The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-29
Charles Ray Revfves Old Play
Performed By Sol Smith RsSeN

In Peaceful valley lies the llttle
Perpendicular farm" of the Howe
family; Hosiah. his mother and his
sister Martha.
Hosiah is struggling hard to make
the farm support his family and is
saving money to educate his sister.
Situated high above the farm, on
top of the hill, is an old-fashioned
country hotel, patronized in the sum-
mer months by visitors from the city.
To the hotel comes DR.. Rand with his
beautiful daughter, Virginia.
Ward Andrews, an urbanite who
lives by his wits, on his way to the
hotel, stops at the Howe farm for
drink and is convinced that the water
contains medicinal properties. Gain
ing the full confidence of Hosiah, he
proposes to buy the farm, which Ho-
siah thinks must be sold
Little Martha Howe. meeting the
stranger. is captivated by his graces,
and Andrews in turn shows signs of
surrendering to his base instincts.
At the inn, Andrews convinces DR..
Rand of the opportunity for a sanato-
rum on the Howe place, and that aft
ernoon the doctor and his daughter
accompany Andrews to Hosiah's home
to test the water. Andrews binds his
bargain by obtaining an option on the
farm.
Hosiah falls in love with Virginia
at first sight and Virginia becomes
very fond of the. simple country boy.
Her pretty head turned by his
smooth language, Martha falls easy
prey to Andrews, and agrees to ac-
company him to the city, where they
are to be married. The opportunity
offers while Mrs. Howe is at the bed
side of a sick neighbor and Hosiah is
worshiping at the shrine of Virginia,
and Martha departs with the plum
derer.
A frantic and lengthy search in the
city by Hosiah fails to locate his sis
ter, and he returns broken hearted to
Peaceful Valley and his mother.
Another summer, and the city folks
are again at the Inn. Hosiah, still
adoring Virginia, is embroiled in
fight with Andrews at the inn, and in
the scuffie pushes him over the rail-
ing to the Howe haystack below.
Martha, dsillusioned, returns to
Peaceful Valley. and is saved by her
brother from a despairing attempt at
suicide.
Andrews, unhurt by his fall, de-
mands the fulfillment of his option,
while DR.. Rand has meanwhile dis
covered his villainy. Martha descend
ing the stairs, at sight of Andrews,
utters a piercing shrek, and Hosiah,
with one look at her face, realizes
that Andrews Is the man. With a
frightful cry he leaps over the table,
and
Such issthe story of Peaceful Val
ley" the famous play in which the
late Sol Smith Russell appeared 5,207
times on the articulate stage, and
which Charles Ray revives in silent
form as a vehicle for his recognized
talents at Crandalls Metropolitan
Theater for the week beginning to-
morrow.
Mr.. Russelrs conception of the part
is a very vivid memory to the older
generation of playgoers. and merely a
nebulous sort of accomplishment in
the minds OF the youth of the present
day. Mr.. Rays task, therefore, is a
peculiar one: he must overcome a
natural prejudice in the minds of the
parents and grandparents and afford
adolescence something as fine OF
which to prate as his predecessor
supplied in his time.
1t will be a source OF interest to all
lovers of the best in the theater to
compare the Hosiah Howe of our gem
Grafton with the fine creation OF one
of the most gifted actors of the old
school.