The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-01
AMUsEMENTS.
..rhs BELLE, nd Cerdr.x,s.

AMUsEMENrs.
ssrhe Bells'' 1t Cordray's.
1t 10 NO longer . mooted question that tie
stage II one of the great educating factors of
the age. except in the minds OF . few fanatics
whose narrow p-ejudices have dwarfed their
normal mental development No one who saw
Clay Clement as Matthias in 1.-THE Bells" last
night At Cordray's will forget for some time the
terrible lesson taught on the sure punishment
OF crime. In this case the criminal escaped de-
lection by his fellows, but long years of battle
with conscience paralysed his iron nerves ana
left him covering before the phantoms of dis
ordered brain The merciless mockery
OF fate in extinguishing this mans
forfeited life at time when
his home was the scene Of q most joyous event,
the marriage OF his beloved daughter, when to
him even the merry peal Of wedding bells were
but ministers of justice. impressed every re-
Meeting observer with awe. M. Clements
Characterization OF Matthias was mastsrsul,
intellectual insight into. ana on artistic knowl-
edge. Of every part, well balanced judgment OF
the relation Of each part to the other and q
happy combination OF all these. The elements
OF character alone, in this instance, are not the
only subjects for consideration; the very main
spring of intelligence, the soul, must be made
tangible In order to read thoroughly this
fecsionate husband, a tender father and .
brutal assassin all in one The development OF
the throes OF conscience and the consequent
fear OF detection was subtiy shown by Mr.. Glenn.
ent The first Naturalization OF the bells aston
tshed the burgomaster - much q did his sud
den sickness the friends around him on that
eventful night Had not he heard sleigh bells
1angle hundreds OF times along the frosty road
that ran past the old inn9 Had he not lived for
fifteen years in this same inn and had such .
strange occurrence ever happened that he alone
OF al the guests should hear that internal
jangle? When the bells first sound Mr. Clement
makes his Matthias think OF the sound a. an
ordinary thing. Their prolonged jsngle makes
him think, reflect and question. When satis-
fed that he alone hears them, horror stamps IT.
self on his brow and he falls helpless to his
chair from vertigo or apoplexy. A diseased mind
allied with physical ailment had for the first
time lashed him in the presence OF others. The
horrible conviction forces itself upon him after
the room 10 cleared and he 10 left alone that
vengeance Is on his track; It 10 intensified by
the vision of the murdered Jew. and, wholly
Frustrated, he utters q thrilling cry of fear and
despair, which brings his wife and daughter to
his side. In the second act Mr.. Clements
Matthias clearly showed the inroads made by
the horrible events OF the preceding night He
10 paler; his step lacks its frmness and his gait
has a show of shambling. The soliloQuy was
lines being colloquaily natural, and the acting
indeed it was more than acting, it was living
tho scene. In the final act-the great
dream scene-Mr. Clement rose to heights
OF gifted eminence. In this crucial
climax of the drama II may be thoughtfully
said that the inipersonator was fused into one
entity with the dream-tortured, conscience
stricken murderer. Before the mesmerist en-
tered. the eyes OF the dreamer had the peculiar,
fixed gaze of the somnambulist: and, ~ the
visionary court with it, terrible judges and
officials proceeded with due solemnity to try
him, he pinchsd his arms with fingers and
teeth. he pulled hts hair and he examined OBJ
jects to test If after all the horrible sight were
not the vagary OF dream. After succumbing
to hypnotic influences, no was clay in tho
hands OF the potter. II was in the portrayal OF
this dream within 6re9fn that Mr.. Clement
made the greatest effort He lost self and was
in mimic reality the man who took the
life. of his fellow to save himself and his
from perjury. When the blow 10 struck
and the girdle is wrested from the victim. the
horrible revulsion to touch the body tina:
surged over features and frame was painfully
realistic. He touched the corpse, withdrew his
hand and shu .dered; again he ventured only
to recol, while his eyes looked like those of a
hungry demon who would devour, but dare
not The frenzy OF despair seized him, and,
avsrting his eyes, no clutched an arm with
vise-like grip: then the other. 4 nightly lift
aud the clammy thing il on his back. Slowly
ana iaborously he carried IL to the lime kiln,
threw il down with an aversion that made the
spectators shiver; opened the door and thrust it
in; teen rushed from the spot with the fearful
cry of . lost soul - he caught sight
of the dead mans eyes glazing at him
through the half-closed entrances. sigh
of audible relief was given by every
one in the thestsr, % tense was the excitement
OF the scene, and - the curtain fell prolonged
applause brought the gifted actor to the foot
lights. The support was excellent Miss Fits
Allan made captivating Anette and portrayed
with artistic touches the shy and reserved bride
OF Christian. Miss Julie Kingsley created great
mirth by a clever and snappish impersouation
of the maid Isozel. while Miss Kara Keuwyn
was equally at home in the part of Catherine.
Mr.. Quinn a. Father Walter, Mr.. kerns as Hans,
and Mr.. Hertslet as Christian were all happy in
their roles The farce 1.-The Dead Shot" was q
pleasant diversion after the drama, ana put
every one In good humor.
:"Brutus; OF, the Fall OF TarQ uin.''
A strong and talented company Of amateurs
from Tacoma will present the play of "Bru.us;
Or the Fall Of Tarquin'' at the Seattle theater
tonight for the benefit OF the local militia com.