"A Tailor Made Man," a new comedy by Harry James Smith, cleverly Americanized from Gabriel Dregley's "The Well-Fitting Dress Suit," received an unusually responsive reception at the Hollis Street Theatre last night. Witty from start to finish it is as brilliant exposition of the rise of the man of destiny as its predecessor on the Boston boards a few months ago, "Bunker Bean," was a failure.

Take a belief in your destiny, borrow a dress suit, astonish a social gathering to which you had no invitation with your brilliancy, and your fortune is made. This is the philosophy of John Paul Bart, tailor's presser, self-made man, who in four short acts raises himself from nothing to the pinnacle of power.

Mr. Smith with fortunate results mixes the scholar with his impossible Treitschkean system of philosophy with John Paul and his ideas. Result, a combination transferring the tailor to the saver of a great shipbuilding firm, and the scholar to his private secretary.

Grant Mitchell as John Paul Bart, the man of destiny, could not fail to succeed the moment he stepped upon the stage. Unlike "Bunker Bean" he has none of that ethereal something which makes him believe in his success. He is practical, alive, masculine from beginning to end.

Beginning a little pertly, Bart carries off his difficult part with great sureness, with no unnecessary words, with, in short, that something which has made the self-made man. He delighted the audience just as much as his associates who, both men and women, fell in love with him after a few minutes' acquaintance.

Barlowe Borland as Peter, Huber's first helper, with his Scotch appearance and an undisguiseable Highland accent contrasted excellently with the suave Bart who never finds himself at a loss no matter how trying the situation. Peter furnishes one of the best moments in the play with his comments at the society reception where he is an extra waiter, with his remarks of "have a drink, lady?" and "wot am I doing, oh, picking up the empties."

Miss Florence Shirley, the saving grace of "Bunker Bean," had little opportunity of showing her abilities as an actress in the part of Tanya, the tailor's daughter. Her part of the quiet, trusting, believing German girl she played well. Miss Kingsley as Corinne Stanlaw, the heiress, and Robert Fisher, delightfully foreign as Dr. Sonntag, the scholar, are also worthy of mention.

"A Tailor Made Man" by its reception last night seems assured of a deserved success. The Boston stage has offered nothing so unhesitatingly clever this year.