The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-17
Synopsis Of Scenes

Jessie Strong 1890. Dorothy Belts
Katie observation-disclosures. Maude Fox
Synopsis Of Scenes.
Prologue-1n q pawn shop
Act lin Mrs. Bascom's kitchen.
Act II-Outside Mrs. Bascom's kitch-
en-. Next morning.)
Act III-Same as act II.
The big thing, and the true thing.
in Turn to the Right" the comedy
by Winchell Smith and John E. Haz-
zard, which was enjoyed by large
audience at the Grand last evening. is
the character OF Mrs. Eascom, mother
of the prodigal Joe, maker OF peerless
jam, and believer in everybody. The
hand OF farce which Is laid frequently
on the situations and on the other
characters in this play, is not permit
ted to touch one OF Mother Bascom's
white hairs. She is the expression of
faith-that faith which moves noun
tains, and does 1t so serenely that the
mountains hardly realize that any
thing is happening to them.
Turn to the Right" takes its title
from the influence "for the right"
that Joe Eascom's mother exerts upon
her son and his friends. Joe left the
farm to seek his fortune and regularly
sent money to his mother on the old
farm until one day he was arrested
for theft and unable to account for HIS
actions during recent spree believed
himself to be guilty. The play oDens
with Joe's release from prison and his
meeting with two former prison pals.
''sDynamite" Gillv. a bank safe robber,
and SLIPPERY" Mugs, an expert pick
pocket. He refuses to ioin them in. a
little lob" that promises them big
enough "roll' to enable them to live
straight" ever afterwards and starts
for the old home 10 the dismay of his
old friends who believe that he has
gone to rejoin some sweetheart.
Stealing a ride on their journey 70
New York and being unceremoniousfy
thrown out AT an unknown station
Muggs and Gilly, tired and hungry,
are led to little farmhouse by the
delicious smell OF rot of fresh peach
lam and are amazed to find their
friend Joe there and that the dame"
that he had gone to ioin was his
sweet-faced old mother who was
famed throughout the countryside
alike for her goodness and her peach
lam. The dear old lady accents Joe's
nallIuE ludl tlicS d.
business friends and in scene OF eN-
ouisitely blended pathos and comedy.
gives the young crooks their first
glimpse of real home life. They
find that Mrs. Bascom Is about to lose
her home and her famous peach or
cbard through the trickery OF the To-
cal skinflint to whom she owes COM
paratively small bill and save the
home and the orchard for her by rob-
bfng the skinf1int's safe Of the exact
amount. paying the bill, then picking
the money from his pocket and return
ing II to the safe in time to escape
discovery The peaches are saved
although the innocent old woman be-
Iieves that the young Businessmen"
bought the croD and have gone into
partnership with her son for the dis
posal of the lam that she makes: a
fortunate accident brinps the excel
lence OF this jam to the notice OF
grocery king and the young crooks,
now really reformed THROUGH the in
fuence Of Mrs. Pascom, make COM
Portable fortune for her as well as for
themselves. Through all this Cupid
is very busy and at the end the
audience bids a laughing fearful fare
well to three young couple.
There is one scene OF Turn to the
Right" that will live long In the
memory OF every theatregoer It is
laid in the kitchen of Mrs. Bascom's
little farmhouse. Mrs. Bascom IS
reading her bible, seeking to prove to
herself that her boy must return in
answer to her prayers. Betty Bascom
the daughter. who has but the rarest
recollection of her brother. has placed
in the window the lamp that for sew
en- years has shown nightly to guide
the wandering boys footsteps home
ward. Not a sound is heard The
door opens softly and Joe Bascom en-
ters. He stands gazing at the little
mother bent over her big bible while
Betty. who does not recognize the in
truder. stares at him.
Suddenly old Mrs. Pascom's sweet
and gentle face is raised as II in re-
Spouse TO some whispered call and
her tired old eyes gaze into those OF
the son for whose return she has iust
been praying. For a moment neither
stirs Then the old lady gldes for
For what seems minutes. because of
the tenseness of the situation the
two stand In each others embrace
while Betty looks on IN amazement.
Then suddenly the mother slips from
her boys arms and falling on her
knees. buries her head In the old
rocking chair and pours forth her
soul in silent thanks giving. This
scene is the most effective one in the
whole play.
Every mans mother is the best
mother in the world. the best cook on
earth and the nersonification of all
that Is good and unselfish. And mas
much as all mems mothers do not act
alike, cook alike or do anything else
alike. it would seem a difficult mat
for IN m o1d comnocite mother In n