The Washington herald., 1914-11-03
b, JULIA HANDLER NAME.

One OF the nrst impressions OF u
stranger visiting Salt Lake City is its
monumental tribute to Mormonism.
Its beauty and charm and prosperity
are almost persuasive Of Gods blessing
upon the practice OF polygamy.
But unfortunately the stranger within
its gate sees only the outside Of the
chalice of Utah's Mormon home. He
must admit its glittering exterior which
bespeaks prosperity and gives no hint
Of what the lovely vessel may hold But
IL you want to see the inside Of the
ehalice go down to the Columbia The
ater this week and see a performance
of ''Polygamy," the new play by Harvey
O'HIggIns and Harriet Ford, which was
given its premiere there last night The
authors have turned the golden cup In
side out that an interested public may
see its inner lining Of seifishness, vindic-
tiveness, cruelty and pathos. and one sits
through It wondering why no one has
thought before to make so absorbing q
topic the subject Of q play.
To demonstrate the horrors OF Mormon
ism Mr.. o'Higgins and Miss Ford have
chosen q splendid young chap. Daniel
whitman. by name, and his lovely young
wife, Zina, as the leading characters Of
their story. Each has been brought up
In the Norman church. having polygamy
instilled into them from infancy. Whit
man has been particularly favored by the
prophet OF the church, who receives and
makes known to his people revelations
concerning them from God.
When the first curtain goes up upon
whitman's happy little family Of wife
and two children, he has not been asked
TO prove his belief in polygamy. and no
shadow hangs over the singleness Of his
love until Bringham Kemble. the apostate
brother Of Whitman's wife, openly de-
clares his rebellion to the faith Of his
father, bringing himself. his sister, her
husband, and Annis Grey, the woman
Remble loves, to the acid test Of the
teachings Of their parents.
Each in turn is brought before the pro-
phet in the council chamber Of the Nor
mon temple, where one by one they feel
the iron beneath the velvet glove, and
the hopelessness Of their resistance.
II Is demanded OF Daniel Whitman that
he take a second wife. The prophet or
ders IL as Gods will, and leaves his vic
TINS mind in no state Of uncertainty re-
garding the consequences of refusal Zina
cries out In her agony of rebellion, but
is persuaded that her selhshness will
wreck her husbands life. To save him
ruin she consents. The woman picked
out by Moroni Tanner, the vindictive and
Grey. the sweetheart Of young Kemble-
Annis. whose girIhood has already been
sacrificed TO an elderly prophet who has
left her q widow. This selection Is made
in deliberate punishment Of Kemble's
apostasy, and the marriage ceremony Is
performed, which brings US to the tragic
pathos OF the third act when Whitman
brings home his new bride TO the home Of
his beloved wife.
"a IN Nhfrd arf
zina is alone with her children. Her little
daughter is reading a composition she
has written for school on Mormonism
aloud to her mother when the latter,
tortured beyond endurance, breaks
down in her resolve to go through
with it, in which backsliding she is
abetted by her brother, Annis, and by
her husband himself. only to be
brought to the realization that they
are helpless, since all they possess is
in the hands Of the church. The
scourge is upon them and they are
like four small trembling mice caught
in a cruel trap, when Bathsheba Tan
ner, one of the unhappy wives OF the
father of Annis, offers them the
money she has saved, dollar by doll
lar, for twenty years, in the. hope that
with II she might escape polygamy'
but when the savings had been accom-
plIshed found her life too far spent
TO begin 1t anew.
brigham RembIe takes the woman he
loves and the audience Is left with the
assurance that he win use the money TO
20 to washington and reveal to all Amer
lea of Just what Mormonism- consists.
Daniel promises to follow him as soon
as he can straighten out his affairs in
Salt Lake City, bringing. his beloved
ZIna and the little ones, and with this
promise one must hope that the purpose
of the apostates Is fulfilled.
"Polygamy" is a serious handling OF
vital subject. The story Is frankly and
fearIessly told. Its dramatic interest
through three acts Is so Intensive that
the fourth and final act leaves the audi
tor unpleasantly conscious Of weakness
The denouement does not satisfy. Moth
ing has been accomplished through the
stand which the central characters have
taken.
The witness applauds their noble re-
bellion against polygamy. but is not quite
satisfied with the promise Of exposure
in Washington, nor sure Of what that
exposure will accomplish. 1t Is much
after the manner Of a competent physician
diagnosing an illness as critical and
leaving the patient to his fate without
the suggestion Of remedy. Mr.. O'Hig-
gins and Miss Ford show US the canker-
Gus sores Of polygamy, but do not leave
US even certain that their leading char
acters In the story will finally escape
their infection iron grip.
There are many strong parts In the
niece, and In each instance they are In
the hands Of capable players. There are
four stellar relies. Zina, the adoring wife
Of Daniel Whitman. Is visualized by Miss
Chrystal Herne, who once more proved
her emotional ability last night, touchins
the grief-stricken figure Of the woman
into whose home a second vie
brought with q pathos 30 poignant as TO
have wrung tears from her auditors
No less important and equally as well
done Is Miss Rosalind Ivan's picture Of
Annis Grey. Ramsey wallace gives
sincere and convincing portrayal OF the
young husband. and William B. Mack II
capital As the apostate brother. Stephen
wright. as Moroni Tanner; Thomas Irwin,
a.. fna faf thar Of Zfna and Daniel: Hian