The evening world., 1894-09-05
SLAVES OF GOLD"

There's something new In SLAVES of
Gold" the melodrama now at the Co
lumbus Theatre, Harlem. The villain
introduces the novelty. and as the vii
lain Is the very backbone. the absolute
vitality, the sine qua non of melodrama,
he should be accorded first consdera-
ton. Ordinarily, the gentleman claims
recognition by his tan kid gloves or his
cigarettes. In Slaves of Gold" the
villainy Is written on the eyebrows.
which arc most remarkable. They form
| black toboggan slides from the temple
| To the nose, and meet at that junction.
They suggest the very acme OF crafti-
ness. mental degradation and Macchla-
velllanism. They are a great innova-
! tion-better than the mine scene or the
broken glass escape OF the third act.
Yet this villain. Leonard Monckton-
between you and me and the lamp
posts a very absurd creature. He
is so cheerful about all his deviltry. 1t
comes so naturally to him. He stands
ir full view OF the audience, and says
in sort OF purring sOliloquy. "Tll rob
Bartly's safe. I'll get Clifford accused
OF the crime. and then-ah. yes-I must
to work at once" He is SO conf
dental, and 30 utterly, irretrievably
wicked that he is funny He does rob
the safe, and he at once proceeds to
stuff the bank-notes into poor Walters
pocket. Walter Is hanging on the hat
raCk-that Is to say, his coat is-so the
| job Is easy. But William Hope-The
Hero-is "sLooping" around the corner.
He hears all. The villain goes out for
detective. and while he Is gone the
hero takes the bank from Wal
ter's coat and puts them In the villain 8
| oyercoat pocket. The detective arrives;
a search Is made: Walter found bank
note-less: hero comes forward; Search
Monckton," says he; Monckton protests;
the old employer insists: the search In
made. All, hal All. ha! All. ha! Tab
leau! Quick curtain.
The house went wild with enthusiasm
The gallery boys almost broke their
hands with applause. They yelled with
laughter at the villains discontinue
The main thread OF the story deals with
f2o, 900 left to Richard Bartly's daughter
She dies, and in order to keep the money
in his fists q believe that Is a recherch,
expression now in vogue) he gets VIII
lam Hope. who Is starving. to let his lit
tie daughter impersonate the dead girl
This he does. though his peppers hear
is torn to smithereens In England. an,
he only reveals his identity to the dea,
girl when Bartly ill-treats her. Thel
Bartly tries to make away with hin
down a coal mine, and there Is a grea
to do. but In the fifth ace all is smile
once more.
Slaves OF Gold" pleases the lover
OF unreasoning melodrama. and 1t
well written. Elmer Grandin, who play
the part OF the hero very WELL indeed
Is the author, and he fitted himself spler
didly. Frank A. Tannehille was Richar
Bartly, and put into the part the wild
i gesticulatlng frenzy that twenty year
!, ago, ! believe, was considered quite tn
i thing. John r Burke was the vilai
n with the eyebrows, and Mrs. Elme
s Grandin the heroine, who rushed on III
o stage. calling out "My father-r-r." Law
d renee Wilimas seemed to be sufferin
u from cold i'd his dose. which put
s damper on his heroine. Franklin HUI
leigh made very good dude. and h
attire was certainly unique. Miss Id
Valance should have part of her volC
amputated. William h Arnold was e,
cellent, and Miss Lizzie Creese stage,
The play was most effectively stage,
10 The eyebrows. however, made the h
OF the evening. ALAN DALE.