Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-22
GREAT
Attraction at Grecnwairs on 1.-ist-
mns-rbc Ola Homestead Xmas
Matinee aud Might, and Thurs.
day NiEht-Conwny a. Fox
ErILny MINT.

Denmnn Thompson's great play
"The Old Homestead" will be present.
ed at Greenwalrs opera house on
Christmas matinee and night. and
Thursday night The Dallas News of
last Friday morning says:
1t has been inaptly said that actual
life In most of It's aspects Is dun and
tedious; that most persons are com
monplace except at rare moments, and
that II Is the uncommon element that
invests humanity with an abiding in
terest. 1t In doubtless true that the
world OF art has very little room for
the commonplace. yet ordinary life and
seemingly insipid scenes frequently be-
come positively refreshing when re-
vealed under Interesting and plctur-
esque circumstances. This il true of
"Old Homestead"
In the production It Is evident that
Mr.. Thompson made no attempt 10
idealize or transiigure human nature,
nor did he strive for literary tlnsel. II
was his purpose to tell quaint inter
estlng story Of rural life. The result
Of the dramatlsts efforts is a play of
intrinsic popular value, embodylng
characters requiring peculiar but de-
cided art, yet laying no claims of pos
session to the elements OF literary ex-
oellence. or being, from an artistic
point of View, n particularly commend
able or perfect specimen of the play
wrigbters art.
There Is, however, n serene yet indie
scribable charm In the beauties OF
rural life-thc light and shadows OF
forest, babbling brooks and the even
ing brcezes singing their gentle lula
bies to the birds and flowers" that
transport one from the busy. stirring,
1ostling scenes OF ordinary, practical
life In n rpulIft ~ ntttat thnpphf u,,l
pose. The element which always
pleases the general instinct of human
nature In freely wrought into the text
ure of THE Old Homestead" and II
Is this that has established its pres
ent envlable reputation. and It Is this
to which the grand old play IL indebt-
ed for Its essential charm and chief
victory. The story OF "'The Old Home
stead" Is simple and homely, yet most
Interesting. The leading characters of
the play are represented MS good ma
tured, ungainly, green In manner, per-
tinacious. unsophistlcated In city ways,
absurd and ludicrous, yet thoroughly
honest, delicate. tender and lovable--
singular compound OF nwkwardness,
serio-comic humor and homespun
sense. These roles, as regards inter-
probation. require remarkably keen
sense of comic perplexity and serlo-
comic humor, u delicate touch OF visit
full tenderness here and therein sew
cral scenes an emotion close akin to
pathos.
Mr.. Thompson has selected n cast
who ind in the rural characters thor
oughly congenial ones. and they infuse
into them quiet. sweet spirit and
treat them with n delicacy OF touch. II
correctness of conception, that renders
each character as gracious with inner
ent gentleness as they are always
droll. The performance altogether was
as enjoyable a piece as has been seen
here for n long time, SO natural In
manner and so admirably did Il sus-
tain the Illusion of real life, that II
challenged the admiring acceptance of
the most refined taste
Perhaps the most tuneful music and
the best double quartette ever heard
In Dallas was that of last night with
'The Old Homestead" Their music
was most enjoyable. and repeatedly
encorcd.
or the cast nothing but praise is due
them. Suffice It to say that It would be
difficult for Old Denman to have made
better selection OF cast to represent
his famous old piece.
A large audience greeted the per-
formancc, despite the fact that Jupiter
Pluvius had a grudgo against theater
goers,