South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-03
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

ments on the play, the setting and the
actors but as Warren only answered
in monOsyllables she turned to the
advertisements in the program.
There was the inevitable skin food
with the actress endorsement. the
popular Scotch whiskey, the fashion
able tailor with his Fall and Winter
models, the familiar brand Of chloe
olates. and the Broadway restaurant
announcing special after-theater
supper-all on one page. On the
next page a tooth paste, a table sauce
and a column on The well-dressed
man."
"Oh. listen, dear" reading, "'Quite
as many cutaway coats are now braid
less as braided, the custom of bread
ing them having been so overdone that
it had become unacceptable to some
men,. Now you won't have yours
braided viii you? No matter what
the tailor says?"
Wasn't going to anyway. But that
thing wouldn't influence me. I'm not
following the styles of a theater pro
gram"
Here two men. who had crowded
past them when the curtain fell, now
returned. Again Helen stood up,
clutching at the things in her lap
her purse. program and opera glasses
while they pushed through.
The curtain rose now on the second
act.
In this act the wife discovers her
husbands disloyalty. In a somewhat
melodramatic scene she confronts
him with the proof. She cries out
that since she no longer had his love
she will accept nothing else. She VIII
go away that he may have the woman
he preferred to her.
The man baffed. at bay, tried 20 eX-
4l,o 10 &C
only infatuation. But the wife Will
accept no explanations. She rushes
into her room, returning in long
wrap and a big feathered hat. And
the curtain falls as she sweeps off the
stage, and, presumably, out Of the
house, forever, leaving the husband
standing looking after her.
What rot" murmured warren.
"As if any one would leave her home
| like that"
You mean she wouldn't go?"
Well. she wouldn't go in an even
| ing dress and an opera cloak. She
probably would have sense enough to
put on street clothes and at least take
! her tooth brush"
"Oh Warren, don't-dOnt-plea
don't be cynical. In some ways Il Is
a wonderful play
"Wonderful.. It's wonderful that
the people will stand for it. and they
! call lndl realism. lneIt dlulOsL d.
much realism in that as there Is
in" pausing for the want Of a
| comparison.
THE next act is a lodging house on
Cover st six months later" said
Helen. reading from the program.
Huh. I suppose il takes them six
months 10 ind they can't live without
each other. He'll probably find her
working as A seamstress in wretChed
| lodgings. and will come up after her
with a sable coat on his arm and a
/ 60-horse power car footing outside
He'll wrap her in the coat and carry
her out, leaving bunch OF bills as big
as your fist for the landlady.
And cBriOusly enough, the last act
was very much as Warren had said.
But how did you know dear" ask
ed Helen, rs they made their way out.
Did you read "a review of the plsy?'
"A review You don't have 10 read
"a review 70 know what the third act
Of that viii be when you've seen the
other two. I've vet 10 see one Of these
plays that 7 couldn't dope out the last
act as we'll as the author. They're
all alike. Originality IS the last thing
/ 70 expect"
And Helen. much impressed. was
firmly convinced that If Warren would
only Try. he could write a better play
than any OF the modern playwFights.