The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-05

ana more than Il little very good writ
ing, so far as Its spirit goes. for MIR.
henson has remarkable facility In
writing slovenly English.
BESIDES Dodo. Nadine and Lord Sey-
mour, one other character stands GU:
by reason OF it's clever conception and
amusing portraiturc--that Of Mrs. Ar
buthnot. an elderly woman musician
who passes AN eccentric life surround
ed by Bach. Beethoven. Brahms and
beer.
But the chief interest TO be found
I in the story lies in it's smartness, its
paradoxes, its cpgramB. Much Of this
element Is forced and mechanical I'm
its construction, but on the other hand
much Of 1t is genuinely entertaining,
and through it's glittering atmosphere
shines clearly very comfortable view
Of an ultramodcrn young woman who
yearns for return to the essential
onianliness of dependence.
"Nictory Law"
By Anne Warwick. John Lane Com
pany.
Within thc last few Years we have
had II growing number OF real stories
OF the theatre; in Anne Warwick's
Victory Law We have what may he
described as a rcvcrsion to type. in
that the story is as artificial and
Theatrical as the life ;l.at IL purports
ii
novel OF the old-achooi
Victory Law is supposed to be "a
very great actress. indeed. So great
that when She plays No,a and Hedda
she Is greeted ana applaudcd by thea
trey iilled with frcnZicd people She is
very young, ard in three years has
risen from the ranks OF the ordina ril y
talented to the starry emincncc of the
rare artistic hcights--;ind thereby
hangs much OF the tale. Her leading
man one Gilbert karr. is a sor, of
SvenEali To her; with him Opposite
her, sh" PLAYS cclestially, but as she
never had another leading man since
! she attained her great fame. she does
not know that her actint, is only Z,
reflection Of the mans power.
But the reader Knows i, practically
/ from the beginning % the story. nor ~
se gwen an opportunity to forget IL
/ Tor a moment karr constantly en- :
tcra UPON the scene and with his hest =.
tating speech. indicated by Il series of
/ periods seeks TO bring about various
na!icnit!cs Early ia the story. Vic
/ tory narrics Craig Dexter. An assis-
tant TO tho District Attorney and a
! rising young tribune OF the people.
J Indeed. Dexter is a reformcr OF sorts
J who resigns his office becaus" he be
I comes convinced OF the Innocence of
an accused man.
Then follows what is supposed 10 be
an Intense ana dramatic struggle be-
I tween N,ctory's heart and her ambi :
! ton, her husband and her leading
man. 1T loses. however. both inten-
sity and dramatic strength by it's fire.
quently recurring cbullitions. Time
9fter time q. crisis occurs which would
"c = crisis ia real life. but which re-
solves itself under the authors treat
incnt into :: mere intcriudc.
He suspects and let's her know that
he suspects her Of certain conduct
IN manner that would compel any
selt-respccting wife to leave her hug
band, or TO smash him with a nat-!ron.
depending upon the wlfes spirit and
habit of life.
This struggle forms the subject OF
ihe story. or rather. OF it's pro blem =
Narr. the theatrical .Svengali. aided
and Allotted by Milhaus. tho manager
Who had arranged for Victory a com
'Hdnd performance before the king OF
england, which she Cancelled in order
I" marry Dexter, pulls her toward the
stag which. OF course. exercises also
IT'S Inherent lure, and. on the other
hand, She is held unwillingly back nv
her love for her husband. who is now.
running FOR Congress, and her fear OF
!nJu'ing his chances before the SOW
eT"ign people by returning to thu. stage.
men there is Il further complication
Neehah!calIy supplied; she grows
~ 'iti nuSbdll'i, Dc!.cNlnG that
ne loves another woman-this is
worked b. pulling the old string OF an
overheard conversation-and in the
general miN-up She goes back 10 the
stage NJ this point Svcngali dies. and
Iriiby can't sing; in other words. KARI
W'l noi breathe his wondrous spirlt
INTO her. and she comes pcrilously
near making a "nivvcr" Of the pIav.
Toward the end Of the performance
however Kari again inspires her. and
me mouse goes crazy with rapture
over her marvellous art.
Swept off her feet by adulation. sbo
/ cNinccs bit too much personal IN
tereSt in karr and he msled by her
! Kindness. cxplodes with the story of
! his love for her. She is shoclcd
( mortified humiliated cnraged and out,
! ragged, just as any other actress would
! be by Il declaration OF love from a man
hot her husband. and repulses him
/ hltt"rlN She returns to her husband
/ nut there is the future TO be con
sidcred. 80 she and Dexter and Karr
reach an amicahle settlement and sbn
| goes back TO the stage while Dexter
/ goes TO Congress-
There is. however one incident IN
| The story which Is true 10 the life Of
IN" stage. y description OF a trial for
| murder is given, which is as impos
! sihl! absurd as any ever written ana
staged.