The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-25

81. Paul last night in a new play or his own
authorship. 1.-THE New Dominion" is the
play, and Clay Clement the actor. Mr.. Glenn
ent is designated as new actor in point
of stellar fame. for prior to his advent here
he was unknown. But those who witnessed
his performance last night at the Metropoli-
tan opera house did not behold new" actor.
They saw an artist, they saw man who
has learned that the brains CT these times Will
not tolerate palpable theatric artifce.
Mr.. Clement has more than great possibih-
ties in store for him. He has probabilities.
His play is delightful, his acting is ad-
mirable. One should hesitate before using
that constantly misapplied adjective great"
Mr.. Clement has written a clever drama,
containing two three character studies,
the chief being that Of Baron Hohen-
stauffen, whom he impersonates. In SO far
as that portrayal Is picture of a guileless,
noble, honest man, whose whole being IS in
sympathy with mother nature, and whose
heart Is in thrall to natures sweetest flower
weman-Mr. Clement achieves double tri-
umph as creator and actor. The character
is so seldom seen on the stage that 1t becomes
unique; the actors delineation Of the role is
complete in detail. 1t is, perhaps, the SINGER
est tribute to the play to say that it reminds
us of j. M. Barries quaint work, 1.-THE Pro-
fessor's Love Story" without in the remotest
creation.
Mr.. Clement, of course, has a magnetic
personality. Without it, he could not fill
those pauses, devoid of words of action, that
are fatal when INDUCED in by the ordinary
player, clever though he may be. When
MIR. Clement ceases to talk and begins to
think the people think with him. Rtveted as
their attention is, the faintest expression that
fits over the actors countenance finds its
o%;o IT,
spectators. This was forcibly exemplified in
the scene at the close of the second act,
where the baron resents the insult Of the
coarse and vulgar fellow who owns mort
gage that he imagines includes the baron's
sweetheart. The baron has a glass of beer
with him at the time which he spills in spas
mod1c Stops as the villain goads him on.
You hope that the baron will save the last
fnstallment and dash it in the scoundreI's
face, but he does not-that would be theatric,
and, remember, the player wrote the play.
Instead, he spills the last drop on the floor,
and hands the boor his card. 1t was very
good, but nobody would have protested If
the professor had raped the rascal over the
crown with his beer glass and then chal-
lenged him.
Mr.. Clement must do something more be-
fore his status in the histrionic world can be
definitely fixed. He has created loYable
character. and then interpreted it. You
can't find fault with it II you would. The
Interpretation is clear, forcible, human. The
creation is the same. But the public appetite
is Unsuitable, and Mr.. Clement must play an
other role or write another play before more
concessions can be made. 1t is safe to say
though, that Mr.. Clement will always afford
material for thought and admiration II he
pursues the methods characteristic of his
INN sO1~of lion q J.
Dominion" Artistic restraint is the DOM
mating virtue of the man. The student is
ever apparent, for Mr.. Clement is not electric
Facial expression he lacks. But the person.
atty of the man is irresistible.
The company is adequate. The characteriz-
alton Of Marshall Boner, the coarse grained
Virg.nian, who would foreclose his mortgage
on the entire family as we'll as the land
was admirably done by Charles C. Craig
]. D. Williams a picture Of a Virginia
gentleman, and Miss Kara Kenwyn suggest
ed possibilities better than the role of the
young widow afforded.
A strong English melodrama-and that
means much-tS 1.-THE Fatal Card which was
produced at the Grand last night. 1t Is re-
plete with thrilling situations, clever dia-
logue and beautiful improbabilities. No wsIl-
out improbabilities. The improbabIities make
the meodrama. The man who would COM
plain OF them would criticise littIe-neck
CLAIMS because they are salty.
1.-THE Fatal Card is an ideal title in this
instance There is a story of love and villainy
IN which love wins the game, but not until
the jack Of clubs is played by accident. The
death Of the villain follows. But prior to
this, for the death of the villain ends all
melodramas, there is much to interest the
audience. A pretty romance winds its way
through the four acts, the hero wins des-
perate fights from desperate men, and the
comedians of the company excite a goodly
amount of legitimate laughter. 1.-The Fatal
Card" in short, is a stirring melodrama Of
undeniable worth. No ingredient is omitted
that will impart the proper seasoning. There
is a lynching episode an explosion of an in
fernal machine murder and singing SOU
brette. In point of variety the melodrana is
unexcelled.
In the last act a young man has tracked the
murderers Of his father, and discovers that
the father Of his affianced wife is the guilty
man. He is caught by the band of which the
murderer is the head, and, bound to a post
is about to be killed by an Internal machine,
when the girls father finds in the lover
pocket one-half of the ace of clubs. This torn
card was given by the murderer some years
before to the lover who rescued him from a
mob of lynchers in the Rocky mountains.
In an attempt to remove the Internal ma
chine and save the lovers life, the father
is blown to atoms and the audience is vastly
relieved.
The company Is considerably above the
average. w. H. Turner's impersonation of
A. X. Austen. the old stockbroker was con-
spicuously good. Walter Howe, in the role
of Gerald Austen, Charles Stedman's por-
trayal Of Marabel, the viliain-in-chief, and
Frederick Julian, as his confederate, were
all commendable.
The sale of seats opens this morning for the
engagement of the eminent tragedian, Freder-
lex Warde, at the Metropolitan opera house,
the latter part Of the week. Mr.. Warde will
present on Thursday and Friday evenings
''King Lear" in which he achieved notable
success last season. For the Saturday mat
inee the bill will be 1.-THE Merchant Of Ven
ice," and Saturday night, the farewell per-
Torrance, Mr.. Warde will appear in Richard
Ill" Mr.. Wardes company includes such
clever actors as Charles Sutton, Darrell
Vinton, Ernest G. Warde, Beverly Turner,
Harry c.. Burton, Morton Baker, Charles
Clarke, Grant Foreman Florence Wilburham
Marcia Treadwel and Phyllis Ashcom.