Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-12
HEARTS OF OAK.
A Magnificent Drama Masnificently Mount
ed and Faultlessly Enacted.

| GU tuu EduIt1cSbly 1IuuSUCu'
The Opera House was crowded last evening
| to witness the first representation OF "Heart
of Oak" by James A. Herne's dramatic com
pany. The reputation the company and tn
drama had achieved at the East had raised tn
expectations of the public and those expecta
tions were fully realized. The drama is a move
one, dealing with the fortunes of party O.
hardy sailors on the coast of Massachusetts,
Injured to perils and possessed Of noble, self
sacrificing hearts. Terry Dennison, sailor
miller, has taken two orphaned waits, boy
and girl, under his care and taught them to
live for others rather than for themselves. Al
they grow to maturity they learn to love each
other with more than brotherly and sisterly
affection. This state of affairs Is unknown tC
Terry,who in time finds his affections wrapped
up In his fair ward. He tells her his heart
Though it costs her q struggle to surrender
her younger love, the companion of her child
hood sports, she does SO, in obedience to her
sense of duty and out of gratitude for his
kindness to her. The same sentiments lead
her lover to give her up. Two years pass by,
Chrystal happy wife and mother, but her old
affection still remaining. Her husband acci.
dentally discovers the truth, and that he may
not stand in the way Of the happiness OF the
young people whom he so dearly loves he
abandons his home for the Arctic seas, first
exacting promise from Ruby, the lover,
to make Chrystal his wife if he does not return
within five years. Six years pass, when he
returns, infirm and blind through hardship,
on the day upon which his wife and Ruby are
married. He finds his child a charming
little girl, decorating O tombstone erected to
his memory with fresh flowers. he discovers
her identity, and an affecting scene takes place.
He is recognized by an old friend as he falls
fainting upon his old doorstep, and taken
away to his cabin to die. His two wards, for
whom he has sacrificed 80 much, discover his
identity just as he is breathing his last. The
situations are full of strong, manly action,
and in every respect the drama is elevating in
tone, calculated to illustrate the beauty of
self-sacrifice and devotion to duty.
The mounting of the piece is the finest ever
seen upon the st. Paul stage. The scenery is
realistic to perfection, and wonders of scenic
art. The first is a rocky view OF the coast,
with the waves surging upon the beach with
the motion and sound of the roaring sea. The
second is an interior scene in a mill with the
machinery in motion and all hands at work;
while the succeeding views are all superbly
gotten up and are both fresh and novel.
AS for the acting too much of praise cannot
be given. Mr. Herne as Terry was the en-
bodiment of the rough though kindly sailor
and miller, his enunciation being clear and
marked by high dramatic culture. Miss
Katherine CorcOran as Chrystal was all that
was womanly, and shOne with signal ability,
in the emotional scenes. Sidney
Smith as Owen Garroway was exceedingly
comical in the first three acts, and showed
himself capable of exhibiting deep pathos in
the succeeding acts. Mr.. Crompton as Uncle
Davy and Mr.. Mainhall as Ruby Darrell were
both excellent.
The play, the best in every respect that has
been seen here this season, will be reproduced
at the matinee and in the evening of to-day.