New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-29

An elderly gentleman with a Zero
eious beard and 3 tremendous Feputa-
ton for intellect once spent months
in writing O phiolsOphie treatise on the
difference between sentiment and ro-
nance. After twenty chapters 1t de-
veloped that the differences was too
subtitle and elusive to describe.
The dividing lines between the i'm,
pulses that cause q stout business man
to marry his stenogTapher and the
feelings that moved Rudolf, ini"RupeFt
Of HentEau," were too much for the
philosopher, He gave up in, despsir,
and at present our, only method of de,
fihing the two words Is to substitute
Laura Jean Libby for one and Steven
son for the ether.
Jean Webster, who wrote "Daddy
Long Legs" which was presented last
night at the Gaiety, did not bother with
the subtle and elusive quality, how
ever. She knew that there are two or
seven million people in this world who
would much rather take their senti-
ment neat, against very small minor
ity who prefer It with a dash of to-
nance. She called "Peg o. My Heart"
to her minds eye, ana wrote comedy
that makes stout old frst-nighters
cough suspieiOusly and young girls
turn star-eyed to their escorts to pro-
test that it was only an unruly eyelash.
She is indeed wise author. People
will go to see Daddy Long Legs" in
tlocks for exactly the same reasons
that they went to see "Peg." Senti-
ment, as it is doled out by Ruth Chat
terton, a poor little orphan girl, and
Charles Waldron, wealthy guardian
very much in love, will not want for =
welcome. And, to be sure, so long as
we go in so heavily for sentiment, we
could net have 1t served In more at
tractive guise than Daddy Long Legs"
Miss Webster. has managed to make
her play much more entertaining than
her popular stories.
Judy, you remember, was poor lit
tie drudge In an orphans home. All pr
the directors were heartless wretehes
except two "a kindly lady and Jervls
Pendleton, who had a surplus Of fam
lily tree and wealth. Judy was so bright
that she attracted the sympathy and
interest Of Jeryis the wealthy, and he
sent her to college. He did not let her
know who provided the funds, however,
and Judy was obliged to call her un,
known benefaetor Daddy Long-Legs"
and write him long, unanswered letters
They met, of course, and Judy, all I'M
aware of her gray haired friends
identity, fell in love. So did JerVis.
What more does any one want? In
the fourth act they see a great light,
and all is extremely we'll. And, as we
said before, stout gentlemen cough and
star-eyed girls blink. 1t is quite evil
dent that 81 has been well spent in
both cases.
Ruth Chatterton, whom we would
gladly spend q whole half column OF
our employers space upon If she would
only stop making grotesque moues
when portraying emotion, is much more
happily cast as Judy than in anything
we have seen her do in a long time.
Her command is quite refreshing in so
Young a star, and she has manner,
coupled with her personal attractions,
that puts her quite in the first rank.
Charles Waldron IS excellent as
Daddy, and particularly in his pro-
rosal scene, where he gets every bit
out of his lines, and by his dignlhed
treatment keeps the situation from any
hint of mawkishness.
Another bright spot in the east Is
Mrs. Jacques Martin, who plays Mrs
Semple, the old nurse, with such iidelT
ity and simplicity that her charm 10
felt at once. Folk who have lived on
party wires will love Mrs, Semple d,
rectiy she appears. Cora Witherspoon
does well with a rather negative part
and the rest the cast, children in
cluded, are we'll selected. Charles
Trowbridge stands in class BY him
self, however, as 3 Princeton man. ms
we'll filled flannel trousers, Immaculate
white shoes and dashing manner VI,
fTm conviction that the stage college
man is as fixed and Interchangeable a
TYNE as the stage reporter. Daddy
Long Legs" however, has that ingTedi-
emit that makes for successful is just
sentimental enough-and when such 3
comedy is presented with what is, on
the whole, a good cast, why should one
hesitate? Go and see the metamor-