Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-03-11

precisely Tue same scenery costumes ana
appointments used in It's original pro-
duction al the Princess lheatur. London.
The New Orleans Times-Dom0crat says;
The story Of the play is a gloomy one
from first TO last, aud this dark pail y
scarcely relieved 10y one ray OF cheerful
ness or comedy. Il tells how Glaudiun,
nerich nOhlcm0n of Byzantine, proved
himself O ruthless tyraui in out.bidding a
young sculptor for a beautiful female
slave whom he 1.-THE SCULPTOR had already
married under the belief that huyiug and
freeing her would be a mere matter of
form. The young husband, the slave wife
aud even the child begged piic0usly for
mercy, but Claudlau was lneNOrnble.
Then the citizens rescued the wife from
Claudian's guards and she escaped to
lhe cave OF plone hermit, VINO promised
TO guard her with his lie Candian fol.
lowed and Ia spite of prayers and en-
treaties stabbed the hermit with his
dagger ard wirnched the woman from his
grasp. The hermit was MORALLY wound.
ed. but he lived long enough 10 pronounce
upon Claudilu an annthema that was
long comprehensive, farreaching. elnh-
orate, unique and melndrumatir. Instead
of booming him TO death he doomed him
10 i've, and nrlontly desire opportuulticg
OF doing good, but always find that his
blessings turn to curses, that his charities
bred pesiilence nR1 his friendshin ruin
anu g'tlsler 10 az who earned IT, He
would pray for death as tho greatest
boon. but even that would be- denied HIM
nntil The curse hnd run It's course Then
me Old hermit died aud with his death
came a complete change In Clauliou'g
desires and aspirations Hn wanted 10
~" Iithi ami % b-2iu With he told the
young slave wife that she was free ana
mlEHt return TO her husband, The w0m-
M drled her eyes, and overi0yed, was
about tu spring TO her fcct. hut while
still mon her knees she FILTERED AMI
qmvorcd as II smiitcn by some mort III
pang, and then fell dead al Clandiau's
rect who realized that the hcrmit's cnrse
thg, prologue TO close.
The first, second and third acts. which
took place 100 years later. All eho,ved
Claudian still in tho fun bloom and yieor
of youth, and with immense wealth and
power and almost unlimited nuiharitv
working out the unpleasant amt emblrasS.
ing sentence passed unou him hy M olI
| hermit n century earlier IN hie history
lie sent gold tn help poor woman
whose child lay sick beside the highway,
| and the child died. He released from nm.
| just Imprisonment n young Blacksmith
who was hetr1ihod TO the farmers danrii.
| ter. but before the young lover could
| reach Clnudlan 10 thank him the rirl
had fallen hnpeless,y IN love with their
benefactor and he with her Clandian
mcrcifmly tried 10 relieve her Of her IN.
faination, but this net Of mercy caused
| her TO be- stricken blind. Thus The curse
followed hin 10 the end Of tie play.
when az last he was given the choice Of
life with Almida THE blacksmiih's sweet
henril or death aud heavenly crown
At first ne chose hfe and Almlda. but re-.
aectine that this would only result Ia a
continuation Of the poor girls hard luck,
he chose death. lie was Immediately
stricken down by n fash Of lightning.
lint ia his case the electric current CON
siderately loft him enough ~ life 10 en-.
able him to deliver q dring speech Of
some length, which brought the play to
| close
This play was handsomely mounted and
brilliantly cosiumod. the scenery being an
especiavy attractive feature.
Mr.. Barrett Is n very hanfsoine man
vitb a splendid physique and rich
musical voice. His hearing unon ihe
siage and his gestures are slngnlarly
graceful. and altogether the Impression
ie made was distinctly favorable. ~ an
actor he belongs quite 20 The .represfionisi
scbaoi and his most graceful scenes con
veyed tie idea Of great power ieit IN re-
vi, Horace Hodges rs Belos and Mis'
najsv Belmore as hiessa; ~ iiie 'ollely
- ~ Moth showed considerable eieFsr
80. 80 ana Miss Belmore y deciueus
tic and graceful.