National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-28
THEATRES LAST NIGHT.
BArOn Rudolph" ~ the National" Pa
tIenee" nj Ford's.

The Washington public have heretofore
known Mr.. knight rs nm immensely funny dialect
comedian, and have fockcd to see him and laugh.
Last night they recognized In him tho genuine
comedian In the wider sense. with power to amuse
and thrill by mastery portmyals OF the finer pas
sions of human nature. Ills acting was reyela-
ton which was nothing short Of complete, but
nevertheless very pleasant surprise. The opening
scene Of the piece is laid in New York. where
Rudolph Ufc0dnd (Sir. knight, young German
nObleinon fallen from better fortunes, his posses.
sions partially wasted through his own extraya:
gance and the remainder surrepltiously flched
from him by his trusted friend ana former chum
at Heidelberg, Uhdteorth Laurence fsir Paxton),
makes mandy effort TO support his wife, Rodd
Miss Cobb aud child by la6oring as q foundry
man. A labor-strike throws him out of employ
ment, and lie and his dear ones are brought to ex-
IRENE distress. Ldutnce, the false friend, long
secretly cnnmored with RhOdu, takes advantage Of
their distress. and induces her TO abandon Rudolph,
obtain divorce, and marry him. Heart-broken
and ernzed with his terrible troubles, the poor fel.
low TAILS an easy victim to drink and becomes
tramp-lost, apparently, 10 all sense OF honor or
manhood. After lapse Of eighteen years he
meets his former wife aud his daughter, now
young lady at LaurenCeburg the home of his old
enemy Laurence. While lingering about the spot
news comes that Rudoipfs uncle, dying, has LEFT
him mn immense fortune. AT the same moment
Tvs false friend is exposed as forger and ruined
man, and in his frenzy Of shame commits suicide,
~, the end the Btuon Rudolph, restored and re;
the play ends happily for all as al good plays
ought % do. The daughter miss Willmerel has n
sweet little love affair of her own, and the charm
ing widow, Mrs. Doshtrood (Mrs, knight, affords
abundant fun and pleasure by Ler double 6iria.
ton with General MecuW (Mr. Ashton) and Judge
Me,Tgboiie (Ntr waton) two devoted and energetic
lovers, whom she leads merry dance. Her songs
were enthusiastically received. At last she mar
ries the Judge, and the General swears off on
widows forever. and n day The outline Is suf-
| iicient TO show the playwrigbts abundant oppor-
tunties for pathos and fun, and 1t is sufficient to
say that Mr.. Howard Inns abundantly improved the
DDuOrtuuilfCs Tho ma In which Mr. KNIGHT
has avalled himself Of his share Of opportunities
was. as has been said before, revelation. While
his Baron Rudolph will never in the nature of
things rank with Jefersons Rip, II is fair to say
that us study IL is not greatly exceedb by that f.
nous creation. II Is not necessary 10 speak of NJ
knights singing and dancing; al Washington
knows what he can do In that line. Mrs Knights
magnificent costumes cannot be described by a
male creature Above all we congratulate the
public that the. supporting company u.s. from the
fooman up TO the heavy villain, really first class,
aud In most refreshing contrast to those usually
brought to Washington. Baron Rudolph will be
given every nightthis week and matlnees Wedncs-
day and Saturday.