Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-12
Noted Vaudeville Actor
Appears in Movie Play
John O'HaFa Takes Leading
Part in THE cynio,"
Just Presented.
THE cynic"
SeIiR.

Well fed, we'll groomed, cynic and
a lean and hungry looking (though
optimistic) philosopher sat together In
their club. They had been arguing,
The cynic had advanced the propo-
sition that there was no such thing
as human honesty. The philosopher
had protested that 80 per cent of the
men one meets daily on the street can
be depended on to do the square
thing.
Lets get down to something con-
crete" said the Cynic. you say that
nine-tenths of the men out of jail will
not steal. I'll make you sporting
offer on that proposition. Well take
a stroll through the park. You pick
out your honest man. I'll provide q
test for him. And then I'll bet you
81, 900 he turns out crooked.
The philosopher considered the mat
ter.
Done" he said at last. I'm not a
betting man ordinarily. but It's plain
that only by causing him to lose Sl,Oo0
can one convince O cynic."
The money having been posted, the
Cynic borrowed $4,000 in cash from
the philosopher, put his test of human
honesty into writing, and sealed the
writing and the $4,000 In separate
envelopes They started for the
park.
You pick yolt man." said tho
Cynic to the Philosopher, land l will
give him his instructions"
They crossed the park, observing
the derelicts there and then walked
back again At last the Philosopher
stopped before q detected young man
in a frayed overcoat and SLOUGH hat.
This is my man." he said to the
Cynic.
The young man looked up with the
frightened air of an animal who has
been given one beating and expects
another.
you need not be alarmed" the
Philosopher told him. MY friend has
some work for you"
The derelict's look OF alarm van
ished.
"Work!" he said. That's what ]
want"
The Cynic smiled on him benevo-
lently.
That's what they all say" he OBJ
served in his most synical manner.
Come with U.S." went on the Cynlc,
"for there is that to be done this eve-
ming which demands a desperate
spirit"
So the Cynic conducted the Derelict
to the Philosophers house. There, ID
the Cynic's presence, he presented the
Derelict with two envelopes.
"This first envelope said the Cynic.
Contains your instructions. The sec
ond contains something which you
must deliver. You are not under any
to open 1t, OF course,
you must understand that, should you
open 1t, we have no way of punishing
YOU. NV friend here"-again the
Cynic smiled in his most benevolent
convinced that you are
a man of honor"
The Derelict took the two en-
velopes and the three men parted, the
Cynic and the Philosopher to return
to their homes, their families and
and supperless. to study his instruc-
tons.
"You are to take the second en-
velope," read the sealed orders, land
go at midnight to the Cynic's house.
The last window on the east side OF
the building as you enter from the
front will be unlatched. You are to
raise the window and drop the second
letter into brass jardiniere which
will be standing there. Then you are
to return to the Philosopher and re-
ceive your reward.
1.-THE second envelope contains $10,-
900 in notes"
The Derelict, having read these
words, put the envelope in his pocket.
Then he took it out again
"Ten thousand dollars" he said; "a
fortune. These two men are crazy.
Why should not ] keep this money?
No one but they will be the wiser"
He examined the envelopes closely,
So far as he could make out from
feeling the envelope contained money.
"But perhaps this is all a trick,
reflected the Derelict. Its sure sounds
like fairy tale. II I open the en-
velope I'll get in wrong. and I'll have
nothing but my guilty conscience for
my pains, whereas If l leave 1t alone
I'm sure to get something or other
out of the Philosopher"
Thereopon he returned the en-
velope to his pocket. An hour later
the pangs OF hunger began to assail
him He passed a restaurant, and
the savory odor of steaming dishes
came to his nostrils. He paused again
and took out the envelope. But now
a new idea struck him.
"The Philosopher" he cogitated
selected me because he believes me
to be a man of honor. I, too, believe
myself to be a man of honor. If /
open this envelope I do not swlndle
the Philosopher and the Cynic alone;
I swindle myself; ] sell my belief in
myself-my honor, If you please, for
a bundle of green bills. / sell my
soul to these two men for 10000.
Why should / sell out to anyone"
So the Derelict returned the en-
velope to the breast pocket of his
coat and went to the Cynic's house,
where he waited until the clock
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