Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-17

The tragedy OF thousands OF girls
lives, transplanted from the stage of
life to the world of make believe, is
the terrifying tale told by "The Lure"
which is being presented at the Shu-
bert Theatre this week for the Sec
ond time this season
Terrifying is APPLY used, for until
George Scarborough, the author, de-
fled public criticism and brought the
facts of this traffic in souls before the
people In a most startling manner its
mere mention would arouse a storm
of protest and uplifting of hands in
very horror at the thought.
Yearly thousands of girls are re-
ported missing-the word which Gov
ers a multitude of crimes-and of
these thousands few are ever heard of
again. What becomes of them is the
thread with which THE Lure was
woven. 1t is the greatest tragedy
staged in life, and for many not until
the coming of death Is the final cur
tain rung down.
The Lure" has been scored as i'm
moral and unfit for the American
stage but George Scarborough has
undoubtedly given the public the
greatest lesson that can be taught
when he penned his play exposing the
methods Of the white siavers. He has
pictured the vice in its rottenness as
warning to mothers, fathers and
daughters that they might escape its
clutches.
Always a delicate subject Mr.. Scar
borough has handled it in a masterful
manner, telling his story in all its
truthfulness but in such a manner as
not to offend the most critical,
That Newark theatregoers approve
of the play and appreciate its sig
niticance was evidenced last night,
when each act was roundly applaud
ed and as the final curtain fell the
clapping became an ovation.
None will be hurt by witnessing
THE Lure" but hundreds of thou
sands can learn much and perhaps
avert such tragedy in their own
household.
The story that THE Lure" unfolds
Is of a young shop girl, Sylvia Jones,
who faces the alternative of getting
500 or seeing her mother, the only
thing she has in the world left that
Is worth living for, die for want of a
little country air. Every effort to
get the money fails. and as she says,
she Is unable to beg, borrow or steal
it.
Driven to desperation by the fact
that her employer has told her she
was to be laid off, she goes to see
Kate Lockwood, who while in the
store gave her her card and told her
that If she ever wanted extra night
work to come and see her
The Lockwood woman is supposed
to be the managing head of a high
class employment agency, but the
10
business-that of traffic in souls, OF
which the Lockwood wpman is one of
the leaders, aided by Jim Wilson. the
district political boss, and Paul, her
husband, and a cadet" of the mean
est sort
Into this web of vice Sylvia comes
in all innocence of what It is. and
when Bob McCauley, a secret service
man, and her sweetheart, is closing on
the tracks of the slavers for the alb
duction OF a bankers daughter, Sylvia
Is about to succumb to the Lockwood
woman's tale of money made, In
the hope of saving her mothers life
when McCauley finds her Their,
dressed as a girl of the underworld.
AT first he scorns her as a trickster
turning deaf ear to her story, bu
Is finally convinced by her that she
mas been trapped and is being held as
another victim to the white slave
traffic. After a fist battle with Pau
and the Lockwood woman, in which
bottles and glassware are freely
hurled about the room. McCauley
makes his escape. taking with him
Sylvia and Nell. another white slave
victim.
This, the second act, is undoubted-
ly one of the strongest and most dar-
ing that have ever been presented be-
fore the public.
After this act the play quickly
works its way to an ideal climax