Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-11-22
GEORGE ARLISS IN 'DISRAELI."
A Great Show at Academy Of Music
Week Of Nov. "a.

Benjamin Disraeli, that brilliant,
the best loved anj the best hated
mar in his country, will be visual
ICED by George Arliss at the New
Academy of Music, Baltimore, next
Monday evening, where be will
present for the first time in that
city, under the management of the
Liebler Company, Louis N. Par
ker's comedy, "Disraeli.
The author shows "Dizzy''-as he
was called by his friends and enemies
alike, and caricatured in the comic
papers, at the pinnacle of bis career.
AT this period be is no more the
spectacular young Jew, the author Of
romantic novels and the wearer of
startling waistcoats, but an sstute
state sman whose warmth of oriental
Imagination has turned into one chan
mel, the making of his luntry az i'm
perial world power. The historic in
cident of the buying of the Suez Canal
from the dissolute Khedive of Egypt,
and the saving to England thereby of
the short route to India, is chosen
byMr. Parker as the central theme of
bis play.
Disraeli knows that the Khedive is
ready to sell his shares Of canal stock
TO the highest bidder. He knows,
too, that Russis, although not anxi-
Gus at the moment t. spend the mill
lions necessary to procure these
stocks, is watching him through spies
in his own households, and is ready to
rush in the moment she finds he is
making a move toward accruing the
shares, and to outbid England for
their possession. Parliament is not
in session and the only way the Pre-
mier has of raising the nece ssary
money is through a loan from the
Bank of England or through private
bankers. The president OF the bank
of England refuses to listen TO him.
He finally calls in Meyers, a million
aire banker, who agrees to finance
the scheme, announcing that a ship
carrying an immense amount of bull
lion belonging to the firm is on its
way from the Argentine Republic.
He signs check for FIVE million
pounds, and pisrseli chooses young
aristocrat who, through his undis-
Stimulating honesty, has just uncon-
sciously given away the whole plan
to a Russian spy employed in the
Premier's household, to carry through
the final negotiations. This young
man is sent post haste to Cairo to
beat out the spy who started before
him, but who had to go to Trieste
for instructions.
The third act shows Disraeli, his
adoring wife and Lady Clarisa, the
young messengers lady-love, await
ing the cipher telegram which will
tell them that the canal is the prop
.rty of England. The telegram finally
comes and brings with it JOY and tri-
umph to all three. Suddenly, in the
midst of their rejoicing enters Meyers
the banker. Brokeuly he tells the
Premier that he is bankrupt, the
ship bearing the bullion has been
deliberately scuttled; it will take
months to collect the insurance, and
unknown enemies are attacking
the credit of his house. The check
which he has given, and which has
already been paid to the Khedive
is, therefore, valueless. This is a
sudden blow to the Premier. He
knows it means the discrediting of
England before the world and his
own undying dishonor.
Then his courage rises again and
he sends for the president OF the
Bsuk of England To him he tells
the predicament and calls upon
him TO save England from shame, the
only possible way being for the bank
to honor Meyer check when it is
presented. Sir Michael Probert de-
clares that he cannot do anything
without the consent of his directors.
BY dramatic subterfuges
that Disraeli often called to his aid
he e0nvinces Probert that he can, as
Premisr compel him to honor the
check, although in reality he has no
such power. The premier carries his
point, however, which results in saw
ing the canal control to England and
bringing high honors to Disrseli.
This is the main outline of the
play of "Disraeli " There is a charm
ing subsidiary love story of the Lady
Clarisa and Viscount Charles Des-
ford, the Premier's messenger to
Egypt. Also there are incidents con-
nected with the work Of two Russian
spies, the most important of whom is
Mrs. Travers, a beautiful woman,
who has wormed her way into the
intimacy of the highest English cir