married man who
has been fattering the wife with his
sympathy for her views in order to win
the girl. In the three years of the girls
absence the home becomes a house of so
many windows and walls LenoX and
his wife are estranged. He holds her
responsible for his sisters fall and She
made wise by suffering-realies that she
loves q
no longer home. The girl returns and
happiness is restored with her return.
By this time the play is over. and the
big audience realizes that the whole
thing is only plaS.
In The Talker' the Poll Players lose
their individual identity and merge into
characters they personate- Edward
Mackay, as Harry Lenox. was home
loving. hard-working man. who looked
and acted as any man of his kind TO be
found in the world-which is intended as
sincere compliment Izetta Jewels
Kate Lenox was an impressive, even IL
foolish creation. that made one indul-
gent to her faults The Ruth Lenox of
Gertrude Bondhill was a character study,
and Lolita Lnthicum as Jessie Smith. a
neighbor, was as wholesome as breath
of fresh air. Thomas Williams. as Mr.
Fells. henpecked neighbor, was ludi-
crously laughable. and Pearl Deyhoff, as
Maud Feils. his spying, tattletale OFF,
spring. was an exceedingly obnoxious
young person-in the play. of course
Dudley Hawley, as Leonidas Winston.
Ruth's fiance. was as good as his part
allowed, and other excellent work was
done by Frank Shannon. as Ned Hollis
ter, Hazel May as Elizabeth, and Cecil
BowSer, as John.
The action passes in the living room of
the Lenox home. Generally a one-scene
but in The Talker'' the home which
Lenox is paying for takes on the individ-
uality of character in the play.
Columbia.
The play that finds the hearts. the
heartaches and the happiness of hu-
mainly, whether it's scene be the homes
or the haunts of the poor. among char
acters simple or rugged, whether it
carries the interest to places in high life,
must always appeal, always find those
whose interest it can arouse, whose
smiles 1t can win. and. whose tears it can
make now And such is Augustus Thomas
In Mizzoura," which was so beautifully
presented by the Columbia Players at the
Columbia Theater last evening to house
including the Pres dent and his trends,
that filled the chairs and boxes, and still
left many standing.
1t told the simple and the complex story
of several lives but of one life i'm par
ticular. that of Jim Radburn, the cour-
ageous but big-hearted sheriff of the
county, whose heart was as tender as
that Of child. and who as he nursed
hound with a broken leg admitted that
he had never even killed a man, much
less hurt dog. II was a splendid role
as a picture, wonderfully fruitful role
in opportunity for the impersonator, and
a role in which Mr.. Van Buren,. the lead
played his best ability as an actor Nat
Goodwin more than twenty years ago
won laurels for himself as Jim Radburn.
Mr.. Van Buren, need not fear to match
his characterization with that of his illus
trOus predecessor.
Jim is in love with Kate Vernon, daugh-
ter of the village blacksmith and wheel
wright. Since she was a little child he
has heaped his favors upon her that she
might have the best to be had always
he has done for her, and SO. when she
returns to her simple Missouri home
after four years in a higher sphere
Of society,"" she is discontinued. and
yearns to get back into the world she has
lost.
1t is small wonder then. that Robert
Travers. with the apparent polish of that
world, even though later he proves to be
a train robber and a murderer should
excite her admiration She is not sure
whether she loves him or not, but at any
rate he seems to appeal to her fancy
more than the honest-hearted Jim. So
she rejects Jim and is on the point Of
clipping with Travers, when his true char
acter is revealed Sam Fowler who is
in love with 'Liz'beth Vernon, Hates
sister. recognizes Travers at the village
drug store as the man who robbed his
train. and Travers, IN desperate eff
fort to escape. kills man. Jim tracks
him to the Vernon home where Kate
has concealed him in a closet. Jim makes
Travers come out and then because Kate
taunts him with the charge that ii is
not duty, but jealousy, that prompts him
to hound Travers, for whom he has
openly admitted his dislike, he lets Trav-
ers take his horse and escape. Travers
is subsequently shot and the rangle is
happily unwound. Kate then realizes
that Jim has sacrificed seat in the leg
lslature in favor OF her father because
she wanted it; that Jim has paid for the
best of life she has had. even for her col
lege education. and that after all he is a
great, big, noble character and she rea. ly
loves him. 1t Is pretty story through
out which never taxes the Imagination
or the credulity.
Vernon, and her emotional scene with
Jim, when she denounces him for pursu-
ing Travers, was a fine bit Of work.
Carrie Thatcher was a typical mother in
the simpler walks of life, scolding and
complaining with her lips, but giving her
very hearts best in care, comfort and
concern for those around her. Dorothy
character work as the lazy, 0rawty Liz
beth. and Stanley James was an ideal
lover for her. even if he could not get off
from his work TO find d steady job. tie
was natural and comcal at all times.
George Barber gave splendid inper-
sonation of Joe Vernon. Hates father,
and Willard Robertson another fine, al