Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-12
The DRAMA.

Hearts Of Oak ut the Opera House.
Last evening there was an audience Of
goOdly numbers at Fulton opera house,
attracted thither by the announcement Of
the production here by James A. Hearne's
company Of the new play " Hearts of
Oak.' The theme of tho play is not a
! new one. It hinges upon marriage
prompted by duty and gratitude.
! at the expense Of two loving hearts.
| Terry Dsnnisoa, tho brawny, big
hearted sailor has been u fOster-father to
Ruby Darrel, an orphan lad, and to CArystal,
| q girl-waif, whose pitiful condition years
prior to the opening of the story had ap-
pealed to his generous sympathy, and he
had taken them to his own home. Under
his kind and guardian care the boy and
girl had grown up side by side,
and the date Of the story
| finds them in the bloom Of manhood and
wOmanhOOd. Constant association has
bOuDd their hearts closely together and
they are devoted sweethearts, unknown,
however, to their benefactOr and friend,
who himself has yielded to the influence
of his prOtege's charms, and from kind
protector and guardian has become
CArystaTs devoted slave and lover. I'm
conscious Of the true relations existing
between Ruby and CArystal, he declares
his love to the latter and asks her to be-
come his wife. 1t is 8: terrible struggle
between love and duty upDn thepart Of
the young sweethearts. To the sailor
miller Ruby and Chrystal owe all the hap
piness they have enjoyed in life. Short,
sharp and decisive is the conflict within
the breasts of the lovers. Duty, as they
view it, triumpl,s. Stree Terry Dennison's
life has been one of continued sacrifice
for the comfort and happiness of his
prOteges, they will repay the debt they owe
him by the sacrifice of the love they bear
each other, by remuneration of their own
fOndest hopes and desires. CNrystal shall
marry Terry Dennison, and Ruby shall
carry his wounded, bleeding heart off to sea
again. The sacrifice is made. The sailor
miller weds the girl whose fOster-father he
had been from infancy, andi in his delight
and happiness is unconscious Of the crush
ing blow he has dealt tn the hearts le
would have given his life to make happy.
Two years of bliss for Terry and of secret
anguish for his wife and Ruby pass away
before the scales fall from his eyes and
the truth is made known tn him. Then
there is the separation, the husband max
ing financial ruin that has fallen to his
fortune the pretext for returning to sea
but before departing he exacts from
Ruby "A promise to protect Chrystal
during his absence, and in the event of
his falling to return within five years, to
marry her. The compact is made and the
husband sails away from
tho home where he had been so blinGly
happy. News comes of 7erry's death amid
the icebergs Of the North Pole, aud after
the five years Of waiting Ruby and CArystol
are married, under the agreement made at
the time Of Isrry's departure. On the
very day Of the wedding Terry reappears,
an old, blind, broken-dOwn man. RecOg-
milton comes, but with it comes the death
Of Terry, who, happy in the union of the
whom years before he had
been the innocent cause Of separating,
finds rest at last at the hour Of the fulfill
ment Of his dearest wish.
The treatment Of the we'l-wOrn theme
which may be gathered from the above is
marked by skill and not little original
ty. There is blending Of some of the
eading ideas pervading the beautiful mar
ratives Of s. EnOch Arden, the Man
If Airlic," and rip Van Winkle.'
whilst the dramatist has SO wrought
hat his work is distinctive from
hem all. The situations are cleverly de-
igned, and many "f them pervaded by a
uncommon upon the stage.
There is no striving after effects. but the
'athos and humor that altcrpa in the de-
OF the story are Of the genuine
Ort and 20 right straight to the sympathits
t the auditor. The east was Que Of real
,erit, notably excellent beiu. the acting
T MIR. James 4. iIearuc and Of Miss
latharine Corcoran, in their respective
ut 10 H., II
'terpretation of these characters being