New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23

"a Mans Friends" the new play TO be
presented by the LiebleT Company AT the
Astor Theatre tomorrow. has a present
day plot OF love and politics in New forH'
IL Is said to strike new note IN deaihs
with the power of friendship, rather thah
money. as a political force. Money Is the
compelling and encircling bond of all this
friendship. but the pride of being square
with ones friends. Of keeping promises
whenever possible. and the philosophy OF
ompromise-compromise not only WIN
the enemy. but with ones conscience
lend themselves to a situation OF comph-
Gated morals and questionable METHODS
which serves TO reveal human nature IN
both its frailty and Its strength. The
action Of the play centres around the
District Attorney OF New York, who'
standing almost alone in the midst of po-
ltfcai corruption, gives battle 70 the ma
chine. Bribery has been employed to de-
feat a proposed new building code which
will wipe out fire traps In the city. but
will also cut out the profits OF the big
real estate spectators. The District At
torney goes after the boss and the
hribers. and succeeds in uncovering the
fact that their tool has been certain
inexperienced young lawyer who is the
husband Of his daughter. The sympathy
of the spectator is aroused in behalf or
both the BOSS" Whalen. and the District
Attorney The cast comprises Frederick
Burton, Katherine Grey, Vincent Serrano,
Roy Fairchild. Lily Cahill. George Faw-
cett, Joseph Sparks. George Backus and a
number Of other players.
To be endowed with the powers OF a
natural medium is rather an unwelcome
gift to one for whom communication with
the Shadow Land is only terror. This
is the plight of Stephen Atwell. the char
acter that Francis Wilson portrays in
The Spiritualist," a comedy in three
acts, written by Mr.. Wilson himself,
which will begin an engagement at the
Forty-eighth Street Theatre tomorrow
night under the management Of John
Cort In spite OF adherence for his me-
diumistic powers. Atwel courageously
submits to a seance to save from suffer
ing the woman he loves. The lady in
question had rejected Atwelfs love
some years before because he would not
or could not give up his belief In the su-
pernatural. So she made wretched mar
rage, and at the opening of the PLAY re-
turns to America a widow, rich and
Young and beautiful, with a pretty little
boy. The child, so the spirits tell Atwell,
is being slowly poisoned in doctors
sanatorium. He rescues the boy and wins
his hearts desire. Mr.. Wilson's COM
pany will include Edna Bruins. Harriet
Otis Dellenbsugh, Leila Fisher, Dorothy
Gwynn, John Blair and Wright Kramer.
what Happened to Mary" a new play
by Owen Davis, will be given for the first
time In New York at the Fulton Theatre
tomorrow evening. Olive Wyndham will
have the leading role. The play is intended
to entertain people of simple tastes who
like plain, wholesome fun and love stories
Of the old-fashioned kind. The first and
last acts are played on a little island off
the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay.
Mary lives there with an old skinfiint who
calls himself her uncle. but never gives
her any information about her real parents.
Her only friend on the island is a retired
sea captain, who helps her acquire an ed
ucation. She runs away in search OF
livelihood and In the hope of finding her
parents. The second act shows her advent
ures In a New York boarding house. and
the dishonest designs Of young profit
gate. To her surprise. her real friend
turns out to be rude and surly lawyer.
who gives her employment. The third
act takes place in his Office. During his
absence for a brief time Mary is accused
of theft. After her return to the island
il turns out that she Is the daughter OF
the rich woman whose money she had
been accused Of stealing and that her
uncle had kidnapped her and hidden her