The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-05
LAKE TRIBUNE SUNDAY MORNING OCTOBER s. 1918

TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING
nrst attempt In dramatic literature
by w. Legrand Rowland. the famous
composer. He apparently has studied
BrieuN; and. though he cannot be
said TO have attained such technical
facility as the Frenchman. he writes
with power and lishtens his dTab
story with n good deal OF humorous
characterization.
The two elderly splnsters whose ma
tures. ethics and environment are the
basic cause o: the tragedy are clo-
Qucnt Of penetrating study OF the
narrowneSs, pride. suppression ana
complete self mastery Of the New
England nature. These two Old ladies'
have brought up their niece with more
than ordinary strlctness. because. IN
their eyes. her mother 6lssraced the
family by eloplng with and marrying
sea captain. At SO. Matilda Thorn
as is the colorless and cramped result
or a lie OF v!rtuous and ultra CON
ventio1al suppression. The family
physician buntly tells her so. or al
women, she ought 10 be mother. lie
declares. Going against nature as
she has she is almost sure 10 bring
nervous breakdown, or consumption.
or. perhaps. insanity. And which OF
these cheerful ends do you predict
FOR me-" asks Matilda. None OF
them. necessarily" me replies; "why
not marry?''
Modest retiring girls DO as have
dcne-st down and wait 10 be
chosen" she replies
You are approaching the danger
Gus age" the doctor warns her; "a
year or two more is all that Is left
TO you II you hope to become
"Motherhood"' she echoes pItlfully.
"Why do you speak OF IL? It's the
one desire Of my life that has not
been crushed out"
THE second act Is In New York.
l. whence Matilda has gone for q
change. She is visiting cousin who
was about 10 be married, but whose
wedding has been postponed because, =,
OF the death OF her father Nay.
more. the marriage has had 10 be put
off two years because OF clause In
Intended TO change but failed TO- The
prospective husband has decided to
kill the years OF waiting IN Africa
lie Is coming TO say good bye. When
he arrives. Matilda. IN a furry Of shy"
ness. slips behind a curtain rather
tie expected TO overhear the pas
sIonate words that pass between her
cousin and the man. The girl pleads
with him not to walt, but to take
her with him TO Africa. He protests
that he cannot LET her throw away her
Inheritance; and he adds. I'VE could
never stick II out"
WHEN the lover has gone Ma
w tilda reveals herself to her
cousin, She upbraids her vehemently;
for before the couple parted the girl
good bye after the others had re-
tired. She will open the door for
him In the dark. To Matilda's hor-
riied depunciation the cousin an
swers. "Oh: you're too old TO under
stand" The words sting Matilda.
ceeded in persuading her cousin to go
off to her room and remain there
Matilda still compares the phrase 10
the doctors diagnosis. She hears the
expectant lover In the darkness. She
is overwhelmed with a temptation.
For ten tense seconds she struggles
with all her strength. But 1t is too
much for her, She gives the signal
and stumbles through the blackness
to the other woman's lover.
THE rest Of the play is neither so
l. daring nor SO novel. 1t is some
years later. Matilda has fatherless
child. Tears and a confession Of her
sin make good, II familiar. dramai
discussions OF the higher morality OF
natures laws" are Of newer school
Of fiction and doubtless Of much In
such that they cannot bring them
selves to talk Of vital things among
themselves and so hasten to the the
oter to hear them set forth for the
general public. "The smouldering
Flame" is announced as play for
write this rights Of the individual"
stuff never seem 10 think about the
rights OF the unborn, fatherless chill
dren.
TN Earl Derr Biggers's novel. oddly
Il called Seven Keys to Baldpete,"
George NJ. Cohan found sPrightly
this he added some OF that glibness
of repartee that has made him a MIL
lionaire. though, frankly, In its pres
ent shape. the new piece has very
dull stretches between Its fun. 1t Is
rea asonable 10 expect that Mr Cohan
Will do away with these slow pass
ages, and add another popular success
to his excellent record.
Wallace Eddinger appears as very
successful author, the writer OF nov
business man" Run out Of ideas:
me has made stimulating bet OF
$4,000 with O wealthy friend who owns
4 summer hotel, on mountain called
Baldpate. 1t is midwlnter: the Inn,
OF course, Is closed and It's surround
ings utterly deserted. The owner
gives the novelist the only key. on
tho agreement that no shut himself
in there all alone and turn out full
novel in twenty-four hours. II he
fails. he loses $4,000. Hardly has the
writer settled I'm the deserted, bitterly
cold inn than the sound OF key In
the outer door proves that his is not
absolutely the only one to Baldpate.
1t admits q fascinating young female
reporter with an agitated chaperon.
the former having come to plead for
an interview with an author under
such unusual circumstances. but real
ly thinking she Is on the track of
case OF political bribery In the near
est city Before long. other keys and
others still open the door and let In
out OF the snow q wildly opposed lot
OF men and women concerned In this
highly colored case; with the addition
OF a professional ghost and hermit,
whose business is to frighten the
summer boarders by prowling around
the mountain at midnight dressed in
a sheet and carrying n. lantern, 10
maintain n general air Of mystery In
selling picture postcards. Into this
role. Mr.. Cohap has poured the sort
Of unexpected racy and observant
comments for which he is famous.
and furthermore. the part is played
with such skillful appreciation OF It's
hunor by Joseph Allen that II should
be enough by Itself to insure the sue
cess OF the farce.
A FTER complications have whlrled
n Into q sort of hurricane OF melo-