The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-24
news OF THE TnEATERs
A Social Highxayman Presented at
The rockingham.
MINNIE PALMER At ACADEMY
Was Seen i'm an Opcratic Comedy En-.
titled the School Giri-Crackcr Jack
tho Attraction at Davis'-Somc
Coming Attractions.

A drama of intense interest is "A So
cial Highwayman," produced at the
rockingham last night by Joseph Hol-
land and f. NJ. Holland and their ex-
cellent supporting company under the
management of Richard Mansfield. The
story of the play is as follows: Cour-
tice Jaffrey is young man of excel
lent standing in society. He is rich, a
bachelor, good fellow, and is made
much of by the women of the highest
social rank. He has the attributes of
the perfect gentleman and valet
whom he has rescued from a>life OF
degradation by employing him after
he has served term in prison for rob-
berry. Mysterious rObberies of jewels
have been committed.
At first the women who miss these
gems think them lost. At last they
decide they must be stolen. Sonora
Caprices. who has been flirting violent
ly with Jaffrey, is the victim of one Of
the robberies, and becomes convinced
that he is the thief. She calls at his
apartments to get her jewels and is
met by the valet. He knows her err
she is bigamist. a secret OF which she
imagined herself the sole possessor.
She Is forced to silence
Then Jaffrey falls in love with pure
minded, high souled, trusting girl, Dora
La Fargo. Merton Harley also loves
this girl. He is suspected of Jaffrey's
robbeiies and Handy. the valet,
strengthens the suspicion by accusing
Harley to one of Jaffrey's chums. who
In turn accuses Harley before the whole
party at Mrs. Pyle's country house.
Harley insists upon an explanation.
Jaffrey makes Handy confess his false
hood. Then, in answer to the demands
for the thief's name. Handy, the valet.
to shield his master takes the blame.
Jaffrey in a few impassioned words
tells it all. and confesses his guilt.
At his first words. Dora, overcome,
has rushed to an unused portal, which
has been abandoned on account of the
loos. and dangerous condition of the
masonry. She leans against 1t, 1t gives,
but before she Is struck by the falling
walls Jaffrey snatches her back and is
buried beneath the masonry. He is
taken out dead, and laid upon sofa
All his erstwhile companions leave the
dead man, even the girl he loved, and
who loved him, whose life he saved with
his own. His only mourner Is his faith
ful valet who falls senseless upon the
dead body of his loved master with a
desparing cry, My friend"
Jaffrey is Il character of strange con-
tradktiUns. in which nobility, deprav-
ity and baseness are strangely COM
mingled. Certain phases of his char
acter would ornament man but they are
all forgotter by his erstwhile friends
after he proclaims himself u thief to
save his generous valet and there is no
one to mourn his tragic death save his
faithful servant.
Joseph Holland gave an interpreta
ton of the character of Courtice Jaf-
frey that challenged criticism. In the
hands of Il less competent actor the
character would have been at once
improbable and unreal but so delicate
ly and cleverly did Mr.. Holland coun-
terfeit the varying emotions which
swayed the man that the different
phases seemed to blend together natu
rally. Nobility and unselfishness he
made after all the dominant character
istics of the man and when the curtain
fell the audience was inclined to be
generous in considering the dark side
of the picture and to remember first the
unselfishness and manliness that Jarf-
rey displayed under certain circum-
stances.
For Joseph Hollands Jaffrey, a fine
companion piece was the Handy of his
brother Il. Nj. Holland. The quick
witted coming of this valet who pos
sessed keen appreciation of the hu-
morous side of life and an unfaltering
love for his master was most realis-
tically portrayed. In the strong scenes
where Jaffrey and Handy figured it was
almost impossible to say which was
most effective. Bertha Creighton
evinced nice discrimination in her
difficult scenes with Jaffrey and Olive
Oliver was also excellent. Other clever
members of the company are Edward
See, r. F.. Cotton. Mrs. Mckee Rankin
and Laura Macgilvroy. A large and
fashionable audience saw the drama.
Return Of Minnie Palmer.
After an absence of five years. the
greater part of which time was spent in
Europe Minnie Palmer reappeared at
the Academy of Music last evening in
''The School Girl" in which she met
with considerable success on the other
side Of the ocean. "The School Girl is
an Operatic comedy, the librettO of
which is by George Manchester and the
music by Albert Maurice. Time has
dealt gently with Miss Palmer since she
was last seen in Scranton for she looked
younger and fairer last night than in
the old days when she starred with Gra-
ham in MY Sweetheart"
Miss Palmer has still the same chic
manner, the same trick of facial ex-
preston and the pleasing voice that
first recommended her to public favor
Last night she assumed the role of the
hoydenish school girl in short dress and
be II said in compliment to her clever