The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-25

There is no question that the Giffen-
Neill stock company will receive a
warm welcome on their return for a
short renga cement, which will begin this
evening at the Metropolitan opera
house. The company will present, for
the first time here, THE Idler," a play
from the pen of c. Haddon Chambers,
author of Captain Swift" The pro-
duction-s of #tThe Idier'' will be more
than ordinarily interesting, not only
because it will be the first presenta-
ton here of a famous drama, but it
will also serve to introduce, for the
first time, during the Giffen-Neill sea-
son in St. Paul, Miss, I1dythe Chapman,
who at one time played leading roles
with Frederick Warde. The role Of
Lady Harding in Mr.. Chambers play
will afford ample opportunities for the
display of Miss Chapman's pronounced
talent. The character Of Lady Hard
ing is that of a. woman who is sorely
tempted to sacrifice her honor to save
her husband, but who succeeds in saw
ing both. Mr.. Neill, who appeared too
INDEPENDENTLY during; the engagement
of the Giffen- Neill company, will also
be seen as Simeon Strong, an American
who visits England for the purpose
of avenging the murder of his brother
AS THE Idler" is an entirely new play
to st. Paul, its story will be interest
ing at this time.
The yeranda. attached to Lady Hard
| lng's drawing room, KensingtOn Place.
London, is the scene of the first act
! Mark Cross and Lady Harding, pre-
| Vious to her marriage, has once been
| in love with each other, and everybody
| had naturally expected they would be
| married, until Sir John Harding came
| along and won her as his wife. ~ Sir
John once knew a man in America by
| the name of Cross He suspects that
| the old love between this Cross and
| his wife is not entirely dead, and feels
| sure that he will hate him, although
| he is to be a guest at their house that
| evening. When Cross comes, he re
/ proaches Lady Harding with deserving
| him; he also recognizes in her husband
| q man, who, travelling under the name
| CT Gentleman Jack" had killed one
| Felix Strong, years before, in Golden
| Valley. Col, and then hurriedly left
| the country. Cross tells Sir John that
i he recognizes him, and also that
| Simeon Strong has sworn to aVenge
| the death of his brother, and has given
| the man who killed him. It's a long
| way from Golden Valley to an ancient
| baronetcy and the house of commons,
| is it not, Sir John?" says Cross sar-
castically, yet the gallows may be
the end of it ALL Sir John protests
and claims that the killing of Strong
was an accident, and that it was not
his fault.
While they disappear to enjoy a ci-
gar together, Mrs. CrCss-Mark's moth
Grand Simon Strong are announced.
The latter tells how Mark saved his
life, at the risk of his own, during a
terrible flood in Golden Valley. When
Cross and Sir John Harding return, and
the latter and Strong are introduced,
Strong recognizes the English aristo-
crat and refuses to take his hand. He
states that for ten years he has been
searching for Harding, and that Sir
John will now have the opportunity to
convince an American jury as to his
innocence CT the supposed murder.
The home of Mrs. Cross is the scene
of the second act. 1t falls to the lot
of Mark Cross to tell Sir Johns wife
that her husband killed man in
America, and that that man was ST.
mon Strong's brother, who has sworn
vengeance. He says to her that if she
will leave. her husband and leave Eng
land with himself, he will save her
husband from the gallows. She is in
dignant and Mortified at such a pro-
pesal, but he is relentless. If she will
GENE to his lodgings at 10 o'clock that