Chums

From the Acton Davies book:

"One of the biggest successes the child scored under my management was as little Chrystal in a play called Chums, which I had adapted from an old English play called 'The Mariner's Compass.' James A. Herne played the leading role in it, and later on, when we parted company, he played in another version of the play called Hearts of Oak. But the character of Chrystal figured in both versions; in fact, from the time Maude Adams created the role it became one of the most vital parts of the play. Chums, in short, scored an immense success, and 'Little Maudie' for the time being was the heroine of the town."

General Grant attended a performance of the play. Terry, a miller, has adopted two children, one of them Chrystal and the other a boy named Ruby. Both the old man and Ruby end up falling in love with Chrystal. She ends up marrying the old man out of gratitude. The two end up having a daughter named "Little Chrystal."

When Terry realizes just how much Ruby and Chrystal are in love he goes to sea and says if he's not back in five years to figure that he had died at sea. A report comes in after six years that his ship sank and he was killed. This frees Ruby and Chrystal to get married. They set up a monument to Terry in the graveyard.

Little Chyrstal meets an old blind sailor and it turns out he is her father. He is ill and collapses against his own monument."

The critics wrote:

"Little Maude Adams is a remarkable child. She is free from the parrot-like delivery and stilted gestures of most infant actresses. She is as natural as can be wished, or expected. The honors of the strong scene at the base of the monument must be conceded to her."

There was another version of the play. This one was a one-act play with the main characters being Jack Bandle, a naval officer; Leila Sterline (played by Maude Adams), and Mr. and Mrs. Patterby.

Bandle has quarreled with Leila and when he comes back to try and make it up with her he thinks she has become married to his best friend, Patterby. Patterby's real wife, who feels he neglects her, poses as an actress which she tells Bandle that Patterby has been playing around with. Bandle then decides he wants to win her away from him. Patterby later sees Bandle kissing his wife and Bandle ends up finding out that Leila is not married to Patterby at all.

The Sandusky Register Nov. 11, 1915

Nevada State Journal Feb. 23, 1923

Finding anything from the actual times about this play is extremely difficult; these three articles are all written as historical pieces rather than contemporary pieces.

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