The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-21

phere Is perfect. It is a play to revel
In, and be thankful for, coming, as il
does, at a time when we are sick unto
death Of tireSOme costume efforts, and
blood and thunder. The dramatization
of Tess is capitally done. 1t is NOV
ing play that has keenest pathos, sub
tlest tragedy, and an inkling of COM
edy in happiest combination. In my
opinion, it is quite the best play of the
season. 1t was in the confession scene
that Mrs. Fiske rose to sublimest
heights. That confession was a study
that nobody can afford to disregard
1t brought tears to the eyes and the
yelling flood of sympathy to the heart
In London or in Paris, people would
have risen to their feet, and have
yelled enthusiastic braves to the wei
kin. It was great-great by all the un-
expressed laws of art, by all the latent
rules of the emotions, the passions and
the human machine The character
sketches were Supremely entertaining
I think that Thomas Hardy would
have enjoyed this footlight version Of
'"Tess of the D'Urbervilles. 1 don't
see how he could fail to have done So
New York should feel proud that this
gorgeous book has first seen its stage
life here.
The first presentation of Shall We
Forgive Her." a domestic comedy-dra-
ma by Frank Harvey, will be given by
Manager Jacob Lift at the Grand to-
night. The play Is said to be a strong
emotional drama, dealing with a do
nestle phase of life, and not dependent
upon any Sensations or stage mech
anism for its effect.
The story of the play is simple. It is
that of a young English woman who
goes to Australia to join her affianced
hJ1cb no nd I1Thn hoC RI
des. When she reaches him, she finds
him different from the man she had
learned to love in old England. Evil
companions and drink have changed
him. He does not make her his wife,
bat she remains for a time and tries
70 win him back to better life, but in
vain. She pleads with him to pity her
condition, but he is heartless.' There
is no hope-nO future in store for her
nothing but misery, poverty and de-
spair. Her love dies for the man, nat
urally enough. She returns to England
and begins life anew, trusting that her
bitter history is buried in far-off Aus
tTalia. Later there comes into her life
another man with high moral principles
and stanch integrity. This man loves
her and thinks she is worthy to be his
wife. She fears to reveal to him what
she has been, and hoping that the past
is buried forever, she becomes his wife.
The old life is dead, and she lives an
honest, upright life. faithful wife and
happy mother. For while all is peace
and joy, then into the sunshine of her
life comes the shadow in the form of
the man who has wrecked her early
life. He returns, finds her out and
threatens to disclose her past unless
she gives him money. She has enemies
who would do her harm in her own
house. They learn Of her past history
-,
true WOmanly devotion fails to atone
to her husband for what she has kept
back from him-he is unfOrgiving and
drives her out from his life. He loses
his eyesight when he learns the bitter
truth and becomes blind. The wife
goes forth to battle with the world
She becomes a writer and commands
a good income. Unknown to her hus-
hand, she furnishes the financial aid
| necessary to his household, he think
ing the assistance comes from other
! sources. A famous Oculist is consulted
and promises hope of restoration of
! the husbands sight. The treatment is
a success, and his sight is restored.
| There is a battle between the hus-
bands pride and his love, which re-
! suits in a reconciliation, and the play
! ends with the reunion of husband and
! wife
| The situations are said to be strong
and the climaXes intense. interviewer
with the more serious element, there
| is a vein of comedy and a pretty little
| love story. Manager Lift will give an
appropriate mounting to the piece, and
a capable company is promised. Miss
Fanny Mcintyre will play the leading
! role.
my Friend From India" the lates
and greatest New York success in tn,
farce-comedy line, will be the attrac
ton at the Metropolitan opera hous,
for four nights and a Wednesday mat
inee beginning Sunday, March Is I
will be presented here by the origina
| New York cast, including Frederic
Bond, Edward S. Abeles Walter "A
| Perkins, Marion Giroux, Helen Reimer
Louise Galloway, Kenyon Bishop anC
May Vokes
James O'Neill has added Hamlet
| to his repertoire, and will present tina
! tragedy at the Metropolitan during hi
coming. engagement His leading wo
man this season is Margaret Angiin.
There seems to be little doubt tina
Crane, the comedian has made the big
! geSt hit of his career in Martha Nor
toms new play, "A Fool of Fortune.
! Throughout its New York run and dur
| tour the play has been drawing enor
nous houses and winning many en-
| cCmiums from the critics and the pub
! lie. The part played by the comedian
is that of a broker who goes into 4
hazardous speculation and gets for
tunes tickle hand in the deal The
| play is to be presented in this city with
| its original cast at the Metropolitan
April Is, 16 and II.
Margaret Mather will soon appear al
the Metropolitan this city,in Shakes
peare's "Cymbeline." Miss Mather will
be supported by capable company, in
Guiding E. j. Henley, Albert Bruning.
William McVey, Mrs. Thomas Barry
and Miss Florence Wallack. The pro-
duction has been highly praised.
Following Shall We Forgive Her?'
at the Grand opera house the manage
ment announces the visit for the first
time in several years of that popular
scenic melo-drama, Shadows of a
Great City"
While the In Gay New York. compa-
ny was playing at Wallack's theater in
New York city recently the subject of
ballet costumes was touched upon dur
ing an incidental conversation in Theo-
dore Moss private office, says the Chi
cago Times Herald The relative
weight of a compete ballet costume as
compared with the weight of a femin-
inc outfit for the street was the point
in argument and the veteran Moss.
who has had long experience in such
| matters. gave it as his opinion that the
regulation ballet costume would weigh
about one-fifth as much as the ordina-
~ street costume. Marc K'aw insisted