The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-15
GARRIck.

cARRicK.
In the Vanguard, Katrina Trask ;
dramatization OF her much discussed
books OF that name, as staged by the
Cooperative Producing Co. tJessle
Bonstelle and Bertram. Harrison), is
the attraction in the Garrick theater
this week.
AS an argument for peace I'm the
Vanguard" is convincing. AS a play
1t is not II might almost be said
that the piece is not properly play
at ALL There is too much talk and
too little action. and many OF the
scenes do not ring true. For in
stance, it is difficult TO imagine a
dying soldier, who after refusing a
drink from the canteen of an enemy,
holds forth for 20 minutes on the
brotherhood OF man. then dies sud-
denly, after having convinced his en-
envy OF the truth OF his views to such
an extent that the latter resigns his
commission and returns home, rather
than participate in further killing.
And il this we're not enough, the
sweetheart OF the resigned officer, the
daughter ef@ general, who on her
lovers departure urged him to dare
the utmost on the field of battle, be-
comes converted through mental tele-
patty to the same hatred of war in
spired in her former soldier by his
dying enemy.
Considered as a peace argument
and a moral lesson, however, the piece
is deserving of the highest praise.
It's logic is incontrovertible. II pill.
tories war as the ultimate crime, and
strips the gold braid and tinsel from
military glory, barring the cruelty
and misery which lie beneath its out
ward pomp and circumstance. In the
words OF the dying soldier:
ITO die for my country do not
mind that, but IL Is not so easy To
sin for her. am murderer, for II
is the intent that makes the crime,
and every shot the army fired was
fred with direct intent to kill. As
part and parcel OF the army, | am
responsible for every man who fell
| must face nay mothers God with the
murder OF $4,000 men on my soul"
The play is in three acts, the first
and last of which are laid in the home
country, and the second in the en-
emy's country. In the first act the
young men Of the home town are seen
marching off to war amid the plaudits
of their friends, parents and sweet.
hearts. The second act is divided
into two scenes, the first OF which
depicts the young officers OF the In.
vading force, BOW in the enemy's
country. brutalized by war. roistering
and making merry in a house occu.
pied by the wife and daughter OF an
enemy's general. The son OF the
house. il develops, has been shot as
sniper.
The second scene is on the battle.
field after the fight, where take
pl7ce the monologue OF the dyinA
soldier.
L third act shows the return o.
the former young officer. 10 be hailed
as a coward by those who took pride
i'm him when he WIS engaged in the
tr0de OF killing The mysterious con
version Of his former Spartanlikf
sweetheart brings IN The conventions
happy ending
" Cooper Gin ~ Mr. G~eart peac
advocate who remains M homo al
though I'm minor part IL Norhars
the n,osf able actor % the cast Rock.
cliTe Fellows. as the dvirg soldier
reads his limos well ond Podrcs Dc
Carlow ne Phllip Gordon the CO...
vor, % iioptorant. does Tho hest ~
CON IN q dim"ult part Enid G-ay. %
Philip Gordons sweetly illogical