The morning call., 1892-07-17
A Reminiscence of salem.


Blood will draw On thee; thou art a witch.
Aud straightway give thy sonl TO him thou seryest
Talbot 10 La PucelIe.
The Bush-street Tbeater has an attraction
this week that ought TO bring the manage
ment a full house every night. 1t is the
celebrated colonial drama 1.-The Witch"
and its star is that young and graceful act
ress. Miss Marie Hubert Frohmau. whose
sudden success has been unprecedented in
any actress now on the boards. The perse-
cu.ion Of witches began in Salem in 1892
Twenty-Five persons were put TO death and
155 frightened into confession. The demand
for witches created the supply. As soon as
a man began 20 look for witch, the witch
appeared. AS the frenzy increased, persons
of the highest standing we're accused
Wealth afforded no safety; poverty
was no shield. If the accused were
wicked, her guilt was undOubted; If
she could look back on life
we'll spent, SO much the worse, she was a
hyp0crite. If she could not repeat the Lord's
prayer. the devil tied her tongue; If she re-
membered every word Beelzebub was work
ing the accusers. To be accused meant,
therefore. conviction aud execution, and
considering that strong denial was consid-
cred proof positive of guilt, and that torture
was applied to enforce confession, IL is not
remarkable that hundreds confessed them
selves guilty to save torture. In the height
taTily and accused themselves OF diabollcal
practices and Intercourse with devils. and
these unfOriunates. who in other days
would be committed as insane, were con-
demned on their own evidence.
1.-THE WITCH
Tells an interesting story of New England
| life in the seventeenth century. and has
| commanded more attention from thoughtful
| critics than any other American produc-
| ton in recent years. The action Is easy,
| five acts being linked together IN natural
| sequence. There is an even distribution Of
| interest without any noticeable Strainiug
| FOR false effects, calling for uniiagging at
| tention. and in no wise weakening the In
| tensiiy of the climax. Love, hatled fidelity,
| jealousy ana treachery are woven into the
| quaint and picturesque simplicity OF early
| New England life. The power OF the whole
piece lies in its vivid presentation of q
| strong contrast, the spectator inv0luntaTily
| drawing comparisons between the palpabie
| enlightenmentO of the present and the super
stitiOus darkness of the past Wonderment
is excited that such wide gull should
| separate a recent past from cur own happy
| time. In short, it Is historically instructive
| and has the further charm of suggesting q
! vista of future advancement. Manager
| Frohman has mounted tie play in an appro-
| pirate manner The scenery has beer
| painted from sketches obtained in thu
| Museum of Colonial Relics in Salem.
THE SOUVENIR sPooNs,
| Which will be distributed to the ladies or
| the lower floor tomorrow night on the oc
rason Of the four hundred and iiftieth per
Torrance. are of sterling silver and bear on
the handle the figure Of witch. in relief
the word 'Salem." ana three witch pins Of
| the same size and shape as those preserved
in the courthouse OF Salem. Miss Frohmar
does not give Sunday performances end il
| consequence the Bush street Iheater vii
| be closed next Sunday night.