The morning call., 1891-08-09

fact we have yet to learn of any adverse
judgment. The author. Augustus Thomas,
has achieved distinction through it. The
most profound, scholarly and conservative
critics have accepted him as one OF the lead
ing dramatists of the day. This is GER
tainly cause for general # not national
c0ngratulation. MI Thomas is still a very
young man. He has written several other
clever plays, and has also met with numer-
Gus failures but his last effort and the one
under notice anticipates for him a glorious
future In Alabama" he is said TO have given
the American people play they can thor
<,ghly understand. He has not gone over
2heiT heads; he has respected / heir prejG-
dlces, and lie has been true TO American
ideas. Alabama is not regarded as a
great play in the sense OF thrilling scenes,
melodramatic situations and declamatory
lines. 1t moves along as quietly As the life
/. reveals; there Is a vein OF quaint and
subtle humOr which is never coarse or
forced. It is true to the life it pictures. 1t
Is bright in dialogue, clean in plot, direct in
story, Interesting IN characters. 1t is whole
some, refreshing. 1t is peimeated with the
atmosphere of nature. It has its Imperfect
tons, but they are atoned for by its merits.
Ii takes US into the heart OF the soft South
crn States, and reflects the impusiye South
eIn character IN its best aspect The bits
OF lie It shows are real. Almost all the peo-
PIE IN ''Alabama' seem to b. lovabie.
OUTLINE OF THE STORY.
Mrs. Page, a widow, and her son are
threatened with ruin by their relation Raymond
Page, who claims their property. The ladys
marriage, ii appears, Is disputed and, until the
imPutatlon is proved false, The fair fame OF the
Pages and Colonel Preston Is clouded. Harry
Preston, the COiOners son, has disappeared be
fore the opening Of the story after a quarrel with
bis old father. lie holds tie proofs which might
confouud Raymond Page, aud IN the third act lie
returns 10 his hOm- much changed by many
years spent In the North. Captain Davenport.
rs Harry Preston Is now KNOWN still loves hts
father ana Mrs. Page, the woman whom his
father once forbade him to wed He reaches his
old home In lime TO see the unfolding OF his
own daughters attachment 10 NoTtheTner
named Armstrong ana to prevent the girl from
breaking b. r grandiather's heart by eoplng, for
Old Preston las not pardOled the North its VIE
tories. lie has been ruined By The war, which
has robbed him OF all but pretty Carey. The
Colonel reseuts the Blur pug his family by
Page ana Insults him. A duel between Page
aud Colonel Mob Tly, who takes up the quarrel
seems likely 10 grow out Of the incident. But IN
the last act the intervention Of Harry Preston
avelts The duel. Page is convicted of accepting
bibles and forced to apologize. The old Colonel
II ems his arms to his lost son and consents to
SareYs marriage. and Harry Preston Is made
happy with lie widow.
ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY.
In dealing with this play of Southern life,
Mr.. Thomas has taken us away from the
SCARED battlefield ana exciting war Incl
dents which heretofore have never failed to
b. called into requisitiOn by writers of
plays the scene of which is laid in the South.
In choosing the characters the young drama
list has given the eeeentrieities, as we'll as
the kindly and Iovahlp traits n tha Southarr