Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-11-22
Burning Message,
But Entertaining
Is WayDownEast
By JOE l.. POPE.

Superlatively exquisite, swept cical
as the soul Of an infant of the blight
s.laciousness. way Down East, play
ing this week at the Deandi. tells In
plausible way. the story Of Human Life
Lillian Gish. quaint and always In
teresting. plays the woman superbly
with all Of the gracious charm 81
puf e-hearted member Of her sex. suffer
ing. though innocent. The spirit Of tbs
author has been read into every line o
this marvellous drama. and the auditor
sits, thrilled throughout II all. meetinl
and nearly Speaking Co the characters
that have touched the border land Of tbs
life he. or she. has known
The story il mastery arraignmen'
of the double standard Of morals. point
ing out the frailtics Of social system
in which the merciiessness Of even re
ligion itself, has "A part But. while this
is true. there is back Of the sham. the
makebelieve, the poverty Of gossip and
Islander. the rich. sustaining element
of true love. in who's clear light, tn,
frosis OF misunderstanding are swept
out as the mists Of the morning. bcfor,
the suns bright glare.
Reading. line.by.line upon the screen.
the heart Of the auditor lives and re.
lives the human emotions. Analysing
them. seeking out that which In born &
endure. l.ooting the heart 10 its inner.
most recesses OF that which may have
msrred. or dimmed the lustre Of soul.
promptings. one watches with ever
deepening interest as the long story
traces It's course-all too short II seems
To thrilling, dramatic. and beautiful
close.
There II nothing involved" or intri.
cate In the play-an innocent. unsclfish
unsuspecting. mother.natured gill. and
a man who is selfish In the extreme
taking no real thought Of his respon
sibility 20 the sex that gave him birth
seeking 10 amuse, entertain and crafty
himself, even at the expense OF suf
firing who's sublime depths. whose nobl,
heights. whose breadth 81 beauty. he Il
incompetent Ia comprehend.
Forgetting the depths TO which her
intensity Of love. her wild infatuation
for an unworthy man had carried her
the mother love Of the Woman took
the place 81 all else. Those who wit.
messed the baptismal service at the
hands OF the delicate little mother. In
the terrible hours Of the death watch
beside IN dying babe. will never b,
able 10 see another infant nesting upon
the breas, Of good. true mother with
out thanking God for these angels In
human form.
When the hour ~ realization came
when death removed from her arms
the one thing holy sacred inspiring
the frail woman. victim Of mock
marriage, driven from the temporary
shelter, went forth to seek employment
whereby 10 sustain herself haunted by
the shadow Of the wrong ~ which she
was the innocent victim. while the other
side 81 the sham contract was welcomed
and sought after in the best society
Thus IN the contrast sustained. until
bounded from her latter temporary ~
curity. the Woman makes disclosures
that demand Justice for the offender.
Daintily pretty ~ a flower sweet,
fragrant as the perfume thereof. Is III,
In silence hearing her burdens with q
fortitude that reflects hcroism of glo
riuus quality an womanhood h
heightened and enhanced nv reason oi
the treatment vouchsafed by ID. "
Griffith In this silent drama" Breath
Ing a warning ~ unacceptable. 50 pene
trant, so clinging. Way Down East
must linger In the minds 81 those VIII
upon the Threshold ~ womanhoods
demands. pause seeking the light of
guidance. as the days come and go.
Staged daringly embracing toward
the close. snow storms and icefloes
wierd shricking. sobbing dirge.like.
hollow bowling winds with shivery,
qusking suggestions for those sitting
comfortably housed and happily en-
vironed Way Down East" runs the en-
tire range from Odorously tender flow.
or .dccked summer twilight. mid nesting
birds and butterflys gaudill awning 10
the biting. curling blight Of winter.
The range 81 human emotions repre-
sents the same extravagant and clash
ing inharmonies. The OVERLOOKING
measures Of ccstacy are followed by tn
poverty and emptiness Of hearts de
sir. uncompensated.
There is nothing nelodramatic abou,
the picture. II embraces in a peculiar
and fascinating way. the tragedies Of
life. with few OF the highlights Of
pure and simple comedy, with no sug
gesiion Of deSire 10 overdo either.
To miss Way Down East this week
"a the Dssndi. IL 10 have regrets. Whils
IL may not he called a story with
burning message" Il nevertheless II
repletc with elements Of entertainment.
the unusual. the startling. and a rare
fidelity 10 Human Life that viii amply
r.Ipy. all who see H.