Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-24
New National.

The present generation Of theater lovers
enjoyed a glimpse last night of the kind OF
plays that used to appeal to their mothers
and fathers The impression was inevt-
table that for the young girl Of nineteen
who chained their interest In Daddy
Long-Legs," through four acts. at the
National Theater. the halo OF stellar non
ors was not far away.
The story is simple one Of child liie.
whose counterpart may doubtless De
found in the annals of Almost any ON
ciaf' charitable institution.
Judy is little e!ghteen-year-old drudge
n the John Grier Home. refuge for
waits and orphans, doubtless founded to
perpetuate the name Of some philan-
thropist'' which otherwise might have
soon been lost in oblivion. Its congress
is a board of economical trustees. and It's
matron their sycophant and the chi dren's
terror. Judy has been kept beyond the
usual time because she could work. and
in the manner in which her young heart
pours out It's indignation on visitation
day." resenting the imputation that
charity has done SO much for her,
Miss Chatterton is afforded the supreme
moment of her exquisite artistry. Her
art Is not the narrowing appeal OF the
conventional emotional actress, but Spien-
didly portrays the torrent OF emotion that
surges up from the heart of child whose
adversely has made woman of her in
spite of her chains. 1t was intensely
natural, and yet withal SO de-icately held
within bounds to make 1t superb.
This scene is the means OF rescutng
Judy from the asylum, for by 1t Jervts
Pendleton, who has emphatically refused
the plea of his friend, Miss Pritchett, to
help the child to brighter, better lie,
is won over and finally determines to
send Judy to girls college, equipped and
provided for as the most favored OF the
girls. His only condition is that she must
not be told who he is. not even his name.
She is to be permitted to write him, but
under the name of John Smith. and her
letters are TO pass through the hands of
his secretary.
Her splendid development under the
new conditions, however. which is not
permitted to escape his notice through
the intervention of Miss Pritchett, be-
gins to impress him. He goes ostensibly.
TO see his niece, who is roommate Of
Judy. and upon this first visit is SO i'm
pressed with the attentions Of James Nc
Bride. brother of another roommate, that
he begins to plan how to prevent some
young man. especially young Mcbride,
from carrying her off. This interest
ripens into an attachment which associa-
ton with Judy lat~, at the farm of his
old nurse, whittier he has sent her for her
vacation, develops into real love. And
the little girl. who has been craving for
affection and who had yearned again and
again to see the mysterious guardian
whom she In her childish way has chris
tened Daddy Long-Legs," unconsciously
falls in love with the middle-aged Jervis
Pendleton.
Her dream is well nigh dispelled when
Mrs. Pendleton, sister-ip-law of Jervis,
who has Unexpectedly caught him at the
farm when ne should have been in Pitts
burgh, suspects the truth and makes it
plain to Judy that her brothers aIlianc.
with girl whose past is a mystery is
utterly out of the question. But the
fairy godmother who provides the
wealthy man for the redemption of the
little waif had other plans. and when.
in the last scene of the final act, little
Judy is gathered into the arms of the
man she loves. she learns for the first
time that Daddy Long-Legs' and Jervis
Pendeton are identical
The play strongly suggests both The
Prince Chap" and "Oliver Twist" and
vet is unlike either of them. Without
Miss Chattertons splendid characterize
lion OF Judy there might be temptation
10 pass it by childs story for bed
time. or bit of commonplace. But the
little near star" lends convincing il
Elimination.
Mr.. Frederick Truesdeli was delightfully."-
natural and wholesome in the role of
Jervis Pendleton: Miss Margaret Sayre
ideal as the heartless matron of the
asylum, and Miss Jennie Eustace tine
as Miss Pritchett The remainder Of
the long cast fit nicely and proportionate-