Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-10
A child OF The state TO-NIght-A
anafcIa NJ the Play.


This evening the celebrated Hoey- Hardie
Combination will present the beautiful and
popular play entitled ga Child OF The
State" which has proven an immense sue
cess. The company is pronounced without
exception by our brethren Of the press else
where as one of the best dramatic compa-
mics that has visited the South. As the play
has never been produced In Savannah, the
following sketch will be Of interest to thea
tre-goers:
The scene is laid at The Hague, in Hol-
land, in the latter part Of the seventeenth
century, and the title comes from an old
Dutch law, that made female orphans, not
otherwise provided for, "Children of the
State;" and protected them from harm by
requiring that any man compromising the
honor of one of these girls should marry
her or suffer death. The Count Maurice de
Lancey Mr.. James N. Hardie), q nobleman
attached to the French Court, arrives at
The Hague, accompanied by one Gros Rene
(Mr. George Hoey), a species Of everVbody's
friend. Maurice, of course, is ignorant of
the peculiar law respecting these orphans,
and falls to flirting desperately with Ger
trande (SignOrs MsjeronD, "Child OF the
State" and regards the indulgence as
mere diversion. Gertrande, being far from
contented with her lot in life, encourages
the Counts advances, in the hope OF get
ting rich and titled husband. Suffice 1t to
say, that the young man falls easily into
the net the orphan has spread for him. Ger
trance begins to love the young Frenchman
with pure womanly love; but, upon find
ing that he is betrOthed to Marie Miss
Emma Pierce), the ward Of Won Heinrich
(Mr. H. Rees Davies, her passion causes
her to intensely hate her rival. Marie is
also loved by Christian (R. j. Dillon, an
advocate, and nephew of Magistrate Valid
berg MARK PRICE,, and the uncle demands
the girl for his nephew, threatening Louise
MRS. j. ] Prior, the wife Of Won Helmich,
with the exposure of an unhappy incident
in her early life, of which tiny grave and
himself as the lover who entrapped the wo-
man into a false marriage, are supposed TO
be the only reminders Louise braves the
threat Marie and Maurice are happy in each
hers love, and the formal betrothal is
about to take place when Gertrande bursts
into the room aud forbids IT., demanding her
rights as a child of the State from her be-
trayer, according to law. Waldberg
espOuses her cause, hoping to clear the wav
for his nephew, and obtains from her the
written proofs Of De LanceY's advances.
The unfortunate Frenchman goes to prison;
Gertrande is relentless, and Marie begs
her lover to marry the orphan, and
so save his life. He refuses, and
death seems imminent, when Gros-Rene,
the Deus ex Machina of the play, comes In
to the possession of a secret, which proves
Gertrande to be the fruit of the false mar
rage between Louise and Waldberg. Her
mother has long believed her dead, but In
reality she was stolen by her nurse, who alb
Quoted her to replace her own dead child.
Gros-Rene informs Gertrande of her posi-
ton. which information at once softens and
completely changes her nature. She and
her mother recognize each other, and the
latter betrays her secret to her husband in
order to save Maurice-Gertrsnde not being
an orphan. She proclaims Waldberg as the
father Of the girl, who denies 1t, when Won
Heinrich, to save his wife's honor, claims
Gertrande as his own child, just as Maurice
is being led to execution. Through the
whole story are also seen the characters of
Carline Miss Eva Barker), a bright, right
minded ''Child of the State" who uses the
law as a means Of playing pranks upon the
susceptible GrOs Rene. Waldberg, the
villain, is eventually brought to justice by
the confession of one BidOche Oh. j. Mo
rOso), who has been left to starve by him
after serving him in all of his villainies.