•

DAVID . HARUM CO. ~RESENTS

DAVID HAllUM

• Baker Theatre­SATURDAY, SEP.

~A I tl ,-3

•

Among the many books

which came from the press in

the fall of 1 898 was one bound in

yellow. It was by "a fellow

named \Vescott," some one

said ; but no one seemed to

know who Wescott was. The

book bore a man's name as its

title-David Harum was the

name, to be exact-and its suc­

cess was immediate. Its popu­

lari-ty was not ephemeral; it

didn't die out in a day, or a

week, or a year. Its sales were

as terrific during its third year as they were during its first.

It was Andrew· Carnegie who held that no book of ficti.9-~

shopld be admitted te the .sh~s or a pubhc u5rary until it

was three years old. The views of the man who has endowed

more libraries than any other man on earth, threw consterna­

tion into the ranks of the publishers. "Why," said they,

"few books nowadays live to be remembered three years after

publication. If Mr. Carnegie's plan was carried out a great many

books would lose all chance of ever getting into the libraries .. ,

If but few modern books of fiction live to be remembered

three years after their birth, the success o( Wescott's "David

Harum" looms up in much greater magnitude. To-day the

book is as popular as ever, and the only twinge of regret that

cernes with the vast amount of favor, which this delightfu\ly

humorous work has had, is in the fact that its author did not

live to know how greatly his work was- appreciated.

When the annauncement came that a dramatization had

been maae of" David Harum," and that _ ~ay, embodying all

ef the char,\cters, incidents and scenes contained in the book,

was to be staged. 'learlyeveryone prophesied g-reat success for it.

This success it has won, and in its play-shape "David Harum" gives promise of living and being popular for many years.

A well-known minister once declared that it was in the province of every play t.o teach a good lesson in a more powerful way than could a preacher in a pulpit. This is because it is n~t possible for things heard to impress one as strongly as things actually seen. Following up this line of argument, it is plain that "David Harum" as a play would be a much more enjoyable work than " David Harum " as a story. In the book things are described and seen only through the eyes of the author; in the play there is no description, and everything is unfolded in the life.

" David Harum" has been called, and well called, too, the apotheosis of the horse-trade. Who is it that has read the story and does not remember the horse-trade ? The very lllention of the name of Harum calls up pictures of shrewd, 'Wily, cunning David, and the sanctimonieus Deacon Perkins, lover of good horse-flesh though he is a pillar of the church. You can hear David tell the deacon that the horse is " sound and kind, hasn't a scratch or a pimple on him, and will stand without hitchin' ."

To thoroughly enjoy this scene and get at the real depth of its humor one should see it as it is unfolded in the play The scenes come in the first act shortly after David returns from his tussle with the balky horse on the river road. It is readily seen that David is speculating on selling the horse to his friend, the deacon, and soon this bec•mes a certainty when he sends Dick Larribee over after the deacon to come and see him. The horse is brought out of the barn. David seems reluctant to part with him and only lets the deacon finally

•

have him for "$zoo cash down" be­cause he is an old "friend and neigh­bor." As David sits down afte r the

sale and gives away to laughter, he is joined by the audience, for it seems glad to think that the horse-trading old banker is even with the man who, to use his own words, did him so hard in a

-"":.:.·.::::'".:.::=:::;.."'lo.--=:... horse-trade once that he was burned in places and you could smell smoke around him for some time.

To describe the humor of this scene, which is not exceeded in any modern piece of description, is difficult. How well it is done and how untheatrical are its effects may be made clear by an incident which happened during the giving of the play in a prominent city in New England. Occupying one of the boxes was a mill owner, a...sturlly man ef sor'l'te:tvlt:lt ffiore than middle age and of great wealth. He was accompanied by his family. He followed the play intently. As the scene of the horse-trade progressed he leaned forward so as to catch every word. The trade ::cnsummat~c he uttered a loud laugh, gave his leg a resounding slap with his open hand, and turning to his wife exclaimed in a voice which could be heard all over the house : "Maria, I'm hlamed if I haven't done the same thing myself!" No greater compliment could be paid the truth of that scene or the simplicity and forcefulness of the art with ~~;!chit was u1tfolded.

1' There is much perversity in human nature, and a common trait is that in which we sometimes find amusement in the misfortunes of others. This is exemplified in a delightfully ludicrous way in the second act. The deacon's wife visits Aunt Polly's home to take part in the sewing circle. The cleacon is to drive ever after her, and he is late in comin~.

=--

'fhis is unexplainable to everyone, except David, whose quiet chuckle ic: indicative of the knowledge that his sanctimonious neighbor means to U!;e the bay horse. The day is warm and sultry; the clouds begin to throw dark shadows, and the boom of thunder among the hills is heard. And yet the deacon has not put in an appearance. The thunder roars, the lightning flashes and the rain comes down in torrents. A great noise is heard, and the huge shade, lowered to keep out the lightning, is raised. The scene outside on the road is irresistibly funny. There is the deacon in hi-s democratic wagon, the rain wetting him to the skin, belabofltng the bay horse that would stand without hitching. This scene is a climax th'l.t hardly has a parallel in modern comedy for its absolute humor.

There is not an amusing incident in the book that is not m the play. David's description of Aunt l~olly's visit to the Uleatre ;n New York, where the dear old lady was mortified and shameo at tlie appearance of the da1\cer in tights, has a rare sparklt ;)[ its own, and the incident of the counter'reit bills Is decidedly humorous.

Ti-~ concluding act o( the play is laid in Aunt Polly sit­ting-room on Christmas morning. It is here that David, whilt in a .eminiscent mood and between the smoke-puff<> from a bad dgar, tells the story of his visit to the circus when a boy and efthe whipping which followed. He talks of Billy P. Cullum to his widow, and, at the end, he gives to the little woman her house and home free from all debt. The scene is one of those oddly sympathetic ones, and it is impossible to restrain a tear at its close ; not a- tear of sorrow-for there i-s no occasion for that-but of happiness ever the kindnc.., ~~ J9avid's ~.

Humor is the key-note of this • admirable American play, humor that

is clean and wholesome. Its mission is to create laughter, and in doing so to make one forget for the time being mundane cares and worries. It pre­sents no problems. It is free from any blemishes and there in not a tine in it

that is calculated to bring a blush to the most modest cheek. There is no exaggeration of scene or character, and truly may it be said to " hold the mirror up to rtature."

''David Harum" as a play differs fram' nearly all plays of its kind. It doesn't h old the countrrman up to ridicule and make him the butt of time-worn so-called witticism. It shows him as he undoubtedly is-a cool, sharp, shrewd, calcu­lating man, who, while he may in & busineucleal he •raatlt<lf>1y close, as the expre,;sion goes, possesses a big heart and a desire to aid those wha are really dc!'ierving of his aid. The lesson underlying it all deals with charity, and while it does not insist upon the necessity of it, certainly does it point out the great beauty of that cardinal ,·irtue.

In the production of the phy in this city an adequate and picturesque setting will be givc::n it, and the company will be found made up of a number of skilled character actors.

The play is the most successful dramatization now before t<be public. During the greater part of one seasen it ran in New York, and it 'has afforded honest enjoyment t~t many thousands of thea41re -goers during the last three years. That many people here and in this vicinity will take advantage of th:e opportunity to see David, his sister, Aunt Polly and the other characters made famous by Wescett-in the life, is ;:nll"Pthftw' ~at Sfoetl wRROUt the Savin~.

fir~! 0 ?u(}I!IT~u '119!1 u!~ C!r!Mf • "Complete and satisfying."-Providence Press.

"Vital with the essence of human nature. The novel acquires a fresh charm."-Boston Herald.

" A fresh attraction lite an old friend in holiday attire.''­Portland Express.

"The kind of a play that is bound to last."-Brooklyn Eagle.

"An American comedy of American life for Amerlcsu ,eople."-New York Telegram.

"A play of delightful crisp philosophy and ruued epigram. "-San Francisco Call.

" Essentially a production worth while. "-Philadelphia

Says "DAVID HARUM"-"A certain amount of fteas Is good fer a dog;

It keeps him from broodin' over BEING a dog ...

"There's as much human nature Ia some folks as there is in others-if not MORE.,.

"no unto the other feller the way be'd like to do unto you, but do it FIRST."

"When you git a bold of a ten-dollar bill, git It inter you or oater you as fast as you kin, for we're bere to-day and gone to-morrow, and there ain't no pocket in a shroud I ,

" They do say tile fedlinine hand cives the bardest blow.••

" lke•s eoaad aa• kiad. dlere ain't a pimple u bim; a womaa t1ta clriYe bim as well as a ...,."" . Art" ftj11°M _.,ll _...,...,. ,,..,..._, "

THE GREA1 -'HOSS-TRADh.., PLAY

DAVIDHARUM DAVID lfARUM SAYS:

" Do ulllo the other feller the way lu'4 lilu to do •nto y ou. But do it FIRST."

NEXT ATTRACTION at this Theatre The David Harum Co. olfers the American comedy, "DAVI 0 HARUM." The play thatwon'twear out. The Co. will utilize the same

prodaction seen at tbe Garrick Theatre, New York, in giving tbe play bere. A play crisp with rugged, unctuous epigrams. Thousaada of

- critical play-goers all over the country have seen and thoroughly enjoyed this comedy, called "The Epic of the Hoss Trade." Tbe story is devoid of frill~ and goes straight to the heart with itB sincerity and realness. Who'd stay away from the theatre next week 1ritb such a play as "DAVID HARUM,. to be seen at popular pok11P SECURE BEST SEATS BY PROCURING THE~ NOW.

.._ Metnpelltan PrlaUnc Co., 213·2Z7 WMI& Z6tll St .. ., '

..