Wrong Conclusions

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

The 'wrong conclusions' are those not unnaturally drawn by Mrs Burnham, the canting wife of a conscientious objector, from the request of her neighbours Mrs Sparham that she will take charge for a few days of a baby which has been born in the latter's house during the absence of her soldier-husband at the front. He is due home on leave: the baby is not his, he is not to hear of its existence. Mrs Burnham agrees, and takes the baby; but is moved by conscientious scruples to come back and tell the soldier what she thinks of his wife's morality. The domestic storm that ensues is clumsily calmed down when Mrs Sparham explains that the baby is not hers, but was temporarily taken in by her for the sake of its unhappy unmarried mother, its father being Mrs Burham's own husband, who is thus shown to be a hypocritical profligate, as well as a conscientious objector. The playlet, though sound in moral motive, is very crude and feeble in dramatic execution. It is however recommended for licence. Ernest A. Bendall.