Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-01-21
CLEVER PLAYERS IN
THE CHICAGO STOCK
Excellent Production of "The
Fourth Estate" Last Night.
COMPANY HERE FOR WEEK.
And Will Produce Number Of Good
Shows, With Popular Admission
Prices Prevailing.

Burke said there were three es-
tates in Parliament. but in the re-
porter's gallery yonder there sat a
Fourth Estate more important than
they all. -
This quotation by Cayly was am
ply typified at the Colonial Theatre
last night, when the great drama The
Fourth Estate" by Lieblcr & Co. /.
was produced as the opening bill of
the Chicago Stock Company, that will
hold the boards at the popular play
house throughout this week.
rhe play pictures in all its realism
the modern newspaper office. for by
its title, is meant the newspaper
workers who represent the people as
a whole, or the Fourth Estate" in
life. The scenes are laid in a New
York newspaper office, and shcw the
days transaction from the time of
the arrival of the city editor, giving
out the assignments to the staff for
the day, and the various other prob
lens and busy scenes incident to get
ting out the next days issue of a
paper, even TO the working force in
the composing room. the greater por-
tion of which, however, is repre- sented
by curtain painting.
But the real heart of the play cen
ters around the achievements of a
young newspaper man, who rises to
the position of managing editor of
the paper with its change of owner
ship, and eventually succeeds in the
face of many obstacles, in exposing
the fraud committed by Judge on
the Federal Bench in the sale of his
opinions.
1t happens that the newspaper man
has promised to wed the daughter of
the Judge, whose reputation he sets
out to lay bare, and he accomplishes
his one purpose from a journalistic
standpoint by half spurning or bluff
ing his affianced bride. Incidentally
the daughter exerts every effort to
suppress the publication of the al
legged scrurrilious attacks upon her
father. SO does the family of the
owner Of the paper, who claim that
the yellow" newspaper stands in
their way for position in society.
Other interests also are eXerted
20 save the Judge from the expose,
including the owner of the paper,
who turns against the youngster
whom he promoted to the managing
editorship. But me writer succeed
eI in weaving the threads of guilt
about the Judge so tightly, that it
reaches the point where the Judge,
by appointment, calls at the news
paper office at night, and offers
briDe of $40, 900 for the suppression.
And while the Judge is handing over
the coin, a fashlight photograph of
the scene IS taken and reproduced
for the mornings issue of the paper.
The Judge and his "clique" mean
time hear Of the matter and resort to
all sorts of tactics to kill" the
story, the owner of the paper even
going to the point of demanding its
suppression. But contrary to these
instructions, the managing editor has
the "form" made up and sent to the
press
1t is needless to make individual
comment upon the characters in the
play. Suffice it to say that the COM
pany is made up of players far above
the average of Stock Companies that
have appeared in Annapolis for many
years. And as the latest productions
are to be staged during the week,
local theatregoers are offered real
treat at popular prices.