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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1919)
6 TIIE SUNDAY OKEGOXIAN, PORTLAND, 3IAHCH 9, 1010. LIQUOR PROBLEM IS DEALT WITH IN TWO OF NEW YORICS THEATRICAL SUCCESSES "A Prince There Was," and "Toby's Bow" Founded Upon Reformation of Capable Individuals Who Are Prone to Drown Troubles in Flowing Bowl Grace Valentine to Appear in Portland Soon on Western Tour. BY ELIZABETH LOXEEGAN. J NEW YORK, March 8. (Special.) It is interesting in connection with the latest and most dis-, cused constitutional amendment that two plays dealing- with the problem are already on the boards in New York the beginning, perhaps, of a long succession of dramas along similar lines. George M. Cohan first Introduced the subject of reforming a drunkard in his "A Prince There Was,' which opened; laist December at the theater bearing his name. Robert Hilliard, it will be recalled, played the leading role a few times and then Mr. Cohan stepped Into It and has had it ever since. It tells of a man who had always plenty of money and no hard knocks. After his wife and child are taken from him he commences to drink and the result is that he is in a sort of stupor all the time. A family friend appeals to him with no success. Then his interest is awakened in a litttle waif who comes seeking help for a young lady in whom she is in terested. His sympathy is touched and he goes to live in a dingy boarding huse and falls in love with the would fea authoress, who turns out to be a real writer in search of "copy" for a nevr book. Of course he marries the authoress and adopts the little waif, vso in modern clothes makes a very tunning child. Phoebe Hunt has her first big New Yrk role as the leading woman in "A Prince There Was." She will be re called for her stock experience in Se attle and has. no doubt, played Port land many times. Mr. Cohan makes the hero a very interesting chap and little Marie Vernon is charming as Comfort, the little slavey at the board ing house. Toby's Bow" Similar. In "Toby's Bow," a similar situation Is the basis of the play. This time the leading figure is an author who is drinking too much and is forced by fi nancial reasons to seek rest and re tirement. He meets a charming south ern girl who i3 struggling under a mass of debts, helps her write a novel which brings fame and happiness to them both. There is one point about Mr. Foote's play which differs from the ordinary play about books and writers. He shows plainly that it takes good hard work to write anything acceptable, that the would-be author is only too ready to blame his or her failure upon the readers and magazine editors and that the road to fame and fortune is not the easiest path, even to the author of two best sellers. Norman Trevor Is at his best in the star part and Merle Maddern has a de lightful little bit as an Italian model in the Washington Square scene. Doris Rankin is the leading woman, but the real hit of the piece is Toby of the celebrated "bow" (to rhyme with "now"). George Marion will undoubt edly step into a big role after this suc cess and another new character will take its place beside "Lightnin'." Substitution Is Made. Mr. Trevor's leading woman In "A Place in the Sun" was Miss Peggy Hopkins, who came to town in a brand new show just a few days after "Toby's Bow." Though originally announced to appear in the star role in "The Dancer." Miss Hopkins was substituted for Irene Fenwick in "A Sleepless Night." which opens at the Bijou, suc ceeding, by a strange coincidence, "Sleeping Partners," in which Irene Bordoni and H. B. Warner played for several months. It is a farce comedy and, like' "Keep It to Yourself" and "Up In Mabel's Room" (both of which are coining money), it has a bedroom scene with all sorts of mixups and wanders close to the border at times. An artist and a sculptor, though mar ried, live apart and use their single names. They are engaged by a mil lionaire. who is unaware of their rela tionship, to beautify his Long Island castle. The millionaire's son is inter ested in the wife, his ward in the hus band, and all sorts of complications en sue until the matter is adjusted at the close of the last act. Peggy Hopkins, as the ward of the millionaire, is dared by his son to do something unconventional and decides to call upon the artist in his room. His wife is already there, hiding under the covers of his bed, and when another visitor is heard Peggy gets underneath the bed. Eventually, as in the up-yto- date musical comedy, everyone in the cast finds his way to the artist's room and discovery seems certain for one or the other women at any moment. Carlotta Monterey plays the artist's wife, Ernest Glendenning the artist Donald Gallaher the son. William Mor ris his father, and Lucille Watson has a fat part as the ' millionaire's sister, whose keen eye and even sharper tongue makes the most of every min ute. The Shuberts have given the play some stunning sittings. "Royal Vagabond" Triampa, George M. Cohan is coming to be regarded as the wizard whose hand can make, any production fit for the most severe of clitics. "A Royal Vagabond," liis latest triumph, scored at its open ing performance though in its original form it would have been a failure. The idea of '' a barber from Hoboken re turning to his native land to become king, suggests, says one critic, Lenine and Trotsky! The piece was beautifully put on and the clever satire on the comic opera of today, was a relief from the ordinary production. The syncopated numbers made the old-time stuff sound well, the clever lines relieved the work of the low comedians and up-to-the-minute dancers shook up the duTI moments. Tessa Kosta and Frederick Santley play the leads, Dorothy Dickson and Carl Hyson dance divinely and others in the cast are: Winifred Harris, Grace Fisher, Louis Simon, Robertson New bold, John Goldsworthy and Roger Gray. There are no less than six songs that will be money makers for dance and song m'usic. "Hard times" cer tainly is not one of Mr. Cohan's phrases!. Grace Valentine oea..'Ves4, Grace Valentine, who has beeri'feac tired by Oliver Morosco in "Lombardi, Ltd.," is on her way west where she will play her farewell American per formances in the role which she orig inated. Her object is to be near Los Angeles for the trial of the Hatton's latest play, "Mtdame Sapho" which was written especially for her- After the new production. Miss Valentine will sail for London to appear in "Lombardi, Ltd." and probably will not be seen In New York again till late next season. This clever little actress has made a wonderful success and owes much to her own perseverance. One story has been told that she paid her own expenses to Los Angeles from New .York for the purpose of creating a role in the Hattons' play, she knew she could do it. Mr. Morosco was not willing to pay her way out but said that if she was anxious enough to do so, to corne across the continent, he would give her the chance. She went, played the role and made such a hit that she has had the price of her fare back many, many times! And now Mr. Morosco is taking her out to try a brand new play written just for her. She probably will play in some pictures while in California but the lure of the camera will never draw her from the stage. :Vewr llajr amtd. Marjorie Rambeau's play has been named. It is "The Fortune Teller," and is by Leighton Graves Osman. The cast iuuuacB - jaugn uiauitto, - xvouuri Curi'JJCei'aJz iJev tbuTJieif" Syr t v ' wf vilf - i i rvix j jf M &.' .:. i x i, 1, , v ,:.. .' I . . , p ffr , ' . h Kit" Z; : .y i -.1, itf i : I r i J I' i -J f i l i . - ; 1 of the Boches to be visited upon these little ones. I asked many of them if they were going to take them back to, their French homes and each time I met with the sami answer: " "I couldn't leave them behind. I know he will understand. " Amerleana GlTe Comfort. The American committee has been given the district of the Aisne for the ministrations of comfort and rcl.ef by the French government and at the time of the return of the civilian prisoners the American women were asked to provide clothing and comforts for the women and children. The com mittee not only complied with this re quest but provided many men with clothing and for several weeks fur nished food for the entire influx of prisoners. A new, clean outfit was given complete but It was not the ma terial assistance most valued by the weary souls. The ministrations of the American women represented the first kindly treatment these people had in all the long years of their captivity. as soon as we had them outfitted and fed they started for their old homes," said Mrs. Piatt. "If there was a stick or a vine of the old soot left they began immediately to rebuild around it. It was most pathetic at Soissons. The French government had aeciaed to- rebuild the city on a new site, one that was more healthful and better located, but when the people began to return they went straight to tneir old homes, or what remained of them, and refused to stir a step. The ruins aro being replaced with maice- sjiift habitations until France can pur sue her methodic plan of restoration. rhe great task before us now Is tr help these mistreated people to re gain their spirit. At present they are numbed with suffering-. Thev hvn Jost so much It seems useless to essay a. new stare. ir we can only (rive them tender care and the right kind of help they are going to give back to France : her power to compete with the world commercially and agriculturally. I French Farmer to Get Aid. "The plan outlined is to establish the small farmer as a unit of a large co-operative farm. The American com- mitlee proposes to advance the peas- I ant farmer implements and enough ' capital to carry him. which he can i later repay out of war indemnities. We expect to establish agricultural schools this spring and we are fur- i nishlng the French farmers with American seed. several thousand pounds of which are already on the way over. They are already working with American-made implements and their main articles of diet are Ameri- i can-canned foods. The French govern- ! ment has given our committee the : whole department of the Aisne to re establish and It is a privilege that we cannot misuse. ! "We have been asked to stay on the ' jod ror the next four or five years ifcv and In this time we will need a great i J deal of money and garments and sup- V - i"'"' worKers wno have kept us supplied for the past few years simply cannot desert us now at the most tmicai nme or all and we are ask- t-i noi oniy 10 Keep on as they I have been doing but to double thoir i strength. As a great French philoso- I pher has said: 'It Ir t.nv i, ' war but hard to make neat- ! V Mrs. riatt organized the Portland chapter of the American committee for devastated France and is now chairman of the northwest division and liaison officer of the committee. She expects to return to France as soon as the drive is completed and de vote her time to the rehabilitation of a little village in northern France. NEWS OF MOVIE THEATERS (Continued From Page 4.) A mm omb cement Extraordinary! NOW PLAYING! The Supreme Dramatic Masterpiece of the Screen REX BEAC T7TT Q 2J Wonderful Drama of the Northwest and the Alaska Golf ields Vaughn (who is well known on the coast), E. L. Fernandez, Grace GoodalL Eleanor Montell, Edna Archer Craw ford, Winifred Wellington and Irene Shirley. The play will open shortly at the Republic where Miss Rambeau I played earlier in the season In, "Where Poppies Bloom." Ethel Barrymore will play on tour all the way to the coast in "The Off Chance" and will not return to New York until next August when she prob ably will open in a new play. "The Off Chance" is one of the three plays in which she appeared at the Empire last season. Miss Barrymore has" the role or a titled lady who has remarried and is very hapy except that her daughter has grown up in Ignorance of her his tory. Later they meet and she rescues the daughter from an unhappy termina tion of her marriage contract and set tles down to enjoy life once more. Three of the principal members of the original cast are appearing in Broad way productions this season Cyril Keightley in "A Little Journey"; E. Lyall Swete, rehearsing the new Mae terlinck war drama and John Cope, a member of the. "Daddies" cast. Miss Barrymore will have other good actors in their places and Portland will surely enjoy this clever drama of one phase of English life. . The Maeterlinck drama will be called "X Burgomaster of Belgium" and Is due about the middle of the month with Eda Farmer, Leonard Willey, Henry Herbert, Walter- Kingsford, Alan Willey, Fred Royde and Raymond Sevey besides Mr. Swete who will direct the production, as well as portray one of the principal roles. Ruth Chatterton will be presented by Henry Miller in "The Merrie Month of May" with Tim Murphy, Laura Nelson Hall, Sidney Booth. Lizzie Hudson Col lier, Laurence. Eddinger and Flora Shef field in the cast. And May Irwin is coming back! The occasion will be a new musical comedy called "raising the Aunty"' and George Bancroft will be leading man. "Raising the Aunty" is suggestive of "The Re juvenation of Aunt Mary," her last big success, but the author is not an nounced nor the fact whether it Is a real new play or not. AMERICA TAKES UP TASK. OF REVIVING OLD FRENCH SPIRIT Peasants to Get Financial Assistance in Industries After Long Suffering Under German Yoke Mrs. Piatt Depicts Horrors. into a river with her clothes so heavily weighted with lead that she stayed un der water until fished out by the other members of the company. During tht time when she played submarine the star breathed through a reed. Anoter southern touch has been given the Thomas H. Ince studio in Culver City, the administration building which is modeled after George Washington's Mount Vernon home. A colored foot man in uniform stands at the entrance. The main entrance is being furnished with a colonial touch which includes a big fireplace. Actors are generally credited with be ing superstitious as a class. Many of our most popular stars of the irrn and stage will admit a necullarlt-ir of one sort or another, all excent R.i-t Lytell, Metro star. "But you must be superstitious about something." insisted his interrogator. "The only time, and it was only once, that I ever felt superstition taking hold of me was at a dinner to which I had been Invited. I noticed, upon approach ing the table', that I was No. 13 and, as there didn't appear to be enough to eat for 12 I objected on the grounds of superstition." Escaping from an electric chair Just as the current Is turned on is one of the many unique stunts performed by Houdini in his first screen vehicle, a serial called "The Master Mystery." Margaret Marsh and Ruth Stonehouse are in the cast with the handcuff king. Theodore Roberts, according to ad vices from Los Angeles, is "doubling In brass" at the Lasky studio these days. In other words, he is working in two pici he wears s: he is smooi THE Brand New 1919 DeLuxe Enlarged Edition FEATURING WILLIAM FARNUM KATHLYN WILLIAMS BESSIE EYTON THOMAS SANTSCHI .WHEELER OAKMAN The 1919 version contains every scene of the original sensational success and several hundred additional scenes with the same stars. It fairly tingles with action and excitement. "THE SPOILERS" HAS NO EQUAL. SEE IT 2 THEATER Washington at Eleventh Street Positively No Advance in Admission ctures at the same time. In one il-'-t'V side whiskers and in the other jr.VyC - -; 'Othfaced. ' , rf-j;:...w A WAVERING line of old men, wo men and children, crushed and de spoiled, in whom remains but the feeblest spark of the old spirit of France after four and a half years of a German bondage which was but a living death, crept into Laon, the re ceiving center established by the French government for returned civil-: ian prisoners, Just after the signing of the armistice. They received the first ministrations of comfort in the homeland at the hands - of American women. The staggering processiwi- of horror and despair still continues to pour in, always to be met with the same kindly hand which never fails to extend the help most needed. Mrs. Robert Treat Piatt, who has been in France since last summer with the American committee for devastated France, was a representative of the committee at Laon at the time of the return of the first prisoners and has worked among them continuously for the past three months, obtaining' at first hand the stories of the long, silent exile which is to leave its imprint upon the sturdy people of northern France for a generation to come. Horrors Dally Witnessed. "Out of all the tragedy of dirt, dis ease and despair there still blazes a spark of the wonderful courage that takes them back to begin anew at the ruined spot that was their-home," said Mrs. Piatt, who returned to Port land several days ago to organize the northwest division of the American committee for devastated France for the launching of the $2,000,000 drive for the continuance of the work of the committee in France. "p:ach day at the receiving station brought us only fresh recitals of the horrors of those four years and a half. Women of gentle birth came to us with their leet done up la raJ from mattress covers and their only garment an old poilu blanket gathered at the neck. These women, -who had never known the meaning of hardship, have spent their years of exile in the fields under the lash of a German whip. There is hardly a woman who is not bringing back with her two or more babies and it is almost pathetic to see the limitless bounds of a mother love that will jiot permit the hatred ,-i-v '. : I WnVn-Jtmim , . - 4 i fi iWlll'f I - f ViiT J 4 Grove Photo. Mr. Rolirrt Trent Piatt, who tella of her lrvork la France. Charming Mollie McConnell. the cl nema grande dame de luxe, handiome and debonair as when she appeared In those earlier Pathe pictures. Is promin ently mentioned in the cast with Dor othy Dalton, whose latest Paramount feature was produced under the di rection of Victor Schertzinger. Mrs. McConnell is in great demand on the coast in filmland. Her personality. wardrobe and elite style are of them selves individual. Her next picture will be on the Goldwyn programme. E. K. Lincoln comes pretty near be ing the richest actor in the fil-ems. He owns estates in Pennsylvania, Massa chusetts, Connecticut and several other states and works Just for the Joy of it. He loves dogs and raises breeded ones very successfully. Lincoln has been a screen star since the good old days of Vltagraph. Somehow or other we re member him best there as the hero of Anita Stewart's very first picture, "The Wood Violet." Franklin Farnum used to be plain William Smith. A newspaper man hooked the Farnum name onto him when Bill was singing and dancing in musical comedy stuff. Charles Ray has started work on a new story by Lois Zellner which has been picturized by Julien Josephson, author of most of the recent Ray pic ture stories, in this picture Mr. Ray is to have a new leading woman. She is Edith Roberts, who started -her dra matic career at the age of 6. She over tops the five-foot mark by one inch and weighs 10S pounds. She has a fair complexion with light brown hair and brown eyes. Kathleen Kirkham ia .a..riucb. en gaged actress these days. She has Just finished a part opposite Frank Keenan and is now acting in "L'pMtairs and Down" with Olive Thomas, after which she is slated to appear with Bessie Barriscale. So she should worry for a while. Hal Clements, who is assigned a modern society character in the Dor othy Dalton picture now being made at the Thomas II. Inco studio, bears striking resemblance to Uf-neral I'er- shing, and has "doubled" for the mouH American fitfUtcr in several lures, . . .. MAJOR CARTWRIGHT IS CITED FOR WAR SERVICE OVERSEAS Young Officer Plays Important Part in Transporting Men and Supplies Needed in Fighting Against Germany. I T WAS a diversity of tasks, rang ing in field from Egypt and Sa lontkl to the shipyards of the Clyde, that won for Major Vernon A. Cart wright the M. V. O. conferred by King George in person. There was a paucity of fighting in the stint given him. hut the service he rendered tent speea 10 the movement of British and allied troops, unsnarled labor dif f icultlea and sent many a brave new merchant ship out to run the gauntlet of the U-boats. Major Cartwrluht is the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Dan J. Malarkey. With Mrs. Cartwrlght he has for the past fortnight been a guest, at the Ma larkey home. In 191 he took his bride to England, arriving a few days before Europe broke into flame. Having played his part, he has come to Amer ica to stay, he says. . America Liked by Briton. "I like America." said the young British officer. "I believe It to be the land of opportunity. We expect to make our home here." Assigned to duty first at the British war office. Major Cartwright bore his share of the tremendous task of hur ried organization which placed some thttvc mure than the gallant "first hun dred thousand" In th Xiell saainst the menace of Prussia. . v, ... mnnlha of War OfflCB service: the major was specially com missioned to visit Egypt and Salonlkl to inquire into rail and water trans portation conditions. Through the re port presented by the major and fellow-officers, alterations were made which greatly facilitated the movement nf lr.innu and RUDPlieS. The method of landing irgopi nu -eenuiTis id by a 35- bandoncd in ler-, The method of landing fa-1 supplies at Alexandria ar pic- them forward-to Tort Said liullo overland route was ab favor of a direct water route to Port Said, through representations' spon sored by the commission. Detailed to Saloniki. he gave entire attention to the unloading of supply ships and transports. Upon his return to London in Jan uary, 1917, Major Cartwright was made an officer of the general staff, in which capacity he since has served. Among the problems presented to him was that of increasing the output of merchant ships. Kins; Ceonce Praised. When labor difficulties arose in the British shipyards the major served under Sir Kotert Home, present min ister of labor, who was knighted for r service. Settlement of strikes and Introduction of women in industries to replace men summoned to the colors were among problems worked on by Major Cartwright. When 12.000 shipworkers and Joiners in the Clyde area at Glasgow Walked out in September. 1918. the major was sent to present the government alter n .live that of going back to work or serving In the army for a shilling a day. The strikers went back to their Jobs after four days. "King George did wonderful work In visiting war industries," said Major C.nwHiht "He manifested great in terest and leiiwi, the work ers. "At the conclusion of three tours among the shipyards which I had or ganized for him. I had a ten-minute talk with the king. A man of small stature, charming personality and con versing in a low, distinct tone, I wae much taken with him." ' Kmety Sleeve Tells Story. Major Cartwright tells an anecdote f King George which, l acciarca characteristic of the British monarch and which brought him close to hi! people. During one of the king's visits to the shipyards he saw a sailor with an empty sleeve lounging near the en trance. The king approached him. "You have served under me, have you not?" inquired IKng George, who is an admiral of the British fleet. "I have, sir." answered the sailor. "On the Invincible and the Indomit able, was it not?" pursued the king. "It was. sir." For several minutes the king and sailor chatted, each displaying the liveliest interest In the conversation. "More than any monarch, except pos sibly King Albert." declares Major Cartwright. "the war knit for him a neared bond of affection with his sub Until the year 1S74 the Japanese used to varrinat on the tin of the nose. ! 1 . if'l 1 THIS w:kic j (( J. WARREN KERRIGAN p "THE DRIFTERS" );! BRAND SEW. i I 1 r THE II K ART OK KACHAEL" I hr I KATHI.EKX MORHIS. 10