Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-09
"uCHTN|N'" WITH PERCY POLLACK BRINGS
kEENEST ENJOYMENT TO AUGUSTA

A sweet old man. a slow winning
smile, straggly gray locks and eye!
that crinkled easily at the corners, {
kindness Of nature that won everyone
a loyalty unfailing, a prevailing sense
Of humOr and an almost fOrgiveablt
love Of the bottle-Percy Pollock a:
"Lightnin Bill Jones"-such was his
portrayal of the famous character
Friday evening before a fair siZet
audience at the Opera house. He was
bent and he moved slowly-but he
was quick on the draw for the bot
tie. He was slow on the reply but
his replies were 100 per cent. proof.
Who was the hero in 'Lightnin?'
Bill was.
1t was a wonderful lesson. We
OF it. We didn't know 1t was a les
son. Maybe that is why we liked it
Human nature. Bill in his old issue
suit Of o. d. and his SLOUGH hat. Bill
in his Soldiers Home suit of blue
with his buttons bright and shiny.
But always Bill, the same true-blue
little man.
The middle or perhaps we should
say the vortex Of the play was Bill.
He and his wife and Mildred. who
J had always lived with them, con-
| Quoted hotel on the California
Nevada line. Millie had just returned
from Frisco and her former employ
| CIR, Raymond Thomas. a lawyer Of as
sumed shady proportions, had come
back with her, to enable Mrs. Jones
money. John Marvin. who had been
previously swindled by Thomas
| warned Lightnin Bill not to sign the
deed to sell the hotel. So Bill did as
| Marvin instructed. Bill wouldn't sign
| the paper and that was the start of
the trouble. Bills wife was talked
into the belief that she should get a
divorce from Bill. There was some
lumber mixed up in the deal and that
was to result in law suit. Oh. there
is so much to it and it is such long
story. You just have to see it, to un-
derstand it and profit by it.
Her name was Jessie E. Pringle on
the program, but she couldn't have
been anybody else but Bills wife.
She-had a tenderness in her heart and
a tolerance in her nature for Bill that
was touching. Then there was
sweet and girlish Mildred Buckley
who had always lived with the
Jones'" A dainty. willowy creature
almost ethereal at times, with her
golden hair and her golden voice.
And when we think Of Mildred we
naturally think Of John Marvin, as
carried by Jason Robards. A stall
wart chap, must have made a good
end in college days, voice of highly
pleasing tones, earnest.
Paul Stanton was really too good
looking to be the william Of the story
But such he was as Raymond
Thomas. With a smoothness of man
ner and winning of personality that
by times Overshadowed his Interior
motives, he was withal, a charming
william.
And the Judge! All, there was a
gentleman and a scholar. The digni-
fled man fell in love with the charm
ing Mrs. Davis who lived on the Ne
vada side Of the hotel long enough to
get a divorce from No. l. And the
Judge became No. 2.
The charming Mrs. Davis, who ap-
peared in the center of interest first
with sprained ankle, was julio
Brown. She was tall. willowy and
had a most hypnotic effect upon the
judge.
Bill was wonderful flxer as he
himself stated from time to time. And
he could tell wonderful stories. He
| Sdlu lie KNEW all ABOUT DCoS, because
once he drove a swarm of bees across
the plains. never lost a bee and got
stung twice. When Bill saw Mother
come into view wearing an evening
gown which the pretty Mrs. Davis
had decked her up in. Bill said to
Mother, said he, Mother the mosqui-
toes will raise hell with you in that
| dress"
The court scene was lawyer proof
that is, it is our firm conviction that
any lawyer could and did enjoy every
bit Of it-true to form. The clever
cross examination upon the part of
| Marvin and Bills work at the same
| job. kept the audience rollicking.
| But the serious note was struck,
when Bill stood before the Judge,
bent and pathetic lolSing and pleaded
that his wife might get from him her
divorce because she wanted it. Any
way, the climax came when Mother
jumped up and told the Judge, in
sobby. throaty tones, that she didn't
wan the divorce.
In the end, they all returned to the
the judge and his bride for all hands.
where Mother just had to get into the
kitchen and get the banquet ready
where Mile and Marvin found NUT
ual understanding and where Bill sat
in the overstuffed chair with a look
Of supreme content on his counten-
ance.
A lesson to US all. A full evening
of happiness. A wonder Of histronic
display. A memory feast. We'd like