Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-16
MUSINGS WITHOUT METHOD.

In the long list of brilliant names which have illustrated the fine arts there is none attached to personality more interesting and impressive than that of Lillian Lewis, who appeared the two last seasons in F Good bye, Sweetheart" "Credit Lor- raine'' and other plays. She is a woman of fine, even splendid physical proportions, commanding presence, exqnisitely modu- lated voice, and combining talent with conscientious effort to excel in her profess sion. A
 Miss Lewis will make her debut in Shakespearean drama next season, when she will star hs Cleopatra; the production is to be mounted with many stage and scenic effects,i both novel and beautiful. This ambitious flight, so the Dramatic ;, News prophecies, will send her to the fro nt 9 Tank of classic actresses.
 b, Sol Smith Russell is pet of the Birming- ham public no less than Stewart Robson i; they belong to that peculiar school of ''quiet tragediansn of which E. s. Will cellence. AS Professor Goodwillie,. an electrician, in "The Proiessor's Love Story," Willard is inimitable. The con- densed fervor of his love speeches, the in- nocent candor of his question, "l am not in love with the widow, am I?'' surely cannot be surpassed for delicious original
 This play was written by the ever de- lightfu' J. M Barrie E;9.' author tt, Of , IA tsr Md0w sna ThFq~' M1 aav NeoDa he hs MniJ MaEe Burroughs, -Willard's leading lady, is one of the daintiest, most artistic women on the stage. Her best role is that of Vashti Dethic, played oMr. Willard's Judah. !" This is by far the most fascinating drama of WillArd's repertoire.
 Aaa younp Welsh min istPr he finds him. self peculiarly situated as the protector of Vashti Dethic, who is the instrument through which MT. Dethic, her father, gulls the public into patronzins his mes merle "show.'' The people where udah lives are rather oldfashioned and preju- diced, and decline to believe on hearsay that the beautiful Vashti can support na- ture without the assistance of food for forty days and nights. She is compelled to re- tire to tower, and under the watch of enemies nearly starves, her father being unable to supply her as his won't.
 On one occaslon Judah beholds the at tempts of the fraudulent Dethic to convey bread to his daughter, but makes no sign; ing away by one of the watchmen, and a cry is raised to which the inhabitants re- spond, fiinging abuses at the unfortunate ''subject." Willard, who finds love stronger than honor, faces his flock in a right heroic manner, and declares that no one has approached her but himself.
 The villagers retire abashed, and then follows the grand scene between Judah and Vashti he bids her 'Away womanl Touch me notl" To her entreaties he finally yields, and his repeated cry, 1T love youl love youl love youl'' is thrilling be- yond comparison. They marry, but Judah declines to accept the pastorate of the new church, and before the assembled people confesses his falsehood, which has ''burned him through the heart and forced itself out to the W o-ld.' V Vashti, in faltering phrase, re- veas her deception, and hand in hand the self-exled pair depart to seek another home, where ''fairer scenes shall find us, and time anoint the wounds of destiny." It is plot in fact, without fiaw-almost an idyl, pure, mournful and yet cheery withal until the finale shapes 8 sadder memory for us than we like to cherish, be- cause it seems unjust to them, for is not re- pentance sufficient punishment in itseli?
 '.Judah' is by Henry A. Jones, author of the "Middleman' and "Silver King.o
 The elaborate condem nation received at the hands of one "Maintainer of Princi- ple'' shall have place in certain mem ory book wherein an inspector might find, with very little trouble to himself a page or two devoted to "Recorded Errors. ' Now, my dear madame or sir Gas the case may not be, for it is more likely to be an irresponsible miss or mastery, it pains the 'audacious advocater of Sara Grand's inn morality' to inform you that anonymous notes are equivalent to blanks in the con- or woman.'' etc. (ad minimum, ad nau- seam). and calls forth merely the contempt and-bnt for the sake of "other folks, '' Je tiens ma (feminine) or mon (masculine)- which? plume. SYDNEY DARYL.