Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-05
ADJUSTMENTS
NEW NATIONAL.

With q laughing audience whose
applause persisted In expressing its
delight, Charles Emerson Cooks pro-
duction Of Mark Swans new comedy,
"a Regular Feller''-and "feller" Is
the New National Theater last night
auspiciously. both for the public and
for, the producer. AZ the title sug-
gests. it is not q play Of high-brow
problems. shady triangles and shocks
to sensitive morality. But 1t IL a
clean, wholesome. rollicking bit Of
nonsense with matter and spirit ~ its
represented by "ths mud l1en." an an
Client type Of motor car ready for the
junk. pile. which. nevertheless, was
made to go" and to play an impor-
tAnt part in the story. The spirit was
discernible in the mind and heart Of
9 young scion Of nobility. who re-
son. and in the grit and determine
ton Of the young inventor Of an au-
tomobtle tire that could not be pune
tured. Around these the author and
the producer have constructed o play
that makes for honest and enjoyable
sents unique thrill In the form Of
an automobile race in the dark, with
only the headlights Of the two ma
chimes showing from . darkened
background. in the third act. and then
gathers up the threads Of romance
altogether satisfactory finale.
The play. an almost indescribable
relief from war drama and screen
emotionalism, bubbling over with
good humor and worthy purpose, Is
presented by 2 company whose prin-
author. Charlie Winter. with one Of
the sweetest sisters ever. has staked
his and her all on the success Of q
puncture-proof tire Of his invention,
which 10 to establish his worth as a
man and win his sweetheart. the
Cross Tire Company. Charlie is
"bucked up" and encouraged by a fat
and joyous garage boy. Butch Haw-
kins, who has an abiding faith in the
success of the tire. The story begins
In q nondescript country town, un-
an humble garage. seldom visited. but
which harbors the mud hen" a We
hicle long since abandoned by it's for
mer owner, but which, il it can be
made to go, may furnish needed cap
ital for the almost bankrupt inventor.
Joseph Rrackett. the rich head Of a
tire combine. and his son Dan to the
garage. A quarrel between father
and son over the latter's tendency to
soil his hands and ''piddle" with ma
chinery. instead Of being a rich mans
to the forces Of the despairing in
ventor, and Dan not only proceeds to
make .the mud hen" 60, but sells it
to the commissioner Of roads, who 10
rather partial to "hosses,' that he
may get the funds to take him to New
m Io he
Cross. another rich man, and his fam
lily appear upon the scene, Mr.. Cross
having been taken ILL., Being n good
thing" as we'll as the father Of Char
hes sweetheart. care 10 taken that he
does not get away In hurry. and his
car, is practically dismantled by
Butch" while everybody else appar-
emily Is trying to repair 1t. Mr. Cross
gives power. OF attorney to his Sec
rotary. with instructions to hastily
proceed to New York. re-elect him
president Of the Cross Tire Company
ana above all to keep clear Of the
The secretary, rresuming upon the
serious Illness Of Mr.. Cross, sells out
70 the combine and proposes to rush to
thn c, York elect himeif prssiasn. Of
mate the deal. all the while inform
ING Mr.. Bracket, head of the combine,
that he fs acting under Mr.. Cross or
ders. Butch" gets tho chauffeur woe
iully. drunk; the secretary jumps into
the Cross car and proceeds to pilot
himself to the metropolis, and Dan
hops into "the mud hem" goes after
ana overtakes the secretary, takes the
all around"
Ernest Glendinnine, as Dan. and
Everett Butteraeld. e the young In