New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-30

By HAYWOOD BROUN.

A new star has Broadway at his
paws. The hero of Young America,
which was produced at the Astor The
atre on Saturday night, has nothing to
say and nothing to wear, but without
lines and without trousers he fairly
fought his way to favor. Applause
means nothing to this actor. His audi
ences may pound their hands to pieces
before he will bow. At best it would
be a bow-wow, for the hero Of Young
America" Is a dog, and a hyphenated
hound at that. His mother, rest ner
bones, was one of the Boston bulls;
but his father is a German shepnerd
dog, and very ordinary one.
The first act comes to an end with
the dog in full possession OF the stage
and the final curtain finds him IN the
arms of the heroine, just as a nero
should be. BY reason Of the dog come
the complications of the plot, and by
him, too, the story is happily solved
His name is Jasper.
We don't know whether Ballard nrst
found the dog and then wrote the ay
or whether the opposite process pre-
vailed. but it makes no dlfere e
whether doe,or drama came first. Ihey
landed together and landed hard az ~
the Aston Theatre. young America
is ingenious, wholesome and thorough
ly enjoyable.
Technically the handling Of the ma.
+orial is deft. Ballard is another or
the Harvard school of dramatists from
professor Bakers English AZ. His
"Believe Ne, Xantippe," which won the
John Craig prize, was seen on Broad
wav a season or so ago.
The plav begins in the home of the
Dorays. a young couple who are max,
inc huge success Of matrimony. And
M wonderl Otto Kruger was excel
lent as Jack Doray and Peggy wood
plaved Edith Doray charmingly. she
was excellent for what she did and for
what she did not do Not once dld
she impart even a suggestion OF thest-
REALTY to her part. She was as nat
ural and as sincere as-well, as SIN
cere and as natural as the dog him.
self. 49,
Dorays in the guise of a washwoman'
Mrs. Mcclure, who maltreats her
nenhew. Art Simpson, so shamefully
that the pity Of Mrs Doray is aroused
The part Of the boy was well han
died by Percy Helton. Goaded by ms
aunt's treatment. the boy says that he
will run away. and away ne goes
closely pursued by the irate Mrs. Nc
CURE. Peace is restored in the house
hold of the Dorays only for moment
Rennv King and Billy come over 10
rlay rheum. and in the middle Of the
game there is foray by the children
of the neighborhood. who assall the
windows with ticketacks.
The men declare that Art Simpson
is responsible and that he should be
sent to reform school. but Mrs.
Doray upholds him. Her defence falls
somewhat fat a few minutes later
when the boy is found stealing
chickens from the hencoop Of the
Doravs. The town policeman-the play
is laid in one Of the suburbs of New
York-is summoned, and he and an
other guardian of the law place the
boy under arrest.
At this point the hero comes in on
three legs Seeing his master rough.
" handled, the dog springs at one OF
the policemen, and a rousing tight
follows. Jasper snarls and growls, and
to all appearances tries to bite the
hands of the actor, who is fortunate
W. equipped with heavy leather gloves
Dixey Taylor, owner and trainer Of
the dog. is his opponent in the strug
gle. At length the man succeeds II
throwing off the dog, and the boy. is
dragged away, while all the crowd fol
lows. Jasper is left behind, and the
act ends as he lie s again and agar