The sun., 1918-11-24

know the feeling OF real pride In the
accomplishment OF their hitherto USE
less offspring. l had in mind some-
thing of the spirit of Barrie's old Lady
With the Medals OF course all this
vas sacrificed when the relationship
was severed between the tough and
Mrs. MdiloD. AS it was. an integral
part OF the theme as showing the re-
senerative influence of the war as ap-
piled to the commonplace mothers of
commonplace chiIiren / felt 1t vital to
the theme!
I'm the best of nature and with
the kindest feeling to Mr.. Woods and
Mr. Mack, 1 will never understand
until the dawn of the new time just
what was accomplished by one change
made in The last act. The character
Of the girls lover was created as a
weak. spineless jellyfish. 1t never
was in him to do anything because
he lacked moral fibre. made him
consistent to the end. He turned yell
low at the last minute when they
were about to go over the top and
came back to the Coloners dugout,
pleading with the Colonel to save Aim
AS a deserter the Colonel could do
nothing ard ordered him to get back
quick. He started hack in terror and
his career was Inercilessly ended by
stray German shell.
THE tough went out and brought
him in, and as the boy cursed the
Germans the tough said TO him:
Don't cuss EN-, lid. II was the kind
st way they could a handed II to
YOU. I only hope they'll be that kind
20 me when my turn comes The
weakling then went west, as they
say over there.
In order to conceal the truth from
the girl, the Colonel who has talked
OF his Victoria Cross in the preced-
ing two acts and who has Just that
day received il but who has kept the
knowledge from the girl, wishing TO
surprise her with it, takes off his
V. c.. crosses to the side of the boy
and pins it on his breast. 1t is the
supreme sacrifice of the play. The
girl comes and sees the Victoria Cross
and imagines that the boy died as
soldier should die. The Colonel
se!lS her that they had all kept 1t a
secret as great surprise for her and
unfortunately she learned II too late.
why this scene was changed, as
say. will never know. Mr.. Mack
claimed 1t could not be done, but
heard of numerous instances In France
where dying soldiers gave away their
medals to friends. having no one back
IN HHShty TO leave them to, and GER
tainly 1t was not stretching that old
hackneyed phrase dramatic license
too far considering the greatness OF
the sacrifice involved and the logical
ending 1t brought.
But do not want any OF the fore
going to be considered as criticism.
Tor as / say, Mr.. Mack and are both
too well pleased with the result. Mr..
Mack added to the play in many ways,
for which he has my warmest thanks,
ana l am sure nothing said here can
be construed as criticism, but as
merely little chatty discussion of diff
rerences OF opinion. I suppose when
ever play Is written and a collab-
orator comes in after the fact instead
OF before the finish OF the play such
things are likely to happen. As every
one knows the character as originally
written was for an English remittance
man, but at the last minute, Cyril
keightley retiring from the cast, II be-
came necessary for Mr.. Mack to take
the role and play II as an Irishman
rather than an Englishman. Certainly
in this role Mr.. Mack has given one OF
the best interpretations in his career"