The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-08
Pe1iSDryGOOdsCO
ADJUSTMENTS.
Grand-.shore Acres"

cd of stirring deep emotions In the heart
than that employed in the naive symbolism
in "Shore Acres" James Hernes wonder
fully complete, yet unpretentious play,
presented for the first time in this city at
the Grand last night While the beautiful
story was being unfolded there grew on
unconsciously the feeling that this was not
merely a play written and acted for the
purpose of giving pleasure, but one was
easily led to believe that it was a real
view of the homely, pathetic life of the
people whose motive, ambitions and deeds
have appealed to the author for the display
of dramatic art 1t contains much of the
grandeur of "Thanatopsis." but more of the
unaffected idyllicism and realism of one of
Whitcomb Riley's poems, reaching the
sensibilities of the spectator by much the
OF the theater after witnessing shore
Acres and deny having been deeply
moved, or not being inspired with high
moral appreciation of the gentle, living vr-
tues of the mass of humanity and the nobil-
up by all the doctors Of divinity The crust
on his recreant soul is too hard to be pene-
trated by all your preat hing and philoso-
seif-denyins brother from whom whom he he had
home in amoment Of ungovernable rage, are
welcomed back with tears and melting for
siyeness The rude simplicity, the &c open pen
dreams and the final resignation and con-
tentment in the lot Of the sterling Amer
Herne's play. He has avoided all melo-
dramatic subterfuge. and by the simplest
sublimity of play acting hardly to be found
in any other production now before the pub
In "shore Acres there is a lesson. but
no moral The lesson is for
the numerous profession of players.
son in sThe Old Homestead and has
complished q work. that can do more for
magazine articles written In lifetime. No
laws of human life have been violated in
the vivid construction Of his plot and moth
beings is utilized in its presentation. yet
o oe he e one Msen R
scss happy and when b. they
called in decade that approaches "Shore
Acres" and it is almost safe to say. yesrs
will pass, before anything to equal It will
than can be said in the limited time. which
The ean STATING II 81 aere alone is
worth a separate article while lack of time
There are four acts set with scenery that
shows the power of realism in the drama
fies the life so deity portrayed First there
is the rustic out-of-doors scene that might
be found on anyone OF a thousand farms in In
cld-fashoned farmhouse where the great
dining room, kitchen and living room
all in one. with a stairway leading up to
the second story. The kitchen stove is
booming, the tea kettle steamng and the
fragrant turkey roasting in the oven. The
table is set for country dinner party be-
fore ones eyes, and Nathaniel Berry, with
an apron tied under his arms, is fussing
around the cooking, helping and scolding
the women folk, tasting the cranberry
sauce and making the turkey sauce.
The third act is brief and theatric.
Nathaniel quarrels with his brother and
and husband. The fourth act takes place
once more iii the old farmhouse. There is
very little more introduced than the ordi-
nary events of a night ut home, yet there
are tears and heartaches, reconciliation and
good will until when the hour of bedtime
approaches the atmosphere of the place
seems almost too sacred for the close in
yet written of '.Shore Acres is by Nym
Crinkle, and 1t is on this scene when he
CAS- the curtain falls you have the same
feeling of sad completeness that you feel
as YOU watch the sun go down behind the
western hills. You have seen it go down
q thousand times just that way, but you
Mr. Herne's play sets in a human heart,
slld he has made us enter closely into
the simple satisfaction OF the human be-
ing before US. that take up the candle
with him and go. up to bed. to lie down to
pleasant Dreams
The audience last night illedsthe theater
and it lis a pleasure to know that this
where it will be presented the rest of the
week.
Pnrk-ssA Baggage Check