New Britain herald., 1915-12-03
"Y0UNG AMERICA"A A
 REAL LIVE COMEDY
Play at Parsons Filled With
 PathoS, BathoS, and Wit

Down in the old neighborhood when we were kids together we did just the same things that the boys and girls do in Young America which opened at Parsons theater last night. We bombarded men aud women with flour bombs, and strung wires across the street, and put tick tacks on parlor windows, and, oh, ever so many things. We were all, that is. us boys, members of some gang. And once in while some fel- low got caught doing something ne should not iavc done and torth"lth some mean old lady, had him ar- rested and the judge sent him to 'Ae reform school until he was twenty one. And, gee, how our little hearts ached to see our pal 'go away. Ard sometimes he W&s innocent, too; but he was game and took his medicine like a man, while perhaps the real culprit was allowed to roam the streets. Such was fate, when we were boys.
 In these days of Juvenile Courts the good people of the land are trying to make life just a little better for the boys who are caught doing little tricks that while not serious in them selves may lead to greater mischief. And Fred Ballard. author of this new play, has hit upon the idea of the boys of today, and how to handle them. Young America' carries pretty story, Wcll-Worked out, and handled by clever cast. The char acters are taken right out of every day life. You know them, we all know them. They live around in our neighborhood. Old Billy Coombs, with his droll way of saying things. is the laugh-maker of the entire play. This character in the hands of Will liam Sampson is admirably handled, as is the country policeman by Charles Dow Clark. Peggy Wood was we'll received as the youthful bride, and playing opposite her, Otto Kruger, the rebellious husband, was all o. K. Percy Helton portrayed the bad boy of the neighborhood who was redeemed because of his great love for a dog,-Jasper. And, be it said in passing,-Jasper is some dog. There are few tricks Jasper would give anything in the world for dog like Jasper.
 Plenty of action is embodied in Young America" Being a kid show it cannot be otherwise. The plot, in somewhat tersc manner. may bc set forth as follows: Jack Dorey and his young bride have invited d few of the suburban neighbors over to little card party. The kids of the neighborhood get busy with their noise making devices, and the fun is on. Then someone robs chicken coop. Art Simpson. the bad boy of the village, is caught red-handed. He is hailed before the juvenile court, the second act, and the trial is on. Lots of humor and pathos are wrapped up in this scene in which Art is almost sent away to the re- form school He is saved, however, by the kindly interference of Mrs. Dorey, who accepts the duties of sponsor. She will take nm to live at her home,-tho place from which he is supposed 70
 have stolen the chickens. Then MT. Dorey objects. He will not stay in the same house with Art. But the l lady finally wins out, and Art is brought around all right. There, i<
 a good ending and the young hus- hand himself pledges to help reform Art Simpson.
 As judge of the Juvenile court Forrest Robinson. would be hard to improve upon. Addella Parker gave a fine portrayal of an old Irish vom- an, and Benny Sweeny, as "Nuttv' Beamer. a tough kid, was grea- Others in the cast worthy of mention are:-Sam Colt, Edgar Nelson, Joseph Berger, and Pinto.