The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-10
AT THE THEATER.
James O'nefH in "VIrginius" To-
nights Attraction.

Mr.. James O'Nell viii be seen tonight
In Sheridan Knowles play "Nirginius.'
II Is the first time he has been seen in the
play here. Savannah theater-goers being
more familiar with him in the character
OF Edmund Dantes in Monte Cristo. II was
not the decision of day that led him TO
venture into new and less pecuniarily ara
bic fields. The ventures have been eau
tous. and the bars have been left down
TOT an occasional return TO the well ploW-
ed, but still fertile land OF his earlier sue
cesses; At first his ventures were unsuc-
to be o'Neiii and Monte Gristo tkat the
people wanted. not O'NeiH and anything
Use eg A less plucky man, one less the lover
81 ms art for arts sake would have been
haunted, but he has perseYered and has
amply proven that his Monte Cristo drew
upon out trivial modicum of his abilities
his performance of Virginius has placed
hsin before the public as the actor worthy
OF wearing the title Of tragedian. There
Is no trace OF Edmund Dantes in his as
SUMPTION OF Virginius. One can scarcely
imagine that any actor could give such
dunlirable performances Of those two di-
verse and difficult roles Mr.. O'Neill is far
from being q one-character actor. Mr.
-Nelis production of Nirginius, from a
scehlc standpoint, is most sumptuous and
compete, not one stick Of the scenery be-
ing used that is not carried by the COM
pany in its special car
Few plays written within the last few
years nave attracted more attention than
James A. Herne's comedy of New England
life and character. shore Acres" which
Is underlined for production here Thurs
uay matinee and night. All who have seen
ana studied the work admit that Mr.
Herne has linked his Characters more near
~ 20 me life and made them seem more
real than in any dramatic work which
can be called to mind He impresses one
as making them do what he has actually
seen them do. and IL realism, be the end
ana ann of stage production, Mr.. Herne
mas more nearly hit the mark than any
contemporary dramatist, in that he has
beyond all others more clearly followed
me injunction TO hold, as 'twere, the mir
ror up to nature"
The second of the Young Mems Chris
tan Association Star Course of enter
tainments, the Mozart Symphony Club
concerts, will be given at the Guards
halt tomorrow night. The club consists
or an excellent string quartette. and
the members owe their reputation to the
fact that they form the only musical
organization which plays such obsolete
Instruments as the Viola d'Amour "a
strlngs) and the Da GAMBIA 90 strings).
also the Royal Triumphal Trumpet,
Ieet IN length, which was played during
the reign of Julius Caesar and the Chro-
matte harp. which is constructed entirely
dinerent from the old harp, ped
II has an imposing appearance .,
being much larger than the
ordinary one used, and resembles a dOu-
BILE instrument, while its tone is remark
ably full and resonant, yet clear and
sweet. To those who are not familiar
with the Viola glamour and It's construc-
ton description of its qualities will be
OF interest. 1t has fourteen strings SINH
lar TO the Viola in theory, but far more
expressive in power of tone. When listen>
ing TO II, a person at times gets the I'm
preston of a complete ensemble. Seven
OF the strings only are used in bowling,
While the balance are directly under the
original seven and vibrate in unison. The
tone must be heard to be appreciated, and
It is claimed to be superior to the VIC
ment held under the chin. Herr Stoelzer
Is the only soloist before the public at
present who plays this instrument
The Viol da GAMBIA ten strings, the
only instrument Of its kind In this COM
try. was invented in the seventeenth cen
fury by an English prisoner who was
granted life and freedom as a reward
for his work. II has ten strings, and Is
between a violincello and Viola d'Amour
in size. One Of these instruments is OK
hibited in the South Kensington Museum
London. Its tone is exceedingly express
only artist playing this instrument in
the United States in public at the pres
ent time.
The First Presbyterian Church Band Of
Kings Daughters will give an entertain
next Thursday night for the benefit of
the poor. The entertainment will be OF
social nature, and refreshments win be
served by the ladies. This is the time of
the year when all the bands of Kings
Daughters get in their good work among
ings. are usually Increased by the cold
weather.