The San Francisco call., 1896-11-15
pulses an army, and afterward thew 90
out and say, women can't fight"

pulses an army, and afterward they go
out and say, women can't fight"
visited Darkest Russia" with an ex.
ira handkerchief in my pocket and grim
1oreooding In my heart that the next two
hours and half would be passed under
tunereal pail of tear-extracting gloom. OF
course 1t is the unexpected that aIwavs
happens, and before penetrating very far
into Grattan Donnelly's darkest l was
enjoying myself hugely, having decided
that the Californias show was the most
cheerful production in town-humor is
always more lnspiriting when it is uncon-
scious. The whole audience seemed to be
OF this opinion, for they caught on to the
funny points which enliven the trapical
moments and applauded rapturously and
hilariously.
According to Grattan Donnelly there
are no law courts in Russia. The Chief of
Police has things all his own way. He
can accost the most harmless citizen with
''OH to Siberia" and the sentence at once
becomes as irrevocable as the laws of the
Medes and the Persians. This fell official
does not need his sentences to be wit
messed, or signed or sealed with his hand.
All he does is to say, "Siberia for ten
years, and the decree is at once executed
with neatness and dispatch In one scene
everybody who is anybody is sent to ST.
IBERIA, and the "Off- with his head-so-
much-for-Buckingham" air with which
the thing is done begins in agony. but
works up to fine climax of farce before
the drama.is persona are all disposed of
Inc strange, eventful history of ttDark-
est Russia" centers round two pairs of
lovers, who are good and virtuous with
the pristine virtue of melodrama. One of
the heroes, Ivan Barosky, has resisted all
temptations to become a nihilist nerbans
because the nihilists have a most unnleas.
ant habit of holding illicit meetings in his
cellar, and threatening him with pains
ahu pehaitles II ne wants to disiodge them.
oarosKy, VINO is brave man, has tempted
exlie oy secretly marrying the daughter of
tne terrible Chief of Police, and Barosky's
sister lida-I wish they'd make it Hida-
is beloved by an officer of high degree
whom the Chief of Police and his wicked
Countess covet for son-in-law. Through
com binatiOn of circum STANCES the lovers
all meet in the nihilist-hauntea cellar
rlght In tne thick OF a plot to kill the Gar.
Thelr advent naturally irritates the con-
splrators, from whose wrath thev have
haIrbreadth escapes. The lovers are finally
rescued from the clutches of the nfbilists
by the officers of the law and are led awav
to await the sentence of the Chief of Po-
lice, who represents the whole judicial
authority OF the empire.
The Chief. who has no idea that his own
daughter has been captured, scorns such a
oanal proceeding as investigation. The
wicked Countess, his wife, demands a
holocaust OF all the prisoners to atone for
Ida having won the officer of high degree.
The Chief is conniving with her when his
deeds OF darkness are cut short py man.
date from the Gear. deposing him and or
dering him to Siberia. He has a few min.
utes OF power in which to polish off the
prisoners and says. "Ten years in Siberia
to Ida and her officer, as the clock strikes
II Then the Chiefs successor in off;ce
has an inning and exiles Barosky and the
Chiefs daughter, and the wicked Countess
recognizing her "Chi-ield" saws she'll 90
too. Septlmus Cobb OF Virginia exjIes
himself, and it is understood that the
Chiefs son and the German Baroness are
thrown in as job lot, SO the curtain goes