The Washington herald., 1914-11-24
By JULIA CHANDLER MAN

The Washington premiere Of Walter
Howard's play. THE Story Of the
Rosary" at the Belasco Theater last
night brought to memory the haIcyou
days Of melodrama when true love was
made to run a crooked course through
many thrilling scenes until the final cur
tain, when Cupid inevitably came into
his own. One thinks Of The Lights of
London" The Romany Eye Tho
Face in the Moonlight" and to come
down TO a later Period, The Great
Ruby Hearts of Oak" and '"rhe
White Squadron" for the war play
which comes to US under the manage
ment OF ComstOck and Gest- from its ST.
journ sat the Manhattan Opera House. IN
New York, runs the whole gamut Of hu-
man emotions.
The story concerns the fair princess
Nenetia Sabran, who gives her heart u
Paul Roman. a captain Of the Red
Dragons, and becomes his wife on tho
eve of battle in the face Of her father s
disinheritance, which is inspired by
PauPs cousin Philip, who is himself IN
love with Venetia and determined 10
win her by fair means or foul.
Failing in his first treachery Capt.
Philip pursues an endless course of
villainy through four acts and ten
scenes, covering a year or more in their
action. From an effort to persuade his
colonel that Paul is a traitor to making
his bride believe him dead for a year
after the final battle, the dyed-in-the-
wool villain sticks to his purpose with
an energy worthier q better cause.
1t is not until his former comrades
are assembled at the barracks of the
Red Dragons to celebrate the first an
niversary Of the great battle in which
Paul Romano led them to victory that
the hero returns to fight a victorious
duel with his arch enemy and answer
in person the last prayer which NVene-
tia is Offering for his return just prior
To the final vows which will make her
a nun, leaving the audience with the
happy assurance that their clouds have
passed away and that henceforth there
Will be sunshine.
Incidental to this major theme there
runs a lighter thread telling the less
complicated tale of the cOurtShip OF
Lieut.. Peterkin, Of Nina, the coloners
daughter, a thread of small consequence
TO the ruling passion of the peace and
worthy of comment only because, aside
from the principals, the roles of the Heu-
tenant and Nina, played, respectively, by
George Desmond and Marjorie Day, fur
nish the comedy relief Of the tense drama
and are exceIlently portrayed. MIR. Des-
and Miss Day a winsome ingenue.
The entire company presenting ''The
Story of the Rosary is English, the cast
being the same that was seen in the
Princes Theater. London, as well as this
season in New York.
Miss Annie Saker imbues her charac-
teriZation OF the Princess Venetia with
earnestness and distinction. Her regal
personality suggests the dignity Of her
position and her round, resonant voice
carries the same idea
Playing opposit of Miss Saker as Paul
ROmaine is Alfred Paumier. who gives a
creditable performance as the hero, while
Wyndham Standing, as Cousin Philip, is
a convincing villain The personality of
Ernest Leicester is not sufficiently posi-
tive to be impressive as the Colonel, not
does Chris Walker keep within the pic
lure as Father Theodore. Mr.. Walker
is lacking that tenderness and sympathy
which are the main characteristics or
the role he portrays, and Miss Laura