The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-27
Expla nation Is Needed.


Some explanation Of the posture OF
circumstances here would make what Mr.
Esnond has written after this introduction
easier 10 comprehend Her first match
nad been against the wishes OF her family.
So. dislnhcrited by her father. she has
but small income and is dependent on
The charity of an older and uncommonly
hard maiden sister This woman Is sought
IN marriage by worldly lordling who
should certainly have come TO New York
60 little secret does he make OF his am
billions to marry a woman rich enough
10 restore the lustre to his family
ascutcheon. Dramatic incident In this
scene depends from the accident In which
the departed widows younger son falls
from tree and injuries himself seri-
Dusty and in the discovery that this
parent has not gone to London At all.
The woman she ostensibly went to visit
enters the house, has been away from
London several days and never sent any
telegram. In the second scene OF this
act this wandering mother enters. chat
tsrng mendaciously about the causes
which detained her in London. Her sis
ter and her middle aged admirer have
not known until this time where she went.
The physicians are operating on her boy
who fell from the tree. She is not ad-
mitted TO the room. But the announce
ment that the operation has been success
tu closes the act.
What will happen to a woman who
thus throws off her responsibilities as n
mother TO keep a farewell rendezvous with
her lover? VIII she be forgiven in these
days of the single standard OF morality
FOR man and woman-this presumably
includes w!dows-or must she take her
medicine? In serious play she would
stand with her hand on the back of a
chair facing the audience and ask in
husky tone why there should be one law
Tor mar and another for woman. But
nothing OF this kind happens In THE
Dear Fool" The widows rich sister ac-
cepts the impoverished aristocrat and tells
the dear fool that she has been too much
OF one, dear or otherwise.
Must Marry to Save Name.
She must marry the young man she
visited in London or expect nothing FOR
herself or her children. Luckily II Is not
Necessary for her to take this decided
step. There Is an alternative for her. II
is created by the persistence OF her old
sutton. He still loves her and tells her
so, She shudders at the thought of mar
rage with her young lover. The play
ends on an unresolved chord. II is evil
dent that the dear fool will, like many
others Of her kind. experience no endur'
Ing results from her visit to London. she
Will marry her rich and elderly lover and
Of dear fools who have just as good @
time as they want to and never have te
pay the piper.
The rehabilitation OF the lady is there
fore complete. Presumably she has beer
enough chastened by her suffering to de-
serve the continued affection or the mar
who has SO long desired to marry her
Mr. Esmond Is too skilful n playwright
not TO make this episode appear as harm
less as possible, although its exact natur'
is not mtigated. or her guilt there II
no question. But the dramatist has done
his work we'll in preventing the audience
from sharing the views of her stric
Sister as to the punishment TINS NoIatii'
heroine should receive.
In all other details The Dear FOOT Il
Charming comedy. The first act passes GU
Of doors and Is a prelude OF Willy TAN
70 the scenes that follow. But slight a.
the dramatic texture In during these cpl
sodes in which the elderly suitor. tn
widow and her two sons participate. ther
is continuous flow of amusing talk
There Is In the first scene Of the secont
act most amusing scene OF propose
between the impecunious lord ana TN
rich spinster. admirably written and acte.
by both Mr.. Banks and Miss Despa VIII
the utmost realization OF Its possibilities
The scene following the accident has III
touch Of real dramatic feeling suffcientI.
deep to emphasize the apparent heartless
hess OF the mothers conduct but care
fully adjusted to the mood of the comedy
Final scenes UD 10 Average.
Tie last act alternates comedy with
brief renewal Of the serious interest y
ekilfully as to keep the Anal scenes W
y the high average Of those that Pre-
osded It, So The Dear Fool" whateve
one may think Of the ethical side OF IN
womans forgiveness after her quite com
pete departure from the straight an
narrow path, 10 Q delightful comedy.
Mr. Esmond appears to much create
advantage In this second play than n
dld In Eliza Comes to Stay" HIS actin
OF high comedy possessed the ncce.sar
distinction and humor, Then his love
making glowed With ~ aDpgopria&e 10