Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

16 Rml Life The Dress of Lolita Reliance Rellanse The Dress of Lolita November 5, 1913. Whoever it was who wrote this dramatic picture-play seems to be thoroughly conversant with life in the Italian quarters of our large Eastern cities. The, story is true to life and brings out very clearly some of the many differences in custom and temperament between the Italian and the American. Lolita and Beppo come over on the Navaga:;ione Generale and find quarters in New York's Little Italy. But they have a hard struggle to live. Beppo cannot get work. Lolita falls ill. To get medical attendance for her, he pawns his beloved mandolin. She recovers, but the struggle for existence is still a hard one. A Fete Day comes around. Lolita is melancholy because she has no gift for her husband. Presently, she calls in Lucia, the belle of the Italian Quarter, and offers to sell her beautiful wedding dressLucia buys it— puts it on— and goes for a walk with an admirer. Beppo sees the dress in the crowd and recognizes it at a distance too great to make out Lucia's face. He thinks it is Lolita— out with a lover in his absence. Then he goes home— finds Lolita there. Tells her to' put on her best dress. She doesn't want him to know of her sacrifice, and shrinks from him. He thinks she is guilty, and reaches for his stiletto. Lolita faints. The other lodgers hear the commotion and crowd into the room. He recognizes the dress on Lucia and asks for an explanation. When it is given, he is filled with grief and remorse — thinking he has killed Lohta. But she presently recovers— gives him his beloved mandolin. Someone comes in with an offer for a job at good pay. And everybody is happy. For a moment, the audience fears Beppo's stiletto has actually pierced her heart^but that sort of thrill holds the interest, and the after relief is all the greater. A Sure Cure Nov. 3, 1913. This little play is one of those jolly mix-ups which occur more frequently on the stage — or the screen — ithan they do in actual life. But this is rather in their favor. We don't care so much to pay good money for a mere re-hash of what goes on around us every day. We want something different — something to make us laugh. This play is both. Bond — is a victim of insomnia — a nuisance to his friends and family. The doctor orders him off on a sea-voyage. ; He goes to the steamer with his family — leaves them aboard while he goes back up West street for a supply of cigars. Stops to light one in the shelter of a lumber-yard — is attacked by a couple of tramps who rob him of clothes and personal effects, leaving him their own rags. After that, a policeman chases him, as a tramp — his steamer sails without him — and he fraternizes with another tramp. In the meanwhile, using his cards everywhere, the first hobo and his pal impersonate him — gain access to his house which they start in to loot. Bond, coming home with his new chum, attacks them — but his appearance is against him and the imposters are having him arrested when his butler recognizes him — and the tables are turned again. The situations are funny all through. And Charles Dickson, who plays the part of "Bond" can make any audience laugh by merely looking solemn. The Sinner "Didn't you confess all your former life to your wife after the wedding?" "No ; we weren't married long enough for that." — Judge {Munich ) . The Dress of Lolita Reliance