Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-07
MIR. Doak's Dramatic Reading.

Mr.. Doak's Dramatic Reading.
Persons of literary inclinations
and culture who attended the read
ing given by Mr.. III. NJ. Doak
Saturday night enjoyed rare treat.
There were numerous school chill
dren in the audience, drawn thither
by the fact that the entertainment
was for the benefit of the Public
School Library who were probably
not able to follow the reader, and
having little conception of what he
was talking about, were not much
entertained. The same is true i'm a
lesser degree of some Of Mr.. Doak g
friends who attended from personal
considerations. Persons OF prac-
teal turn of mind who care moth
ing for the finer points of poetic
composition would not have been
interested by the poem read.
Nothing of this kind was indicated
however by the behavior of the
audience, as the most marked at
tention was shown throughout.
Mr.. Doak reads with well laid
emphasis and clear enunciation,
and to persons who's tastes give
them appreciation of such thing,
his reading Saturday night was, as
we have already said, a rare treat.
He read selections from a dra-
matte poem of his own composition
called "Aristodemus,a Messenian Ro-
NANCE" The selections were so
chosen as to preserve in tact the
thread OF the narrative, though, as
he informed the audience, several
interesting scenes embracing
minor plots were omitted. The
poem is deep tragedy that will
require heavy acting in every part.
1t would not be possible to form
a finished idea of its worth without
hearing it i'm full, but so much as
was read Saturday night is sufficient
to impress the hearer with the fact
that it has superior merit. We
would be pleased beyond measure
to see ii on the stage, and we DC.
lieve that a Booth could give to
"Aristodemus" that vivid reality
approaching potential existence
which attaches to Hamlet, Lear,
and other Shakespearian creations.
The story is founded on Grecian
history, and is a legend of the
wars of the Spartans and Messe-
mans. The characters are strongly
drawn and the conception of each
of them is original without being
unnatural. The principal points of
the story are pathetic and deeply
affecting. They aptly illustrate
the working of the religious super
stitions of the era on strong minds
and noble natures.
"Aristodemus" is Grecian
Jeptha who makes a religious sacri-
fee of his daughter. The anguish
that he suffers, and the deep emo
ton that he feels, resulting from a
conflict of duty to country and @
disposition to succumb to grief, is
drawn with a master hand and
creates as fine a character as could
be found in fiction or history. The
interest in the play at first centers
in the daughter whom "Aristode-
mus" sacrifices, and her lover, Ly-
sander, so when the girl meets her
tragic death in the early part of the
play, it creates for a while a disap-
pointment. But the keen interest
soon awakened in "Aristodemus',
the real hero, dispels this and the
listeners attention is kept chained
to the end.
The writer of this article speaks
from provincial standpoint, and
his experience In such matters is
so limited that he feels a little
modest in expressing his earnest
opinions that when this tragedy is
placed on the stage it will be a
great success. But it is so evident
ly superior to the dramas with
which such writers as BARLEY
Campbell and Dion Beaucecault
have flooded the country, that he
believes the literary and theater-
going public will hail with delight
new play of the superior tone of
Mr.. Doak's production.