The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-21
~THE PLAYS

Any actor, other than Sol Smith Russell,
in~the role of "Hon. John Grigsby," would
probably be a failure. Had Charles Klein
given his play to any man, other than this
distinguished artist, it would have probably
been relegated to the shelf sooner than
placed on the stage. AS it is, Mr.. Russell
has, made a hit. if not. he has sustained a
valued reputation. and Mr.. Klein enjoys the
same distinction.
Hardly a larger audience has filled
o. Brien's this season and certainly not a
more fashionable one, than that which
gathered last night to see Mr.. Russell and
his company in "Hon. John Grgsby' and
here 1t may be said that better Pleased
one never left the theater when the curtain
dropped on the last act. The play itself,
was written to cater to the refined taste
and it accomplishes its purpose The scenes
are laid in Illinois in 1850, when that COM
monwealth was stirred up, as was the en-
tire union, over the question of slavery.
And by the way, it may be remarked here,
that the author has not departed from the
beaten paths in the connection of his plot.
The play has it's hero, it's heroine and it's
villain who covers and begs for mercy of
the just in the end. James Ogden is a
southerner who deserts his wife, moves
north from New Orleans and marries an
other. The constitutionality of a .compro-
mise measure which makes Illinois slave
state is questioned. The opposition to the
law is aroused by Meg Ronalds, a supposed
orphan who teaches school of negro chill
dren. Ogden and his political cohorts must
establish the constitutionality of the slave
law to enhance their wealth. To do this
they must elect a justice to the supreme
bench who Is favorable to them. Here
"Hon. John Grigsby" falls unwittingfy into
their hands. Mrs. Marsen who is infatuated
with the Hon. john" who is called the
peoples lawyer, and is a fellow who cares
more for justice than law also unwittingly
becomes their tool. She secretly pledges
$4,000 10 the campaign fund and Grigsby
is nominated and elected supreme court
justice. Meg Ronafds has sought protec-
ton at the hands of Grigsby from the band
of political perecutors. Chief among this
band is James Ogden, who is the editor of
newspaper which has printed vile insinua-
tions against her character. Just after his
election Grigsby turns boldly against Ogden
and his crowd. 1t is known that Grigsby is
enamored with Meg Ronalds and through
this channel the political conspirators seek
to reach him. They threaten to have the
school teacher arrested for sedtion, ETC..
but Grigsby defies them all. They de-
manded his resignation and he had prom
ised to give 1t.
To deepen the complications, John Grigs-
by, Jr., had fallen in love with Nellie Og-
den, the second daughter of his arch en-
envy, and he brought suit against the
father In behalf of Meg Ronads. 1t was
here that love served good turn. Meg
Ronalds had given the lawyer picture of
her father whom she knew nothing of
further than t.lat he had left her mother
when she was very young. This picture
Grigsby laid on his desk. While in his
office Nellie Ogden got possession of the
picture, thinking Ii was one she had sent
her sweetheart by mistake. She was struck
by the likeness of the picture to one she
bad at h9me Of her Qwn father, At the
hour of the deepest gloom when Grigsby
was tried for a way out Of the difficulty
she returned to the Office, bringing both
pictures with her. Ogden came in to make
his second demand for Grigsby's resgna-
ton, when he was confronted with his
crime and relented. Meg and Grigsby, Sr..
were engaged and happy, as well as Grigs-
by, Jr., and Nellie. For humor the play
draws on a veteran of the war OF 1872, one
of the Mexican war, thick-headed clerk