The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-16

STORY or "The Witch" Played by Miss
Marie Hubert Frohman.
The opera-house has an attraction to-
night and tomorrow night that ought to
bring the management full houses. 1t is
the celebrated colonial drama THE
Witch" and its star 10 that young and
graceful actress, Miss Marie Hubert
Frohman. whose sudden success has been
unprecedented in any actress now on the
boards. The persecution of witches be.
gan in Salem 1852. Twenty-Five persons
were put to death and l55 frightened into
confession. The demand for. witches Gre
ated the supply. As soon as a man began
to look for a witch the witch appeared.
As the frenzy increased persons of
the highest standing were 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 well spent, SO much the
worse, she was hypocrite. If she could
not repeat the Lords prayer, the devil
tied her tongue; if she remembered every
word, Beelzebub was working the accusers.
10 De accused meant, therefore, convic-
tion ana execution, and considering that
strong denial was considered proof posi-
tive OF guilt, and that torture was applied
TO enforce confession, it is not remarkable
that hundreds confessed themselves guilty
TO save torture. In the height of the
frenzy persons came forward voluntarily
ana accused themselves of diabolical prac-
tees and intercourse with devils, and
these unfortunates. who in other days
would be committed as insane, were con-
oemned on their own evidence.
1.-The Witch" tells an interesting story
OF New England life in the seventeenth
century, and has commanded more atten.
ton from thoughtful critics than any
other American production 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 straining for false effects,
calling for unfiagging attention, and in no
wise weakening the intensity of the
climax. Love. hatred, fidelity, jealousy
and 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 a
strong contrast, the spectator involun-
tarily drawing comparisons between the
paipable enlightenment Of the present
and the superstitious darkness of the
PesSss VOhoCIihCub ID t4ClteQ tQdt
such wide gulf should separate a
recent past from our own happy
time. In short, it is historically instruc-
tive and has the further charm of suggest
ing vista of future advancement. Man
ager Frohman has mounted the play In an
appropriate manner. The scenery has
been painted from sketches obtained in
the Museum of Colonial Relics in Salem.
Tonight marks the 475th performance of
the play by this company and souvenir
in the form of a witch" spoon will be
given every lady who holds $1.OO ticket.
These spoons are very unique and have the
figure of a witch, the word Salem, and
three witch pins" on the handle. They
are made by Daniel Low, of Salem, Massa-
chusetts, and guaranteed to be sterling
silver and to retail at $1.25 each. There is
very large advance sale of reserved seats
and the audience will no doubt be a large
one.