The record-union., 1895-01-08
ADJUSTMENTS

Mr.. BRUSHES new play, 'The Estate OF
| Hannibal Howe" was greeted by the
largest first night audience that has been
drawn by tie Higgins WaIdron Com
pany, at the Clunie Opera-house. It is a
pretty and a probable story; simply told.
and in language homely, but oft poetic
and philosophic. 1t is free'from the fault
of ''The Assemblyman," Mr.. Brusie's
frst play, IN that 1t does not aim too high
and attempt to dignity that on which
dignity Will not sit; il does not reveal
any effort on the part of the author TO
prove his familiarity with moral philoso-
ply, the standard poets, or the patriotic
speeches of American statesmen, Its
characters are natural, taken from every
day life, and are invested with deep hu-
man interest There is no over-color in
the play, nor yet so much of grays
and somber tints as to make it
wearlsome or doleful. The pathos
is deep but homely; its passions
strong but not sensational; its informing
intelligence clear and certain, but not
stllted and pre5umptuous. While it has
crudltles, too many characters-and here
there calls for exercise Of charity to the
characteristic cheerful humor and the
strong individuality of the persons of the
story, atone Tor minor shortcomings. The
r.
Brusie for the philosophy of kindness to
the brute creation that he makes his lines
preach; the Salvation Army should elect
the author an honorary member tor the
gallant defense he makes of it's methods.
and tor putting the army on the stage in
approving form and not in ridicuIe. All
| in all, it is clever, humorous and pa
thetic play. with such deep, strong, tune
ful touches OF kindly human sympathy
and unpretentious wit that il is no Won
der the dress circle clapped It's hands a
score OF times or that the gallery thun-
dered the acclaim of the gods. Mr..
Bacon, in the leading character, Amos
Howe, scored the success of his career.
\ ot that he has created the part. for
it is not original; but he has given
an individuality and strong, new
flavor to the part of the eccentric,
humane, impulsive, loving old farmer
that is artistic work in the highest
sense. He had to deal with part easily
made ridiculous, but be skillfully
avoided 1t; his Amos is swayed between
selfish and ignoble impulses, and the
sense of honesty and manliness, the lat
ter always triumphing. AS for instance.
when he advises his daughter to marry
without revealing the sad story of her
life to her lover, but almost instantly re-
| Dukes the ignoble suggestion by con-
Tossing his error; but it is done in a man
the estimation of the audience than if he
had not wavered at all. Again, the flesh
would lead him into conflict and pro-
| family; but the better man, the natural
gentleman, puts the devil behind him,
| but with so little of atfectation or effort.
! that the spectator scarcely realizes that the
old man was not always good. The
other chiefly notable character is that of
the office boy by Mr.. Burress. 1t is dis
| tinctly q creation; it is original in
every sense of the word, and the
cleverest kind of low comedy.
If it does not stand as Burress'
best, we will be greatly. mistaken. It
may be thought to be low in the levels of
art, but we esteem it almost as fine art to
create Stolastacus Stokes as to erect a
| heroic character. There is great deal of
doubling and trebling, and best of it is
done by Mr.. McCurdy, whose four dis
guises are so complete and so admirably
sustained that very few would have recog-
niZed the same actor in the four, but for
the repetition of the name on the play
bill. OF the other characters notice must
be reserved. They are none weak, and
some are very strong. One is taken by
an amateur, Miss Daisy Kendrick, of pre-
possessing stage presence, and it was well
taken. OF course, Miss Waldron's hero
inc was quite taultless--but of that and
others hereafter. The play is we'll staged,
well played, is UP for a run and full
houses, and fairly wins for Sacramento's
Assemblyman the title Of ''playwrigh :"