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AS SEEN IN FAMOUS ROlBSj i AS KING HEROPj L . 4:. [From Our New York Dramatic Corre spondent.] T HE imitative, fashion follow ing theatrical managers, all of whom were born with an ear clued to the cround, have concluded that since "The Man of the Hour" proved a sensational money maker the public wants nothlnc but politics as its dramatic pabulum. Possibly, too, the presidential cam- pairn may influence the operations of the produclnc manacers. At any rate, a cycle of plays with politicians and political affairs prominently displayed Is now cycllnc. "The Man of the Hour," even now played by four road companies, is a combination of society and sordidness (some folks are unable to discover any difference between them). The grasping, honorlcss, pic eyed boss is shown in full working order, bending his creatures to s.uit his mood and occasionally meeting with resist ance. In "A Gentleman From Missis sippi," at tho Bijou theater, and In "Mater," at the Savoy, aro Seen plays that exhibit phases of the "political game" In a different light in many respects from those of "The Man of the Hour." “A Gentleman From Mississippi" reveals Tom A. Wise and Douglus Fairbanks as co-stars. Mr. Wise Is one of the authors of the play, which is enjoyable and laugh producing from start to end. A Senatorial Cabal. The drama is pretty piuch a story of a coterie of United States sena tors who are in a conspiracy to de fraud tho government. They are promoting a land deal in Mk-.si*dppl. where the government Is to establish a naval base. Tom Wise as Senator Langdon, the Junior senator from his •late, knows nothing about tho scheme, but complications arc caused by his son and daughter, who have been led into investing money in it. When tho senator learns of the sit uation he finds himself in an uncom fortably tight place, but he and his secretary. Bud Haines (Mr. Fair banks), determine to give the gang a rustle, and in the end the junior sena tor wins. The humor of the play is Irresistible. Tm from New York," said tho Washington star reporter, who had Just come to Interview the junior sen ator on his arrival at the International hotel. "Oh, the Vicksburg of the North," said the gentleman from Mississippi, and that established easy relations. By and by they had a drink together, and after that it would have taken a cleverer plot than their enemies devised to keep them apart for any length of time. “Mater* a Charming Comedy. "Mater,” described by a leading critic as "Pegasus In pastures new,” Is a charmingly written comedy by Percy Mackayc. It la full of spar kling fun and is of unusual literary quality. The poetic quality of Mr. Mackaye'e prose has won him comparison with James M. Barrie. "Mater" Is a political play that has a deftly concealed purpose as its un derlying stratum. Mater (mother) says she was once "a little yellow goose up in New England, with a sky blue puddle for a hand glass, but along came an ink black swan and married her. The swan was Senator Dean (now dead), but he had made her a mother goose. Mater looks at her two block swans, a hot headed Idealist of a son and a very serious minded daughter. "Behold the future presidents of the United States and of Vassar college!” she exclaimed. "Where did I ever get them?" Mater wants her son to be elected to the legislature. lie refuses to come to terms with the bullying boss, Cullen, and the manner In which Mater out wits Cullen is well worth witnessing. Women can have plenty of political power without the right of voting 'if they are all us clever as Mater. May Isabel Irving scores as Mater Frederick Lewis and Charles Steven son are seen in the chief supporting roles. Henry Miller produced "Mater,' and his artistically effective touches are everywhere evident. Ludwig Wullner's, American Tour. Unless thq unanimous verdict of the European press and of Americans who have heard him in Germany is in error | violin. At the time he suffered from a a most remarkable artist will pay his first visit to the United States In No vember In the person of Dr. Ludwig Wullncr. Abroad Dr. Wullner l» famed ns the greatest living inter preter ofi the lied or German hnliad, a term which has a wide range, em bracing the simplest of folk songs and such wonderfully dramatic lyrics as Schubert's "Erl King" and Schu mann’s "Two Grenadiers." Dr. Wullner’s genius, however, is many sided. Inheriting a love of the art from his father, who was known the world over as Germany’s greatest teacher of choral singing, he early took up the study of the piano and serious Impediment Iff his sproch—in fact, was a seemingly confirmed ntam : merer. This falling ho determined to conquer, and to do so he spent a year at a school for the vocally defective. Then he worked with all the diligence of a Demosthenes, even to attempting the experiment of, declaiming with pebbles in hli mouth. Within a year ho achieved control of his speech. Meanwhile he discovered to himself and others a rare dramatic power which aroused his ambition to become an actor. So the erstwhile stammerer found himself before long the obscure member of a provincial theatrical com pany in Germany. Here, however, his gcnlous could not be hidden. He v*a* recognised ns the leading mem ber, und It was not long before the Duke of Huxe-Meinlngcn learned of him and invited him to Join tho organ ization of uctorn which mado his Court theater the most famous in Eu rope. While at Meiningen Dr. Wullner appeared from tlmo to tlmo In such roles us King Leur, Shylock, Hamlet and Nathan the Wise. It was during IiIm gtny here, too, that he mot tho composer Brahms, for whoso songs ho lmd u great udrnlra- tlon. He even went so fur ns to sing some of the less known to Brahms, who was so delighted with his inter- prctntlops that he exclaimed: "Why, Wullncr, you aro a greater song* singer than actor. Give up tho stage and devote yourself to concert work and lleder singing.” Took Brahms' Advice. Yielding to Brahms' urging, Wullncr made the departure. Ills appearance on the concort stage raised a storm of discussion, but it was his voice that was the subject of debate. Every one acknowledged his marvelous temperu- ment. his emotional power, his deep insight Into the significance of the songs he sang and his extraordinary drunmtlc intensity In their Interprets lion. But his voice? How character Iso It? Here Is what one of. the most eminent musical ^rltlcs In Europe wrote after hearing him for ths first time: . / The first Impression: "What an Inslf- nlfieant voice! How ciarw this man give song recitals? Hut listen! What diction! What expression! What is It that grips our hearts? Why does this voice all of a sudden brighten up? Why does It sound groater and more beautiful? The concort singer disappears. A soul speaks to ua in tones warm und true and sincere. Tho words burn und glow with holy fire and paaslou-oh, how beautiful! A man-stands before us who must give vent to his feel ings or passion und iiatu and Joy. And then this song. 'Tho Two Grenadiers,' a storm of heroic feeling was raging. I have never heard anything like this he roic ecstasy of the laat burs. "Aye, Ludwig Wullner is an exception ally great artist. one blessed by God. a favorite son of the muses. To ho able to thus carry multitudes uway by singing with a not nvel-glorloua voice, that Is the unfathomed depth of art. And the artist who penetrates Into these depths aud gives us a slight insight is blessed." A Five Months' Tour. Dr. Wullner comes to America re luctantly. but those who have heard him in Germany and London predict a warm welcome for this great artist. His American tour will last about months. IIu will be under tho man agement of his personal friend Mr. M. A. Hanson. It Is hoped that he can be persuaded to appear in oomo of the dramatic roles with which his careor is associated. It is an Interesting fact that ho has appeared three successive evenings, first as Tannhauser In the opera; next as King Lear and thud evening an a concert singer, "created" the role of Herod In first performance as a drama of Oscar Wildo'M "Salome" in Berlin. MI83 RUSSELL IN “WILDFIRE.” Lillian Russell has mude a lasting hit In her racing play, "Wildfire," at tho Liberty theater, New York. Critics und audiences are unanimous In praise of the cleverness of tho lines and the development of Miss Bussell as an actress. Joseph Brooks, under whose direction Miss Russell la appearing, recognized three yours ago that Miss Russell possessed histrionic ability in no mnail degree, hut that It would be uphill work to mako tha public accept her In any other role save that of prims donna. Manager Mnd prlma don na worked together, ahd the success means more than box office receipts to them. Messrs. Broadhurst and Hobart have written a play that holds one's Interest and makes ons laugh. "Wildfire" ijiet with approval on tho road lust season, and for once hyper critical New York agrees. For two long seasons Miss Russell played the one night stands and the smaller towns all In preparation. Rome declare "Wildfire" the best racing comedy ever produced In New York, better than "Checkers" or "In Old Kentucky." So much for the play, but what struck homo is the handsome tribute paid by all to Miss Russell for her elocution and clever acting of the wldew's role. SIR GILBERT PARKER. Sir Gilbert Parker, the author of "Tho Right of Way,” bus returned to London after a conference with Klnw A Krlanger, under whoso management tho dramatic version of his famous novel will be toured next season. Sir Gilbert spent only two weeks In Now York. Speaking of the Atnericun poo- pie, he says: ‘The American thinks quickly and' acts quickly, hut moro rc- imirkablo than anything else In his su premo patience with unnoynneo of all kinds. He endures meekly, good na- turedly, to the breaking point and then settles accounts with uatounding Justice and swift penalty." Theodore Roberto and Guy Standing reman as co-aturs In "Tho Right of Way.” POLITICAL PLAYS HOLD THE STAGE TOUR. OF LUDWIG WULLNER A Gentleman From Mississippi" and "Mater,” Both Hits, Expose Bossism and Corruption. Famous German Lied Singer and Character Actor to Visit America Football Reformed In Name Only===1908 Game Deadly as Ever W HEN a bunchi of reformers start to reform anything from a political party ti an old maids' sowing cir cle or a national game, llko football, It’s time for decent people to run to ths tall woods. Reform Is, the little Joker In the pack of cards that repro- aenta the American nation. Reform Is llko a bee—It's sweet with honey, but It has an awful sting. Convenient Loopholes. Tho football reformers ore a repre sentative reform coterie. By the pre liminary operations of various college gridiron teams this year It has been conclusively shown to my mind thut the game is drifting back to the bone breaking possibilities of the past. This, has been made possible by the ability of captains and coachs to find flaw* and loopholes in the “sterilized" rules of tho game. Whether these loopholes Were intentionally left by the Crafty Intercollegiate committee that draws up the* rules is am open question. At any rate, In promulgating reform that does not reform the gridiron rule bosses have won. enviable success. They havo argued courageously before the public that something that is isn't and that something that isn't entirely Is. Go to reformers, thou slugger; consider their ways and -be wise! Forward Pass Dangerous. In the first place, the openness ofj the game procured by tho forward pat s Is practically os dangerous to the In dividual os a mass play. The use c. the forward pats multiplies the oppor-1 tunnies for the use of the terrorizing flying tackle, and the flying, headlong •mashing tackle has probably, broken as many bones and faces as any old J time moss plays on center and guard, aver Invented. Tho game is much rougher this year then lost, though the rules have beenl changed but little nines 1907. Having j thrown a sop to outraged public opin ion, the dictators of tho game now, figure that it Is about time to put thei game back where It formerly was after | the time honored fashion of reformers. | As to Scrimmage Formation. Take, for Instance, ths formation of ths line during scrimmages. The pro visions that ths number of men behind point until the ball is put into play can readily be nullified of their sup posed effect. As nn example, when the ball is put in ptuy for, we will as sume, a try between right guard and tackle do not the. line players of tho left wing leave their positions instan taneously und dush around to pile o>\ behind the backs who are ahoving the carrier of tho ball through the open ing? If that isn't a mass play, what is it? The name cun be said of plays between center and guard. , The difference between the mass plays of the present and those of the past is practically this: Today the maaa play Is delayed In forming until the boil Is put Into play. Previously the nines pluy could be formed ready for operation before the ball was put into play. Oh, sweet are the uses of reform! \Michlgan Jealous of Chicsgo. Coach "Hurry Up" Yost of the Uni versity of Michigan Is deeply wrought up over the claims of various experts that the Chicago university football team looks like a sure winner of the western championship this year. Yost himself has championship aspirations for his own Wolverenes. Yost bases his claims to superiority on the fact that he has a compara tively largo number of members of last year’s teum bnck at work. These vet erans, ' he argues, should provide a foundation on which a winning team can be budded. The first five mem bers of the 1907 team to report were Casey, Schulz, Allerdlce, Wasmund and Green. However, it would appear that Ypst'i enthusiasm is not so well founded In fact as that of Coach Stag* of Chi cago, for Stagg has seven members of his 1907 aggregation on hand. Tho last year’s varsity men who re ported aro Steffen, quarterback; Id- dings, halfback; Schott, fullback; Kelley and Muddlgan, tackles; Worth- enoa, guard, and Anderson, center. Dougherty and Crowley of last year's freshinan team are expected to maks the eleven. The Cornell game, to occur Nov. 14, fa now holding a vast amount of SUM'S attention. Next to cupturinK the western championship he most de sires to wallop the Ithacans, who.are predicting for' themselves a decisive victory over Chicago. Situation at Yale. Tale has already begun to send out her annual stories of "hard luck." An drus, her star tackle, Injured an ankle In a wrestling bout and was pro nounced seriously hurt by physicians. It la strango that ths cupabie Yale trainers allowed a needed man like An drus to indulge In any violent and dnngerous exercise aside from gridiron prnctlce. Tho lineup for the Yalo varsity team ai» favored at this early Btage is as follows: Logan, left end; Hobbs, left tackle; Brown, left guard; Biddle, center; Goebel, right guard; Cooney, right tackle; Burch, right end; Bingham, quarterback; Phllbln, left halfback; Murphy, right halfback, and Coy, full back. Harvard Features Kicking. Ilarvnrd Is paying more attention to developing kickers than any other big football taam. It thus becomes evi dent that tho Cambridgeltes will use this branch of ptay moro than most other colleges, Kennard shows consid erable ability as a field goal kicker. In a recent day’s practlco ho scored nine field goals from the thlrty-flvo yard line on splendidly executod drop kicks. In dlstanoe punting Sprague shows up well. He drives tho pigskin fifty-five yards frequently and seemingly with The Princeton Team, Out of her sixty-five candidates Princeton Is hopeful of evolving a team that will wipe out tho atlng of Yale's victory last year and that will worst ths strong West Point eleven. Princeton resumes football relations with West Point after a year's break. Prlnoeton plays West Point OcL 31 a» West Point and masts Yale Nov. 14 al Princeton. Although he has lost seven able men from the 1907 team, Head Coach Ropet figures that he has an ubundance of men for the vacant positions, and in ail probability Princeton will again have a sterling trio sf backs and a good pair of ends. Welsh, Dowd, Vaughan, Smith and O'Donoghue are a quintet from which Roper will find a pair of ends, while McCrohan, Coxe, Sparks, Dawson, Bard, Road, Orr, Bishop and Baliou should furnish am ple material for the back field vacan cies. Phillips' position at center will be hardest to fill, as Cass Is the only likely candidate. The regulars who are again In harness are Captain Eddie Dillon, Tib- bolt, Waller, MucKadycn, Booth end Blegllng. Candidates trying for the regular positions uro Whaley, Woehr, play shall be limited and that certain players must remain outside a certain MEMBERS OF YALE VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM IN PRACTICE AT NEW HAVEN. man, Wllkenson, RhelnatHn and Clarke. HARRY GRANT. PLAYS AND Harrison Grey Flske is to produce a drama of Ani'-rh.an life cal>d "The Bridge.” Joseph Weber has engaged Blanche Ring and will feature her In a new musical production. John Ji. Park, who was the leading PLAYERS. pixy. **Wbat Every Woman Knows." W. H. Gilmore Is also a member of her mu in *V»try*s Lamb,” has been en- j company. *a**J fir The Boul KJss." * Lina Aborbaneli Is Mill playing In I# —t & ilfwifl u now in this coun- 1 the title role of “The Merry Widow.” try attapdfeg to the rehearsals of his 1 Clara Blandtok is playing in the new piay Melting Pot.” J western "Paid In KuM” company. Hi ' lto Bennett is to be Maude Fred Nibio, who made a lour of the Ada. 1 l inf man hi Barrie's new|world with bis wife, Josephine Cohan, has arranged a series of travel talks which he will deliver this season. L.W Held., In -Th. Girl B.hl»d th, Counter," Is breaking records In Chi- "At tho Old Crossroads" bos start ed on Its eighth season. Stanhope Wbeatcroft, one of tbs younger afters in "A Gentleman From Mississippi," Is a sen of‘Adelaide Stan hope, a former tragedienne. The "Little Nemo" preduetien open ed In Philadelphia recently. Alien* Carter Is to continue In JTbe Red Mill" this season. Mrs. Fisko has a new play by Brew ster Sheldon, which os yet Is unnamed- Corinno has added to her many stags suocessee In the title role ef "Lola From Berlin," under the management ef Klaw tt Erlanger. Eddie Foy ia appearing In a new mu sical comedy, "Mr. Hamlet on Broad way." "Hugo’s Honeymoon,” with a notable company of singers, will be preduoed la this country by Uer^y W. Savage. This popular opera hat a tremendous European vogue. Blanche Bates has made a deep im pression in New York In her power ful acting in "The Fighting Hope." Carl Ahrendt la ploying Colonel Rapt, his original role, In James K. Hack* ett's revival of "lhe Prisoner of Zcn- da.” #