The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

extreme cleverneSS OF some OF
the younger British writer's
In the difficult field Of very light
comedy comedy that just stobs
short Of being farce. 1t needs the
surest touch to carry it off; a false
step and the author is over the edge
and tumbles into cheap melodrama
or dullness. Mr.. Arlington is entirely
successful in dancing along this mar
row path He makes his points
without asking the reader to grant
him too much. and those points are
always worth making. The story is
deliciously amusing from the opening
scene In England to the postlude in
Chicago. Between those points 1t is
. joyous masquerade. involving
neatly materialized Spirits" mes
sages from the beyond and psychic
phenomena, as well as disguised hui
man embodiments of the spirit of
fun.
Naturally, as it depends much
upon its surprise effects. it will not
be fair to disclose too much OF the
plot. but IL will only arouse interest
to outline how the stage is set Sir
Richard Atherton. then, is a jocose
young baronet, certainly bold. but
not at all bad He Is much in love
with wandering young american
beauty. Diana Branson. who, how
ever. is unfortunately encountered
with a mother. And that mother is
an ardent believer in spiritualism
and also a militant prohibitionist
Sir Richard wants to gather them
in for a house party at his place In
Shropshire. but. most unfortunately.
in his eagerness to interest Mrs
Branson, he has told her cock and
bull story of wonderful Prof. lap
ski. mind reader. medium and psy-
demanded that Lapsh be produced
Sir Richard promises to do so, using
Lapski as bait for his house party.
AS there is no Lapski it is necessary
to create one.
A further difficulty arises when
Sir Richards married sister, who is
to cifaperon the affair. telegraphs
that she cannot come, as one OF the
children is sick. So Sir Richard per-
suades distant cousin, Lady Mary,
who looks something like his recre-
ant sister. to play the part and
masquerade as the necessary Mrs.
Howard So thus far we have two
disguised conspirators. But that is
not all. for Sir Richards uncle Bob.
Mr.. Walton, is also to be of the party,
and. horrible to confess. he is a
brewer. 1t will never do to lea Mrs
Branson, with her pussyfoot prin-
eiples. know that, so Uncle Bob is
persuaded to pass himself off as a
retired Indian Civil Service man
The rest of the party is to consist of
a stiff Archdeacon, who possesses a
daughter Gas his excuse for being).
'the aforesaid daughter herself. and
one of "the Randy twins" TO match
her. II is the elder twin" Lord
Randy, who is in love with the Arch
deacon's daughter. the other twin
being the Reverend Paul. a noble
eurate. But on the way to the gath
ering Peter. Lord Randy, Is inspired
to pretend that he is his brother
(they look so much alike as 10 be
practically indistingu.shavle), and,
Mr.. Walton being present at this
point, Lord Randy feels obliged to
go on. Thus the game is ready. with
Lapski-England prepared to pro-
duce spirits for Mrs Branson. and
oil the rest prepared 10 create null
tiple MISUNDERSTANDING.
From that point on the pace is
rapid and passes from one happy alb
surdity to another. always perfectly
plausible and always mirth raising.
The game, of course. is to keep the
starchy Archdeacon and the terrific
American mother from suspectinS
any masquerade. There is a large
assortment of incidental trouble. too.
For example. Lady Mary forgets how