The evening world. Newspaper, March 26, 1913, Page 19

“S’Matter, Pop?” Or] MY! BEARS NEVER COME Ino Houses: IM NOT AFRAID oF THE DARK, ‘Bur THeRe MIGHT RE A IN THERE IEW PEAY, “A Man’s Friends’’ Given Largely to Talk. BY CHARLES DARNTON. IKE those comfort-loving newspaper reporters who make themeelves thor- L, oughly at home in the first act of “A Man's Friends” you sit around at the Astor Theatre waiting for something to happen. This is the chief inpression f™etie by Ernest Poole's play of “love and politics,” as the programme blithely puts It. Interest {s quickened only by the acting of George Fawcett as the resourceful Political boss and Miss Lily Cahill as the wife of an Alderman eent to prison for graftin Here are two performances worth watching Mr. Faneett ts, of course, an old hand at the political game as it is played on the stage and his characterization of Tom Whalen may be considered an elaboration of the part Re played in “The Man of the Hour.” Yet he gives to this second portrait #o many new touches that it becomes not only altogether itfelike, but absolutely distinctive. His eense of character, espe- cially of Irish character influenced by Politics, 1s @o keen that (t stamps him as an actor who etands quite efone in a certain field. Afwayes human and for the most part humorous, he knows at the same time how to be hard and einis- ter. In short, the rough exterior of this seasoned actor hides the eoul of a real artist. For all I know of Ofiss CahiM ehe is &@ newcomer, All that ehe needs, ap- parently, to make her known the length om Broadw: ‘a opportunity. Young, attractive and unmistakably intelligent, he has drematic power that gains in @trength from the directness with which she attacks a acene. Her force ts felt fn the ecene where ahe G@ghts for the @an who has been sent to jail. In the art of make-up, however, she etit has @ great deal to fearn. Mr. Fawcett {s fortunate tn having | the only real, flosh-and-blood character | in the play. And, oddly enough, bel author defeats his own ends by making George Fawcett as Tom Whalen. 1,5 potttical boss the hero of his play. | Although the District-Attorney declares “I'm going to get you, Whale the Irish politician in the end faces nothing worse than a hasty trip to the old | country, and as the curtain falls he saunters off twirling his stick. | After all the talk—and “A Man's Friends” is given largely to talk—tt is a bit @imppointing to an audience of sympathetic reformers not to see “the man | {antertat Wy U, “INE y y anh. 7] 4 Y hy y YUM) yj; Ys “ Y % CUhoem ae The Evening World Daily Magazine; Wednesday. March 26, 1913 a x By C. M. Payne DL her to whom t! Many Countries By Madison C. Peters Copyright, 1913, by The Press @ultiohing (The New Yorn Rveaing World). irl as twelve or thir teen years of age and seldom later than sixteen. The mothers or near female relatives of the young man usually arrange matters and direct his A MONG the modern Egyptians many choice. Gometimes he employs a kaat'beh—e woman who makes « regular busl- of helping men to find suitable wives. Unttl_a girl is about thirteen or fourteen years old her parents may marry '¥ please, without her consent, but after that age she may cheese her husband and appoint some one to arrange her marriage. When the young man has decided, whom he wishes to marry he goes with two or three friends to her “wekeol, he emis what dowry he must give. or deputy, and, having gained nis consent, Among the well-to~lo the usual emount ts about $125, but the wealthy count the dowry in purses of about $90 each and give ten of more purses, On the appointed day the bridegroom with a few friends goes to the bride's home, taking with him the part of the dowry which he had promised to pay at this time. They are received by the bride’ there must be two witnesses, generally Moslems, to the contract. Again all recite the “Fat'hah” (the opening chapter ef the Koran) and the bridegroom paye the money. The contract ceremony, js now performed, The bridegroom “wekeol" ait face to face, With one knee on the ground, clasp- and the “wekeol” and @ few of her friends, ing right hands, with thumbs raised and pressed against each other. A echoobmaster in rep! This Is repeated three tim: ‘The young man generally waite ¢or with the dowry. by musicians, house, and the same day, if he is Mghted wax candi with the Gowers, higher up" sent higher than a kite. The worst of it is that the play is left in the air. But Mr. Poole 1s to be admired for his courage in taking @ stand for bullding | laws that would insure the eafety of human life and for his frank reference to & loft dullding fire in which many lives were lost. A play that deals with graft (m guch @ way as to show ‘ts menace to loft building workers and tenement @wellers ie not to be taken lightly. Graft im itself, however, is not dra- matic, After laying down your evening newspaper you are not exactly delighted to feel that it Is being read aloud to you at the theatre. Still, che first act of the play at the Astor, once it is rid of those tmpossible reporters, is in- teresting and well written, But the re- maining three acts, with nothing new to say, grow tedious. The District- Attorney has become such a familiar figure on the stage that we are ready to. yawn at his approach. “That his daughter in this case should be the wife of the young lawyer who has acted es the go-between in the political bribery to kill the hew building code proves that the author went to great pains to keep his play in the family, Leaving ethical considerations out of the ques- tion, it must be granted that the human appeal of the play is weakened by the determination of the District-Attorney , to Jet his son-in-law go to trial, even though he sacrifices his kubernator'al Frederick Burton as John McCloud. | = mabiiane end resigns ee Katherine Grey as Kate McCloud. ney in order to defend the husband of his daughter, There's no getting away from the fact that it 1s Whalen who is hurt least of all in the fight. Every curtain fatls weakly. (Copyright, 1908, ty B. J. Clode) iF ‘makiny thts fore the letter, BE: CHAPTER X. (Continned.) Reality vs. Romance. T At the end of the thint act the ¢ault lies with Frederick Burton, who fails to carry conviction when he announces he ls going to “get” Whalen, Mr, Burton looks and acts more like @ country justice of the peace than a New York District-Attorney and he seems forever to be thinking of himself as the Abraham Lincoln of the stage, Miss Katherine Grey displays emotional discretion as the young wife except when she gives way to unnecesssary sobs, and Vincent Serrano betrays leas nervousness than usual as the more or | Yeas innocent victim of graft, But it's all rathor trying and in the long run dull. HEN a new light dawned upon Jenk: “Why did you not think of it before?’ he demanded. “Don't you see, Miss Deane, the possibility suggested by your words? I am sorry to be compelled to speak plainly, but I feel sure that !f those scoundrels do attack us in force it will ‘be more to secure you than to avenge the loss of their fellow tribesmen. First Betty Vincent's Advice to Lov ira Rhout the coast looking not eo much fight as for loot and women. if they return, and apparently find two well-armed men awatting them, with no prospect of plunder, there is a nance they may abandon the enter- prise." Iris did She well knew {ts grave importance, ers The Need for Loyalty. N EVER condemn a friend without giving him a hearing, The gossip is one of the bustest ltue trouble- masculine and feminine gossips—is quite incapable of loyal makers in the world, He or she—for there are both not flinch from the topte. friendship or affection, and finds a cynical delight in de- |" "1," other words,” she said, “I must stroying such relationships for others. be seen by them dressed only in male There is an old Arabian proverb which runs something | clothing?” Nke this; ‘Thou shalt not listen to an unkind story so long | ‘Yes, as a last resource, that ie I fas thou hast heels to flee or hands to oover thine ears.""|have some hope that they may not That, of course, 1s the ideal method of treating the|‘iscover our wh srahaute one wi gossip. But, like many other ideals, it 1s not always o Wie REeA NERA, on aye anpted, pable of practical realization, and unkind stories once heard | 40" hroroundly uncomfortable, but that have an unpleasant trick of remaining in the memory, will be nothing if it secures our However, if you must hear them and !f you must re- gafety.” member them, at least be enough of @ eportsman to give the other side a chance, In plain English, if you a thing that disturbs you about @ friend put it up to him before She dtd not reply at once. Then she said musingly: “Forty-four daya! Sure- ly there has been ample time to scour the China Sea from end to end in wearab of us? My father would never ‘abandon hope until he had the most now that the @irdar was —B, a." writes: ‘I efmfre @ young] truths. Do you ink I ehould 0 hagey. man very much, but he fafls to keep hig| if I tet myself erom fo.cere.for him? (Gammioes 20 ate and often tells me um] Decidedly Bete fi semmaheye C || {The Wings of the Morning {unisiit'sen ‘The sailor, through long echooling, was Prepared with an answer: “Hach day makes the prospect of escape brighter. Though I was naturally disappointed this morning, I must state quite em- phatically thet our rescue may come any hour.” rts looked at him steadily. “You wear a solemn face for one who @peaks eo cheerfully,” sbi . “You should not attach too great nificance to appearances. The owl, a very stupid bird, is noted for its phil- osophical expression.” ‘Then we will strive to Gnd wisdom ¢ in words. Do you remember, Mr. Jenks, that soon efter the wreck you told m: we might have to remain here many months?" “That was a pardonable exaggeration.”* “No, no. It was the truth. You «! eecking now to tuoy me up with fal: hope. It is sixteen hundred miles from (Hongkong to Singapore, and half as much from Sam to Borneo, The Sindar might have been driven anywhere in the typhoon. Didn't you say so, Mr. Jenkn?”* fie wavered under thin merciless cross- examination. “I had no idea your memory was 60 good,” he said, weakly, “Excell , I assure you. Moreover, during our forty-four daya together, you have taught me ¢o think. Why do you adopt eubterfuge with me? We a Partners in all else, Why cannot I shi your despair as well as your toi! She blazed out in sudden wrath, and fhe understood that she would not be denied the full extent of his secret fear. He bowed reverently before her, as @ srartal paying homage to an angry god- jens, “1 can only admit that you are right,” he murmured. ‘We must pray that God will direct our friends to this tal Otherwise we may not be found for a year, as unhappily tho fishermen who once came here now avoid the place. They have been frigntened by the con- tents of the hollow behind the cliff. 1 am glad you have solved the difficulty unaided, Miss Deane. I have striven at mes to be coarse, even brutal, toward you, but my heart fitnched from the task of telling you the possible period of your imprisonment.” Then Iris, for the first time in many days, wept bitterly, and Jenks, blind to the true cause of her emotion, ploked up a rifle to which, in spare moments, he had aMixed a curious device, and walked slowly across Prospect Park toward the half-obliterated road leading to the Val- ley of Death. The «irl watohed him disappear the trees. Through her tears Still Another ages, what does it matter to me how long we remain here? I have never been @o happy before in my life, I fear I never will be again If it were not for my father's territie anxiety I would not have @ oare in the world. I only wish to get away, so that one brave eoul at least may be rid of needi tortures. AM his worry ts on my count, none on his own.” That was what tearful Oflss Irie thought, or tried to permuade herself to think, Perhaps her cogitations would not bear strict analysis, Perhaps she harbored @ @weet hope that the fu- ture @ilght yet contain bright hours for herself and the man who was #0 devoted to her. She refused to believe that Robert Anstruther, strong of arm and clear of brain, @ Knight of the Round Table tn all tint was noble and chivalric, would permit his name to bear an unwarrantable atigma when—and she blushed Uke @ June tose—he came to tell her that which he had written, The saslor returned hastily, with the manner of one hurrying to perform a neglected task, Without any explana- tion to Iris he olimbed several times ¢o the 1ed),¢, oareying arm-loads of grass roots whioh he planted in full view. ‘Then he entered the cave, and, althoug! he was furnished only with the dim Mwht that penetrated through the dis- tant ext, whe heard him hewing man- fully at the rock for a couple of hours. At lant ho emerged, erimy with dust and Perapiration, juat in time to pay @ last visit to Summit Rock before the sun wank to rest. He asked the girl to delay womewhat the preparations for their venting meal, as he wished to take a ‘oath, so it was quite dark when they sat down to eat. Iris had long recovered her usual atate of high spirits, “Why were the you you burrowing tn cavern again?” she inquired. “Are in a hurry to rich?" “1 was following an air shaft, not a lode." he replied. “I am occasionally troubled with after-wit, and this ts an inetance. Do you remember how the flame of the iamp flickered whilst we ‘were opening up our mine?” “Yes.” “Ll was so absorbed tn contemplating our prospective wealth that I fulled to pay heed to the true significance of that incident, It meant the nce of an upward current of air. Now, where the current goes thera must be A passage, and while I was busy this afternoon among the trees over the he pointed toward the Valley of Death--'4t came to me Mike an tnapiration that posstbly & few Gourw hewing and delving might open @ ghaft to the ledge. I have deen rewarded Gor the effort. The etuff ap rees ome WER te cuter By Louis Tracy that $ 1s @o more solid than hard mud for the most part. Already I have ecooped out a chimney twelve feet high.” “What good can that “At present we have only a front door—up the face of the rock. When my work is completed, before to-mor row night I haope, we shall have a back door also. Of course I may en- counter unforeseen obstacles as I ad- vance. A twist in the fault would be nearly fatal, but I am praying that it may continue straight to the ledg “E @till dom® ee the great advan- tage to wu “The advantages are many, believe me. The more points of attack pre- sented by the enemy the more effec- tive will be our resistance. I doubt if er be able ito rush the hold t, whereas I can md down our back staircase whenever I choose If you don't mind being left in the dark I will resume work now, by the light of your lamp.” Hut Iris protested against thia ar rangement. She felt lonely. ‘The long hours of silence had been distasteful to her. She wanted to talk. “T agree,” wald Jenks, “provided you 4o not pin me down to something I told you a month ago.” “I pramise, You can tell me as much or as Mttle as you think fit. Th ot for dlacuasion In you He could not see the te her eyes, the quiet her voice restrained the protest prompt on his ips, Yet he blurted out, after @ alight pause: but A friend of my alx-year-old brother told him that his mother had a new fan which was hand-painted, “Pooh,” eatd my Uttle brether, “our whole fence ta.” OTTO MURLLER, No. 690 Fast 167th street, New York. It happened to be Lincoln's birth- day, and I told my little boy Harold, aged four, He maid “Mother, aren't you going to send him @ birthday card” MRS. 8. RICKETT. No, 828 78th street, Hay Ridge. I knew a child who during the day had been behaving very badly. In the vening when she was her # her mother told her ‘org her and she said What's the wae 1 expect he would only sav, ‘Great Scott, Gracie, there's woreer yirle than you ure!" ” 0. B. BEAMAN, 1219 Madison avenue, New York City, Ni “That \e @ very unsavory subjeat.” “In it? I do nat think so. I am a friend, Ms Jenks, not an old one, [ admit, but during the past six weeks we have bridg anceship of # an ordinary acqualnt- s many years. Can you not trust me? ‘Trum her? He laughed softly. Then, choowing his words with great delibera- tion, he answered-—""Yea, I oan trust you. I intended to tell you the story sume day, Why not to-night?" Unseen tn the darkness Iris'a hand sought and clasped the gold locket suspended from her neck. She already knew some portion of the story he would tell. ‘The remainder was of minor importance. “It ts odd," he continued, “that you should have alluded to six years a mo- ment ago, It 1s exactly six ye most to @ day, since the trouble be- gan” “With Lord Ventnor?” The name aiipped out involuntarily: You. I was then a staff Corpa au- baitern, and my eMfctency in native ttention of a dvised me to en appointment on the po- Ugical eide of the Government of lada, My Mttle niece age to come into the room talking about how the her mother's fur coat seven happened tas we were ths had eaten last year. My ly hired to’ tell them what to eay. handkerchief over their clasped hands he gpuerally begins with a few remarks on the edvantages of Marriage and with questions from the Koran. The bride's “wekeel" must then say that he marries the young man, So and 80, te —~ (naming the bride) for a dowry of certain amount, to which the bridegreom BRIGHT SAYINGS Of Evening World Children Mttle niece asked After Placing o ‘ept from thee her marriage to myself, take her under my care and bind myself to protect her; and ye who are present bear witness of this.” after which all present again recite the Fat’hah. Is bride eight or ten days after the con- tract ceremony, during which time he sends her presents, and she end’ her family are busy preparing her trousseay aad furniture, which is usually bought At noon the Wednenday before (or Saturday, if the wedding te to concl Monday evening) the bride goes in state to the bath. pirgpetostalesge yeti ‘The next day the bride With the same procession goes to the bridegroom's house, where they have @ feast, after which her friende depart, leaving only ber mother and slater or other near female relatives and one of two other women. The next morning dancers, men and girls, perform before the bridegroom's. young man, the one who carried hitn up- stairs takes him and a few friends into the country to epend the day. Thie is called “the Might.” If he belongs to the lower classes he is brought back in @ procession, headed by musicians, hie friends each and, If after sunset, they are attended by torch bearers, while the friends carey carrying @ bunch of flowers, by The Prem Publishing Oo. (The New York Evening World). “Mother, what did the mothe oat ber fore Adam and Eve had clothes?” M. C. ATCHTSON, No. 20 New England Terrace, <Omase N. J. The following was ‘overtieard by us last summer on the farm: The farmer sent his little son to the blackberry patch to pick berries for supper, with the atrict injunction: “I want to hear a steady whistle coming from the patch all the time you are working.” That’ night when the berries were served: Willie was given an extra share. His sister said she should be given as Mbersl a helping. “But Willie picked the ber ries and you didn't,” said the father, “No, but I did the whtetiig jor Wille while he picked and ate the berries.” WESLEY COUCH, No, 940 Worthington street, Spring- field, Mass, Rodrik mother, before going out shopping, said to him; . “Robert, won't you try to be good for to-day?” “ will for & quarter,” said Robble “Wh; Robbie, you don't want pay for being wood, do you?" “Well, mother, you wouldwt have me good for nothing, would you?” THOMAS RYAN JR, 633 Hudson street, New York City. I did so, He supported the application and 1 was assured of the next vacancy in a native state, provided that L got married.” He drawled out the concluding words with exasperating slowness, —Irls. astounded by the 1 drop! and Ward into th light of the log a re The sailor's quick eye caught the glitter of the or- nament Hy | ne interrupted, “what ts that Uaing shining on your breast?” She tnstantiy clasped the trinket again. “It tg my sole remaining adorn she ead; “a present (rom my futhe my tenth birthday, Pray go on ‘I wae not a man M Deane, and ite qualifleat nearly steggere: But 1 looked con- ee he: ‘points,’ so to speak, and they filled the bill She was smart, good-lookin, lively, understood the art of entertal ing, was first-rate in sports and had ex cellent teeth, Indeed, if @ man ted «4 wife — “Don't she reall pretty?" 6 | ‘I belleve so, People said she was,” “But what did you think?” “At the time iny opinion was biased, T have seen her since, and she weare badly, She is married now, and after thirty grew very fat.” Artful Jenks! Iris settled herself come fortably to listen. ‘L have jumped that fence with a leg in hand,” he thought, “We became engaged,” he sald aloud, “She thraw ‘hereeé at him," come muned Ins. eo )