Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18
The Prince of ALI American Comedians in His
Latest Success
KIDDER'S PLAY. A PEACEFUL VALLEY
A Brief Story Depicting Mr.. Russels
Wonderful Advancement

tims about the ragged and forlo-n
! looking youth 10 indicate the success
he has since descrvediy met with as
! ulne comedy on the American stage
today"
ue Loves ats Art.
Off the stage Mr.. Russell is a genial,
clever, dignltied gentleman, who can
/ not fail 10 create favorable impresslon
, upon wnomsoever Inc comes IN con
tact. He Is man of Keen percep-
tons, limitIess Wit. genuine humanity,
anu possesses brain enough for gov
crnor, or senator. or even a presl-
dent. lie - an inimltabIe story teller.
lie does thugs tor others to initate.
lie IS i leader IN his profession; genu-
me gentleman, a warm-hearted SYM
pathetic, real friend III MS race. Sol
smith Russell is u very strong believer
! IN real estate investments. Several
years ago he invested ali his savings at
Minneapolis, which has made him to-
day one OF the richest actors III the
country.
But he says: al love my art. | was
born To II, and have been devoted to it
for thirty years, and tell you in all
sincerity that the happlest hour in the
twen,y-four for me Is when enter my
dressing room at the theater and begin
10 dress for the part am to play st the
ensuing performance. The man vino
has purpose IN this life and works
faithfully to the fulfillment of that
purpose IS the happy man. maintain.
ana Go not and cannot envy the man
who simply makes money rapidly at
the sacrifice of his art and panderng
to false tastes"
His Play q Success
The engagement of Mr.. Russell will
begln Monday evening for two nights
IN the Powers Grand opera house. He
will open with the presentation OF
Peaceful Valley" Sol Smith Russell
has achieved triumph this season in
his new play that has never been ex-
celied by anv comedian in America.
This play 10 by Edward +. Kidder, and
is founded on the actors persoal OBJ
scrvatlons OF that class of typical
Americans from Which Lincoln. Web
stcr. Greeley, Garfield, and others have
sprung. Ii breathes the wholesome.
invigorating air of the the old New
England mountain farm. Justice
- the high ideal of its ceatral char
acter, and the Lesson Is enforced
through the medium of q well-educatcd
country boy, 'unsophlsticated in city
ways, green IN manner, but with y
character incapable of dong any
wrong-Hossa Howe by name. AT tho
opening of the play Hosea Howe Is seen
IS waiter at the Mountain hotel, u
summer resort IN New England. earn
my enough money to pay his way
through college. lie meets q city girl,
and from the admiration OF each for
the other a good deal of humor is ex-
tracteJ.
Where the scene "a Laid.
The scene is in the Peaceful Valley
Howe IS brought into relief by the sur
roundings CT city bred people, and of
flashy young men of rather loose NOR
ais. Hrs sister is induced 10 run away
To New York city with . man OF no
character who has fascinated her.
They are married 10y Jonathan Ford,
justice of the peace. To prove this
marriage and find the Lost sister
supply the play with dramatic
interest. The second act is nj
Hosea Howe's farm, on the noun
! tam. Here are seen homely pictures
| OK country life. Hosca's courtship, hIs
unceasIng desire to- 60 TO the city, and
| other quaint situations. make up the
humor and the Interes, of the act.
| In the concluding az; Hosea is IN New
| York. Iiis experience there in search
(. ing Tor MS sister, whom he finds. the